This is an additional post on Japan that I'll share my experience with the transport system there and the places that I stayed while I was there.
Personally, I think the best way to travel around Japan is using the Japan Rail Pass, this is only if you want to cover a lot of places. It would be a waste of money of you're only planning to go to Osaka or Tokyo only. But if plan to cover a lot of places in a short time, I would really recommend this Japan Rail Pass.
The rail pass comes in three packages; 7 days, 14 days or 21 days, The price depends on the number of days that you want to purchase. The more days it's valid for, the higher the price (common sense right?). I bought the 14 days rail pass as I'll be in Japan for 16 days. The days that I didn't use the ticket, I bought the normal ticket, which was a bit expensive. For example, it costs me ¥2000 (about AUD20) from Osaka Airport to Kyoto.
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| The ticket from Osaka Aiport to Kyoto (front and back) |
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| Ticket from Osaka Airport from Kyoto (Inside the ticket booklet) |
The Japan Rail Pass is only valid for tourist coming into Japan on tourist visa. You have to buy the exchange order for the pass at an agency outside Japan. Ask your nearest travel agent whether they sell it or not. The exchange order look something like this:
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| Exchange order of Japan Rail Pass |
It will have your name (as printed in your passport) as they will check your passport when you want to change it to the real Japan Rail Pass. The Japan Rail Pass can be change at any JR Station in Japan.
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| Japan Rail Pass Booklet |
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| Inside the Rail Pass booklet. It has the date of the first day you start using it and expiry date. |
Even with the Rail Pass, you still have to book your tickets to the destination that you want to go (for long distance travel using bullet train) because they will give you a seat number and in case the train is full. So, you have to go to the station, book your train to your destination and they will give you a green card showing your train number, time of departure and track number. It's just that with the Rail Pass, you don't need to pay
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| Example of train ticket |
Overall, we booked 13 tickets using the Japan Rail Pass.
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| Our tickets to places around Japan |
But for domestic train (for example within Tokyo), we just show the Rail Pass when we pass the ticket gate. But, there's also a few places where we have to buy separate tickets that's not covered by the Rail Pass. For example, in Kyoto since the places that we went were only accessible by bus, we bought the Kyoto City Bus One Day Pass.
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| Kyoto 1 Day City Bus Pass |
We also had to buy separate tickets for Kamikochi and Hakone.
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| Kamikochi train and bus ticket |
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| Hakone Pass allows unlimited transport, ropeway and cablecar access |
That's all for transport. As for accommodation we stayed at friend's place in Sendai and Tokyo. But for the other places, we stayed at the following hostels/hotels. All of the accommodations are within 10 minutes walk from the nearest train station, so it was very convenient for us. Though, the price for each accommodation is a bit high compared to what we normally pay for at other places.
Kyoto
K's House Kyoto
418 Nayacho, Shichijo-agaru, Dotemachi-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Japan 600-8142
Phone: +81753422444
Email: kyoto@kshouse.jp
Rate: ¥3100 per person per night (Twin Type A)
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| Entrance to K's House Kyoto |
Matsumoto
Hotel 1-2-3 Yorozuya Matsumoto
1-24-1, Chuo, Matsumoto-shi, Nagano-ken, Japan 390-0811
Phone: +81263398123
Email: yorozuya@hotel123.co.jp
Rate: ¥3700 per person per night (standard twin private ensuite including breakfast)
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| Hotel 1-2-3, Matsumoto |
Hiroshima
Hiroshima Hana Hostel
1-15, Koujin-machi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan 732-0807
Phone: +81822632980
Email: hana@hiroshimahostel.jp
Rate: ¥3200 per person per night (twin with toilet and vanitory, japanese style)
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| Hana Hostel, Hiroshima |
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| Japanese Style Room |
Osaka
Chisun Hotel Shin Osaka
6.2.19 Nishi-Nakajima, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Japan 532.0011
Phone: +81663025571
Email: ChisunHotel-Shinosaka@SolareHotels.com
Rate: AUD189.72 for 3 nights (twin room)
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| Chisun Hotel, Osaka |
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| A small room just enough for both of us |
P/S: If you're in Japan, please try their various flavours of kitkat. Some of these flavours are region specific. These are the flavours that I've tried/bought while in Japan:
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| Nagano's region Apple Kitkat. My favourite flavour of all kitkat that I've tasted. |
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| From top left clockwise: Edamame-Soybean, Green Tea, Japanese Cherry and Kobe Pudding flavoured kitkats |
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| Cherry Blossom flavour. Found this at the airport |
That's all for transportation and accommodation in Japan. Feel free to comment or contact me for more info.
Till then~
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