[saffronsatire]

greenhse wrote:

Am I too ambitious to complete within 2 full days? Any suggestion? Missed out anything?

Day 1
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- Kyoto Jishu Shrine (is this in the east? i lazy to google)
- Yasaka Pagoda
- Kodaiji Temple
- Philosopher's Walk
- Ginkakuji
- Gion
[can follow this sample: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3950_e...yoto_full.html if you haven't seen]

Day 2
- Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Nishiki Market
- Kinkakuji

it's quite a number of places for the first day. when are you going? if winter, can omit philosohper's walk. i personally liked arashiyama but too rush to include for 2 days.

[greenhse]

saffronsatire wrote:

it's quite a number of places for the first day. when are you going? if winter, can omit philosohper's walk. i personally liked arashiyama but too rush to include for 2 days.

thanks for the input.

going in 2 weeks time.

will cut short the places on the first day if it's too rush.

[kifo]

The Big Bang Theory wrote:

I agree, btw does Daiichi Takimotokan offer onsen for day visitors?

yes they do. From 1130 to 2pm like I mentioned earlier.

[The Big Bang Theory]

kifo wrote:

yes they do. From 1130 to 2pm like I mentioned earlier.

Nice, I think we will head there in the morning...

What else can I do after onsen, nearby?

[kifo]

The Big Bang Theory wrote:

Nice, I think we will head there in the morning...

What else can I do after onsen, nearby?

go take a walk among the hotspring pools that you just saw from inside the onsen in Takimotokan

[dimitri_can]

i had 1 time of Onsen experience, but after the 1st time, i dare not go in anymore....
Cos saw guys down there jumping up and down and asking their friends if it's moving a not... lol

[The Big Bang Theory]

kifo wrote:

go take a walk among the hotspring pools that you just saw from inside the onsen in Takimotokan

shared public pools for mix gender hav to wear swimming suit hor?

dimitri_can wrote:

i had 1 time of Onsen experience, but after the 1st time, i dare not go in anymore....
Cos saw guys down there jumping up and down and asking their friends if it's moving a not... lol

lol!

[kifo]

The Big Bang Theory wrote:

shared public pools for mix gender hav to wear swimming suit hor?



lol!

I don't think there are mixed bathing onsens in Noboribetsu, at least not in Takimotokan.

Where I know there are mixed gender pools in onsen spas in Tokyo and even in Jozankei, those are not authentic onsens and they are usually labelled as swimming pools or bathing pools. Those you need swimming costumes.

Real mixed gender bathing onsens usually have to go in naked, even for the ladies. Some places that I have been allows the woman to wrap herself with towel, and I have seen some women doing that, but this is usually frowned upon unless clearly indicated at the bath.

One of the more beautiful mixed onsen I have been to is the Furusato Onsen in Sakurajima. There you are given a thin cotton white yukata to wear into the onsen. Unfortunately, the hotel has gone bankrupt in 2012.

[The Big Bang Theory]

kifo wrote:

I don't think there are mixed bathing onsens in Noboribetsu, at least not in Takimotokan.

Where I know there are mixed gender pools in onsen spas in Tokyo and even in Jozankei, those are not authentic onsens and they are usually labelled as swimming pools or bathing pools. Those you need swimming costumes.

Real mixed gender bathing onsens usually have to go in naked, even for the ladies. Some places that I have been allows the woman to wrap herself with towel, and I have seen some women doing that, but this is usually frowned upon unless clearly indicated at the bath.

One of the more beautiful mixed onsen I have been to is the Furusato Onsen in Sakurajima. There you are given a thin cotton white yukata to wear into the onsen. Unfortunately, the hotel has gone bankrupt in 2012.

Thanks for the info again! How about private baths? Outdoor private onsens, have? haha

[chaotah]

when staying at a hotel / ryoukan

when you return back to the hotel / ryoukan and the staff greets you with "tadaima", will "okaeri" be an appropriate reply? or is it weird coz it's not really your house?

[marcho21]

Need assistance for my itinerary.

Day 1 - via Scoot (11am reach)
NEX Train to Shinjuku [advice where to purchase, SG or JP?]
Transfer train at Nippori Station, Pitstop at Ueno Park
Check-in Hotel (Hotel Sunroute Higashi Shinjuku)
Explore Shinjuku & Shibuya

Day 2
Check-out to Hakone [Purchase Hakone Free Pass, where to get it cheaper?]
Check-in Ooike Hotel
Explore Hakone

Day 3
Gotemba Outlet (Morning)
Check-out back to Shinjuku
Meiji Shrine, Yoyoji Park, Harajuku

Day 4
Senjoji Shrine, Akihabara, Ginza, Tokyo Towers

Day 5
Flying to Taipei at noon


Also would like to know where/which Transport Card (similar to EZ-Link) to get and also unlimited 3G SIM.

Arigato!

[dimitri_can]

My answers below

marcho21 wrote:

Need assistance for my itinerary.

Day 1 - via Scoot (11am reach)
NEX Train to Shinjuku [advice where to purchase, SG or JP?]
Transfer train at Nippori Station, Pitstop at Ueno Park
Check-in Hotel (Hotel Sunroute Higashi Shinjuku)
Explore Shinjuku & Shibuya

Purchase the NEX train ticket in JP. 1500 yen only.

marcho21 wrote:

Day 2
Check-out to Hakone [Purchase Hakone Free Pass, where to get it cheaper?]
Check-in Ooike Hotel
Explore Hakone

Ensure that this is not a weekend, if not super packed.
Read here

marcho21 wrote:

Day 3
Gotemba Outlet (Morning)
Check-out back to Shinjuku
Meiji Shrine, Yoyoji Park, Harajuku

Day 4
Senjoji Shrine, Akihabara, Ginza, Tokyo Towers

Day 5
Flying to Taipei at noon


Also would like to know where/which Transport Card (similar to EZ-Link) to get and also unlimited 3G SIM.

Arigato!

Ezlink:
Suica
Suica | Fares & Passes | JR-EAST

In Japan, no such thing as really unlimited 3G SIM. You might wanna look at my other thread for Unlimited MIFI rental or the So-Net thread in the same forum

[dimitri_can]

chaotah wrote:

when staying at a hotel / ryoukan

when you return back to the hotel / ryoukan and the staff greets you with "tadaima", will "okaeri" be an appropriate reply? or is it weird coz it's not really your house?

i think it's ok though...

[kifo]

The Big Bang Theory wrote:

Thanks for the info again! How about private baths? Outdoor private onsens, have? haha

You can read about the baths in Takimotokan on their online English website
Seven Bath Types.. | Onsen. | Dai-ichi Takimotokan

I think they do not have private baths.

As for other hotels offering onsens, they might have private ones but you will have to try searching online on your own. Start with their tourism website.
登別観光協会

[kifo]

chaotah wrote:

when staying at a hotel / ryoukan

when you return back to the hotel / ryoukan and the staff greets you with "tadaima", will "okaeri" be an appropriate reply? or is it weird coz it's not really your house?

Since you are staying there, it is find to use okaeri. Likewise, use ittekimasu when you are going out too.