Planning a trip to Japan - Part 2

Hello yoreobun ("everyone" in Korean)!

This post is continuation of the previous one and I shall continue to elaborate as much as I can about the relevant tips in planning your first trip to Japan. I can't promise that it will be a smooth one but I can say that you are going to enjoy it and it is going to be fun!

5. Ground Transportation in Osaka, Kanazawa and Kyoto (continuation)

TRANSPORTATION TIPS:
(i) All Buses: You will enter from the back door and pay only when you exit at the front door. Don't ask me why but it doesn't make any sense. However, when I do get on a bus, I understand perfectly why it was designed as such. Most of the time, people who enters from the front are less likely to move to the back because the exit is (yes, you guessed it!) is from the front. So, when you direct your commuters to enter from the back, chances are places at the back will be filled first (although it is not always the case) and people will fill up the front. If you are getting off just few stops away then it is best if you stand or sit in the middle but avoid from blocking the entrance. All buses designed with buttons to press to indicate that you want to get off so use it wisely because the buttons are really at eye's view. If it is your first ride on the bus and you got a bus pass, do insert your bus pass at the machine next to the driver before you get off so that the date of the day could be printed on to show that it is intended to be used for that day only.

After travelling to eastern Europe, I realised the 24 hours ticket system works far better than the daily ticket. E.g. if you purchase the ticket for Monday and you did not use it until about 12 noon. Your ticket will not expire at 12 midnight (it is the case if it is daily) but it will expire only 12 noon the next day (exactly 24 hours). It is more practical and economical at the same time. You also get to plan your expenses and train or bus rides effectively.

(ii) All trains/subways: Always and I means ALWAYS remember to take your ticket after you have insert it at the platforms. I forgot to take mine and my cousin caught me. She asked if I have not taken my ticket as she saw one popping up on the other side. I was shocked and realised the omission. Luckily, the train master helped me to unlock the ticket box at the platform which I have inserted my ticket and I got it back! Yippee! There is always a way out.

Another foolish bit of me was our trip to Nara. I decided to get the train tickets the day before of the intended trip (although it is unnecessary as there are frequent trains to Nara almost every 15 minutes or 30 minutes from Osaka or Kyoto). I just inserted the coins to the ticket machine and voila, the tickets were printed! Then I realised I got the tickets for the day! OMAIGAD! I quickly went to the customer service counters of the JR station and got my ticket changed. I explained politely while praying hard that I could get the tickets changed to the next day (it is 560 yen for one way and I got 4 of them!) and luck has it, the lady informed me that it can be done. So, what she did was, she had my tickets cancelled. All of them. Got the money back from the machine beside her as she inserted the tickets and she purchased new ones for me without having to move away from her chair. Amazing cancellation process! So, note to self and everyone, please check your dates before purchasing any tickets.

I always thought that I have to reserve my tickets in advance and online but truth is, there is no need for it unless of course if you are getting the JR pass. The JR pass is only available to be purchased online from overseas (but this is not true as you can buy them in Japan also) and it is only useful if you are travelling across regions in Japan e.g. Kansai to Tokyo or Tokyo to Hokkaido. As far as you can go and then it is worth getting the JR pass. If you are just hanging around one region and I see no use of getting the JR pass. Similarly, ICOCA is an integrated card system for subways where you pay as you go. You add value to the card and used it like Oyster (UK) or T-Money (South Korea) or Touch & Go (Malaysia) or EZ Link (Singapore) or Octopus (Hong Kong) cards (you get the idea). Again, you will only find the card useful if you are staying long enough in a place. If you are hoppers like my family and I (we travelled from Osaka to Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go then back to Kanazawa, Kyoto, Uji, Osaka and Nara and back), then I see no use of getting the ICOCA anyway.  Besides, the bus is handy in Kyoto.

6. Pocket WIFI with Travel Recommends

I did search briefly on the available options for internet and actually found a few recommended options through Google. However, I did not engage or used any of the tried and tested options when Travel Recommends Sdn. Bhd. (TR) came up through recommendation of a local blogger, KBCG in their Instagram account. TR came up with a "CNY/Sakura season" pocket wifi promotion for a limited time the promo is still on at the time of writing) whereby for RM15.00 a day you get to enjoy unlimited internet and connects up to 8 devices at the same time. Sounds like a good deal and it really was. I quickly placed my order and upon their confirmation, I was glad to resolve issues about internet.

I paid RM502 in total for 12 days (inclusive of 2 days as buffer for TR's delivery a day before my travel and TR's pick up upon my return from my trip the next day) = RM250,00 for deposit, RM72 to rent their powerbank, RM180 for the pocket wifi. All for 12 days and of course, you can only use the device when you are in Japan.

As the day of your trip draws closer, you can't help but to have fears of things going wrong. I checked TR's Instagram account and was deeply disturbed by the comments made by other customers about how the device came 10 hours before her trip. Or even, some did not arrive at all. ETC. So, being a perfectionist and not wanting this to ruin the trip, I texted TR's number (which is also used for Whatsapp) a week and a couple days before before my trip just to remind and make sure my order came through on time. I am flying from KL and I had to drive myself to KL from Penang on Saturday morning to catch my flight on Sunday morning. I can't be expected to not get my order on Friday or even pick up the device from their booth at KLIA (when I am flying from KLIA2) on Saturday or even Sunday for that matter. OK. I was paranoid. Fortunately, TR called me on Tuesday and ensured me that they will have the pocket wifi sent out to me the next day and I will get it by Thursday or Friday at the latest.

I got it on Thursday. YAY! But, NO POWERBANK (PB). Why can't you guys tell me up front that it ran out? No, you guys expected me to call and inform you about it! What if you guys refuse to refund me or even forfeit my deposit. The receipt came printed with the PB included. Imagine if I got it on the day of my flight and I do not have any powerbank with me or even, I am an IOS user without the designated USB port! How on earth am I going to charge the device when it goes flat? Ok, I am exaggerating but it is possible. Hello! So, upon contacting them, they explained how sorry they were because of insufficient PB and promised to refund the PB rental to be upon the return of the device. Ok, fine.

On the bright side, Man, I can't tell you how useful the pocket wifi was and how glad I was to get it. It kept us connected always in Japan and even though when we're on the train going through tunnels or even to the fishing villages by the Sea of Japan or to the mountains with snow on top, we are CONNECTED to the internet. I am very pleased with the device and its reception and without it, we would be lost in translation and directions too.

However, things get a bit unpleasant (again!) when returning the device to TR. TR offers free delivery and pick up of the device from your address. So, I was back in Penang on Thursday and immediately texted them on Whatsapp to arrange to return the device. I also asked for the consignment note as it was not sent via email in PDF format. I got the consignment note and packed the device which came in a pocket folder into a courier bag sent to me earlier then have it put inside a box as instructed by one Mr Lee. Nationwide Express was their courier service company and TR arranged for it to be picked up on Friday. No one came. On Monday, the courier company came without any references or even names. Luckily, my office had only a few people for our receptionist to check and find out. So, with that done, now the refund. 4th April 2016 the device was collected and presumably they received it on Tuesday the 5th. I got my refunds only on 18th April 2016 for my pocket wifi and 22nd April 2016 for my powerbank refund.

That, with weekly reminders. I don't know how long it will take if I did not do it.

INTERNET TIP: Wifi is available across all cities in Japan but like Penang WIFI, it is only available for unusable. I could not connect to Osaka Wifi (Kansai Airport one worked fine) or Kyoto Wifi or Nara Wifi. Best to get internet for your phone. The airport sells internet and calls simcard. At the end of the day, getting a simcard is cheaper than pocket wifi if you are getting or renting it from Japan. But for the latter, the more of you, the cheaper and more economical it is. The downside to pocket wifi is its limited coverage. You guys have to stick with each other and not go too far away.

7. Shopping

I love shopping but I did budget control. Unlike my South Korea trip, I did not do any research at all on what are the things to buy and get from Japan. So, I went along and just snoop at what other shoppers bought and decide whether or not to follow suit. My cousin is more familiar with the beauty and medical products in Japan (good thing I asked her to do the itinerary for Osaka). There are plenty of blogs about shopping haul from Japan and you can always used these blogs as references.

If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli, then you must get the merchandises in Japan. There is a shop in Kiyomizudera, Kyoto area.

To be continued (when I could think of any other topics or leave your comments for any other information that you guys need).

Planning a Trip to Japan - Part 1

Hello Bloggers!

My family and I just came back from the land of sushi and matcha and boy, how we love Japan so much that we are looking forward for another trip back to the country. Our next city should be Hokkaido and just Hokkaido alone. My boss also shared her recent trip to Kyoto and we both agree that Hokkaido seems to be ideal as the next place to go in Japan. 

This post is intended to help first timers visiting Japan and by helping, it is the basic information and also some guidelines or introduction to Japan, its people, culture and its transportation system based on what I have learnt during my 10 days trip there in March 2016. During the trip, we did not get to use Shinkansen at all but just their local and regular speed trains. But that itself took us to many places across Kansai region already. 

Our trip was 20th March to 29th March 2016, altogether 10D9N and we covered the following cities: 

(a) Kansai Perfecture - Osaka, Kyoto, Uji and Nara

(b) Ishikawa Perfecture - Kanazawa and Shirakawa-go

1. Language

A lot of people had the impression that one should know the Japanese language before going to Japan. Well, they are right! But good news is, you only need to know the basic of its language as the Japanese has "kanji" or to some of us, Chinese characters. So, for those who know how to read Chinese, it is really useful. Nevertheless, you also need to know the Chinese names to the Japanese places as well. 

I know how to speak basic Japanese such as how are you, how much is it, the numbers in Japanese, saying thanks and as well as asking for water, or where the toilets are. My cousin who also joined us in the trip knew how to read basic hiragana, katagana and kanji. She also could speak Japanese in intermediate level. So, we are all set for this trip. Haha.. 

Similar to Koreans, everything is written in pure Japanese but the Japanese proved to be far better in communication in that they could read romaji (or romanized) Japanese. So, if you could spell the things you want in romaji (using the western alphabets), they could read and understand what you wrote. Where as it is not the case in Korea where the locals can only read Hangul. 

So, you do need a good translator (Google's translation app is very useful for this) and I recommend the use of the following phrases: - 

(a) how are you? - ogenki desuka?

(i) i am fine - genki desu

(b) thank you - arigato gozaimashita (formal, or just arigato gozaimasu in short)

(c) how much is this? - ikura desuka?

(d) what meat is this? - nani niku desuka?

(i) beef - gyu 

(ii) pork - buta

(iii) chicken - tori

(iv) seafood - shifudo

(e) where is the toilet? - toire wa doko desuka?

(f) yes - hai

(g) no - iie

(h) 2 persons - futari

(i) 4 persons - yon nin

(j) please - onegai shimasu

(k) water - mizu (so if "can I have some water please?" - mizu onegai shimasu..)

(l) sweet - amai (for taste)

(m) delicious - oishii / umai

(n) cool/awesome - sugoi

(o) I can't speak Japanese - Nihongo wa arimasen

(p) English - eigo

Otherwise, body language is very useful too. The head nod is the most used gesture or action in Japan. You get nods every time you get a favour done or you need a favour done. You also get nods when you cross the roads or when you buy something or pay for something or even greet the cashier or sales person. Similarly, you will also get nods from the Japanese in return. I got so used to nodding that when I arrived back in KL from Osaka, I got a little offended when the airport staffs did not nod back. Haha.. Nods are acknowledgement of respect that the Japanese offer to its visitors and even locals. They are very polite and I would say over-polite and a very respectful race in the world. 

In summary, if you read and speak basic Japanese and Chinese then you are good to go. But if you don't, don't worry. The Japanese would try their level best to understand English or better, they will guide your personally to the place that you want to go. 

2. Money (or okane in Japanese)

Their value "hyaku" is hundred (100), "sen" is thousand (1000) and "man" is ten thousand (10,000). Best to learn the numbers as well which is quite easy: - 

ichi - 1 (ju yen - 10 yen; hyaku yen - 100 yen; sen yen - 1000 yen; man yen - 10,000 yen)

ni - 2 (ni ju yen - 20 yen; ni hyaku yen - 200 yen; ni sen yen - 2000 yen; ni man yen - 20,000 yen and so on..) 

san - 3

yon - 4

go - 5

roku - 6

nana - 7

hatchi - 8

kyu - 9

ju - 10

10 days in Japan, we spent the most on transportation (because we visited 3 main cities and 3 smaller cities across Kansai and Ishikawa perfectures). Our flights and accommodation came up to around RM2,000.00 (I will expand further later in flights and transportation, and accommodation topics). Then for meals, ground transportation and shopping, another RM3,000.00. Bearing in mind that I did not shop for clothes or shoes or even make-up stuffs, we spent a total close to RM5,000.00 per person. 

Transportation alone is around RM1,700.00 (subways, day pass for bus, intercity regular express train and local JR train, Seishun 18 Kippu non-express train tickets) out of RM5,000.00. A meal is around RM20.00 to RM30.00 per person and this too is if you go to fast food outlets such as Yoshinoya (across Japan) or Nakau (Kyoto) or Sukiya. It can go up to RM50.00 if you eat at restaurants. 

So, it is really subjective as each person have difference preference or spending habits. However, you must always ensure before you use your credit card from home, that the shops accept your credit card. You will be surprised to know that their local supermarkets do not accept foreign credit cards. Only when you see Visa or Mastercard that you could use your home credit cards. Most places take cash mainly so do keep your cash handy. You can only use your home debit/ATM cards in 7-11 convenience store (also known as konbini in Japanese) as their local banks ATM do not accept foreign ATM cards. So, when you do found or saw any 7-11 and running low in cash, do your withdrawals there. The rest of the convenience stores in Japan such as Family Mart or Lawson do not have ATMs for foreign debit cards. 

3. Flights to Japan

We booked with AirAsia for a flight from Kuala Lumpur (KLIA2) to Osaka (Kansai International Airport or KIX) on 20th March 2016 at 8.15am and returning on 29th March 2016 at 4.55pm. My family and I are from Penang so we drove down to KL the day before and drove back to Penang a day after we arrived in KL. 

Our flight tickets were RM720 return including taxes and fuel surcharges but excluding meals, baggage and seats. So, I am excluding the add-ons as it is different for each of us but you get the idea just for flight ticket alone. We booked our flight tickets in June 2015 which is about 8 months in advance. A tip for AA flyers, do book your meals, seats and baggage on the same time as you book your flight tickets because it is way cheaper than you book the latter separately later. I only found out when AA announced the increase in their baggage fees in January 2016. 

I have been flying with AA since 2011 and they still offer the cheapest air tickets to anywhere in their routes. But from this trip, I realised it costs only a little bit more if I fly with other commercial airlines which include meals, seats and baggage and are more comfortable. I didn't mind as much for comfort but as I am travelling with my parents, I feel AA is getting more and more expensive and not as value for money as I thought it would be after the price hike in add-ons. It is up to you guys and you may agree or disagree but if you can fly to Japan at the same price but with a bigger commercial airline then by all means go ahead ya. Not everyone can fly if AA keep increasing their fees. 

4. Accommodation

If you are travelling during peak season such as my family (we went during spring for sakura viewing or hanami), you need to book or make reservation immediately or just after you have booked your flight tickets. You have to book ahead to avoid tears and rains as cheap and good location accommodation run out very fast that you will be shocked that only 60% accommodation are left on the dates that you are looking at. I booked our accommodations for 9 nights back in June 2015 and I always check regularly every 3 months for better deals or better locations as time goes. 

My friend who have been to Japan in 2015 told me that if you can get RM100 per person per night then it is cheap. So, I kept it that way and found our 9 nights for RM1038.00 per person (calculation is based on the current exchange rate and can be different at different time or later). It costed only an average of RM116 per person per night. Decent right? Planning ahead is really important to secure such affordable price range for accommodation. Note: All are without breakfast included. 

Our dates are actually a week before the prime time for sakura to be in full bloom. So, it was a partial bloom week for sakuras when we are there. The accommodation we found are decent and for location wise, not too bad as it is reachable either by bus or train or on foot. We get to experience different accommodations from tatami mat rooms to guesthouse or minshuku to posh quad room with facilities to apartment like those you see in Japanese dramas. 

We stayed at: - 

(a) Osaka (4 nights - first night and last three nights of our trip - 2 ensuite twin sharing tatami mat rooms with futons without breakfast). Credit card accepted.  

- Shin Imamiya Hotel (Shin Imamiya JR station in JR Osaka Loop)

(b) Kanazawa (2 nights after Osaka) 

(i) Minshuku Ginmatsu (Higashichaiya district. Use Kanazawa Loop Bus (Right Loop) and get off at 5th stop just before the river) - 2 twin sharing rooms with futons and kotatsu. Cash only.; and 

(ii) Hotel Mystays Kanazawa (west exit Kanazawa Station then 5 minutes walk north) - ensuite quad room without breakfast. Credit card accepted. 

(c) Kyoto (3 nights after Kanazawa) 

- Daily Apartment Gojyo Ivy (10 minutes walk from Kyoto Station towards Nishi Honganji temple) - 2 small apartments for 2 occupants. I had to sign a tenancy agreement for these 2 rooms. Cash only.

You will be surprised to know that staying at a minshuku, a homestyle guesthouse with sharing toilets and bathroom and no breakfast proved to be more slightly more expensive than the ensuite and fully equiped quad bedroom hotel we stayed at Mystays which was the best accommodation out of the rest. 

I used Maybank (Gold) credit card to pay for my accommodation in Osaka and Kanazawa and I was surprised to know that not only there were no additional charges (as opposed to what the bank officer told me when I called to inform of my trip) and the rate is pretty good. Another tip to share with you guys is that you need to constantly revise your accommodation prices as your trip draws nearer. This is to prepare for the amount to be paid for accommodation on the day you arrive at your hotel. I kept a spreadsheet of all the accommodation and revised it every 3 months. Yen got stronger against MYR and I was devasted when our accommodation price increased (in MYR) during Chinese New Year. Then after our trip, our MYR became STRONGER than Yen. WTF. 

5. Ground Transportation in Osaka, Kanazawa and Kyoto

(a) Osaka 

We used a lot of JR trains (local city train) as our hotel is only 1 minute walk from Shin Imamiya station and 2 stops away is Namba which is the station to go for Dotonbori and Shinshaibashi area. Sinsekai is only 5 minutes walk away from our hotel. So, we did not get the chance to use the bus. Subway only from Osaka station to Umeda station to catch the Hankyu train to Ikeda station where the Ando Instant Ramen Museum is. Every train ticket has its range from 150 yen (from Shin Imamiya to Namba) at the minimum to 1080 yen (Kansai Airport to Shin-Imamiya on JR Loop) at the most we have paid in Osaka for train rides. 

(b) Kanazawa

Use the loop bus for easy travel. 200 yen per ride or 500 yen for day pass. You need the map which you get just outside the train station (East exit) at the Loop Bus ticketing counter where you can get the day pass. 

From Osaka, we used a ticket called Seishun 18 Kippu (Youth 18) ticket. It is the cheapest train ticket at 11,850 yen and it can be used by up to 5 adults per ticket. Or up to 5 days travel for one person. The catch? It is a non-express train, which means it will take longer than the usual express or bullet trains to get to your destination. E.g. 

Osaka to Kanazawa - you can use the Hokuriku Shinkansen or Thunderbird limited express train (cheaper a bit than shinkansen) but costed a bomb at least 20k yen for the former and about 6.7k yen for the latter per way (read, one way only!) but, you save a lot of time. It takes only 2 hours tops. But with the Seishun 18 Kippu ticket, it took us 5.5 hours. But, we did not complain much because we get to stop at Tsuruga and Fukui and saw so many gorgeous and beautiful fishing villages by the Sea of Japan along the way which the express trains will not give you. Or even show you. All trains in Japan are comfortable nevertheless. 

(c) Shirakawa-go

This is the trickiest. I had to get Nohi bus company to help me book the highway express shuttle bus tickets via email. According to the village's travel guide, the bus tickets had to be booked or reservation needed in advance from Japan. How am I supposed to book from Japan right? I will not have a Japanese number (but your hotel can help you I think if you ask in this case I did not) when I am in Japan and then it will be too late to book as as I planned to visit this village just 2 days after I have landed. So, from plenty of research and blog readings, I found out that I can actually asked the tourist information centre to help me book the bus tickets by email. It was a disappointing reply from them as they could not do so but directed me to contact Nohi Bus Company instead which is the only service that caters to Kanazawa - Shirakawa-go - Takayama route. So, I sent an email to the bus company and a very nice lady, Yuko, helped me to book it under a special arrangement only as they usually cater to rsvp via telephone in Japan. Tada! I got my tickets booked. Hehe.. It costed 3,290 yen per round trip per person. The timings and all, you can see from Nohi bus company's website. Google it. 

(d) Kyoto

USE THE BUS. The bus network is so extensive that by bus, you can get to NSEW (north, south, east and west) of Kyoto or greater Kyoto. Would you believe it if I told you that I got myself and my family from Kyoto station all the way to Arashiyama by bus only? We need not change or get down at all. Well, it took us about 40 minutes and 28 stops. Haha.. 

And the day pass is only 500 yen! You can do a return trip from Kyoto to Arashiyama many times in a day. You can also connect one attraction to another attraction by bus. It is very convenient. Get the bus map from the train station before you go. You really need it. The map also shows you the bus routes as well and you can plan property.

TRANSPORTATION TIP: Download this app on Android or IOS called HYPERDIA (by Hitachi Japan) through their website ONLY WHEN YOU ARE IN JAPAN. You cannot download this in advance from your home country as it is only available Japan. It is our saviour and helped us so much in planning the ground transportation. Precise timings and even tells you how much is your trip going to cost by bus or train. The app also suggests the best timings and price for you too and you can click your preference whether you want express or regular or avoid tolls highways etc, too. I am very happy with the app. Of course, you need to have internet on your phone too when you are in Japan. This, I will expand in my next post.