[dimitri_can]

ashethen wrote:

how to ask whether is there tax rebate in japanese?

Generally those purchases at department stores above 10001 yen will qualify for tax rebate. It's quite obvious. You will see it at the counter. Small shops would not have it.

[floppy]

dimitri_can wrote:

Generally those purchases at department stores above 10001 yen will qualify for tax rebate. It's quite obvious. You will see it at the counter. Small shops would not have it.

5401 yen for consumables.

[cormet]

What does this page mean? http://www.daisetsu-kogen.com

It's an image so I can't google translate it. Does it mean they close on 10 Oct and I can't make reservations for stays after that?

[kifo]

cormet wrote:

What does this page mean? http://www.daisetsu-kogen.com

It's an image so I can't google translate it. Does it mean they close on 10 Oct and I can't make reservations for stays after that?

Yes it says they are closed from 10 Oct for this year.

The other text on top says they are only open for 123 days per year.

[cancer81]

this is more of a mountain lodge than your regular onsen ryokan.

it is after all 1260m above sea level. Sounds like nice bucket list place to visit

[cormet]

kifo wrote:

Yes it says they are closed from 10 Oct for this year.

The other text on top says they are only open for 123 days per year.

Oh noooooooooo got to source for a new place to stay now. Thanks a lot!

[cormet]

I'm reconsidering my decision to spend a night in Sounkyo. I'll be coming from Lake Akan so it'll be about a 3h drive over.

I'm visiting in end Oct, is there still autumn foliage? Can the gorge be covered as a "drive thru"? I may want to transfer the night to Asahikawa instead.

[Sausage]

can anyone here read japanese? i'd like to buy this during my next trip. Interested in knowing if it is general or limited release, and where it's sold.

http://www.rc-berg.co.jp/products/ga...ms_philfi.html

[kifo]

Sausage wrote:

can anyone here read japanese? i'd like to buy this during my next trip. Interested in knowing if it is general or limited release, and where it's sold.

http://www.rc-berg.co.jp/products/ga...ms_philfi.html

You cannot order anymore. The order period is from 25 May to 25 Jun. Too late.

[idrinkecoke]

Do Japanese speak basic english? Is it worth taking the bulllet train to osaka and spend 1 day there then back to tokyo?

[evilerniex]

idrinkecoke wrote:

Do Japanese speak basic english? Is it worth taking the bulllet train to osaka and spend 1 day there then back to tokyo?

not advisable. the one-way shinkansen to Osaka is about 14000yen and takes about 3hrs. it is going to be very costly, and u wun have much time to spend in Osaka after all the travelling time

[purpleberry]

idrinkecoke wrote:

Do Japanese speak basic english? Is it worth taking the bulllet train to osaka and spend 1 day there then back to tokyo?

The younger chaps do speak basic English, if not hand gestures should do the trick.

Travelling to Osaka for a night stay is very costly and not recommended imo. You can save this for another trip in the future. You can check on http://www.hyperdia.com/ for the costs and travelling time.

[cancer81]

you can take a day trip to Kamakura!

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2166.html

[crntbs]

Hi all,
My friend and I are planning for a self drive trip in Kyushu during last 2 weeks of Oct. I wanted to book accommodation in advance but my friend wanted to do this differently by looking for accommodation depending on where we are at the end of the day. I couldn't seem to convince my friend because She had done a road trip in usa using her method and She thot it'll be more cost effective and less stressful without having to follow a schedule.
I've read travel blogs and most of the ppl seems to have book accommodation in advance and there wasn't much advice regarding this. Therefore, I would like to seek opinion from the experts in here whether it is advisable to travel in kyushu without booking for accommodation?

[evilerniex]

crntbs wrote:

Hi all,
My friend and I are planning for a self drive trip in Kyushu during last 2 weeks of Oct. I wanted to book accommodation in advance but my friend wanted to do this differently by looking for accommodation depending on where we are at the end of the day. I couldn't seem to convince my friend because She had done a road trip in usa using her method and She thot it'll be more cost effective and less stressful without having to follow a schedule.
I've read travel blogs and most of the ppl seems to have book accommodation in advance and there wasn't much advice regarding this. Therefore, I would like to seek opinion from the experts in here whether it is advisable to travel in kyushu without booking for accommodation?

oct is peak season for autumn leaves in Kyushu. cheap and good accom may be hard find.
Kyoto accom are usually fully booked months in advance for autumn leaves season. while Kyushu is not as popular a tourist destination as Kyoto, it is still quite risky not to book in advance. not point wasting time driving around searching for accom.
to make things flexible, maybe u can book those with free cancellations. so at least have something to fall back on