Travel in Japan using JR pass before price hike! (Effective in October 2023)

 

That was a whooping 70% increase in price but I got my pass in August 2023! Have to decide on the places in Japan to cover in your next trip to determine whether it is worth to buy JR-pass or just return tickets from city to city. 

You can check in the following website: https://smart-ex.jp

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26/09/2023

 

Depart from Singapore Changi Airport on SQ638.

27/09/2023 (Day 1)

The rising sun broke forth from the horizon a couple of hours before arrival at Tokyo Narita Airport.

  

Q to redeem JR-pass together with Narita Express ticket at Narita service centre then move to a platform for ride to Tokyo Station. (All these within 2 hours from touch-down, so convenient.)

  

After transferring a number of JR & local trains (additional minimum costs), arrived at Central Bible College, Toshima-Kamagome to meet a pastor friend. Rustic campus for learning and encountering God, the Creator of Heaven & Earth & everything within.

  

After handing him gifts from Singapore and my main luggage, traced the route back to Tokyo station for shinkansen trip to Gunma Prefecture for the Number One Katsu Curry in Japan - Restaurant Ponchi (〒371-0022 Gunma, Maebashi, Chiyodamachi, 3 Chome−3−18 レストランポンチ).

Took bus from Maebashi Station after arrival at Gunma by Shinkansen and reached bus top in front of Gunma Bank near the restaurant.

Enroute, was the spring water stream lined with willow trees, so tranquil.

 The renowned 103 years old restaurant, a favourite curry rice go to for the father of modern Japanese poetry, Sakutaro Hagiwara, who was born in Gunma.

 The operating days and hours so that there will not be any disappointment for potential customers.

 

Back at Tokyo Station from trip to Shin-Osaka station.

 Home-cooked Japanese dinner prepared by my mama at her home in Mishimaoka-Ibaraki. So enjoyed it!

Short trip to Tokyo

31 Oct. 2019 (Thursday)
Having reserved the wifi router from (CR) Changi Recomends, I received email reminders to collect the router before going thru’ immigration but with group check-in & photo-taking at 6.00am this morning, I remembered only when I was inside.

The good news was CR has another counter inside T1 for last minute application of their services. There, I got my router @S$14.00 for 5 days unlimited use. This is good option for affordable access to wifi in Japan. As it was a company incentive trip we used air-conditioned coach from point to point so need to consider JR pass.

Snow started to cover the peak of Mt Fuji.

                

Tokyo Tower Night & Day

 

Kappabashi the place to go for heart-shaped chiffon cake trays.

 

Ameyoko for seasonal fruits and Japanese titbits.

4 Oct. 2016 (Reunion with Kato family)

Today started with Aloysius going to meet his church friend who was studying in Tokyo and Aleo lepark in the apartment. For Kellie, it was time to look for special buys at Daiso and other ¥100 shops in Tokyo!

Since their last visit to Singapore years ago, Mr & Mrs Kato (Yoshiaki & Makiko) were meeting Kellie, Aloysius and Aleo after a long time. They found that the boys have grown up.

We were treated to a fusion dinner at the Orange at the Midtown, which we all enjoyed.

3 Oct. 2016 (Kappabashi & Akihabara)

After a well deserved rest, we travelled to Akihabara for lunch before Aleo stayed on to check out the IT shops as he is interested in self-assembly of gaming computer and also see the manga shops.

With the 3-day (72 hours) pass, Kellie, Aloysius and I took the subway to Kappabashi.

From the junction, the cups on each level of this building marked the start of "Bakery" street - a long stretch of shops after shops selling bake wares, crockery, all kinds of chef knives, etc.

Some of the purchases made here:

1. Super-conductor butter knife

2. Super-conductor ice-cream scoop

3. Rectangular stone slabs for food display

4. Warabi mochi powder

2 Oct. 2016 (From Osaka to Tokyo)

Early in the morning, after breakfast prepared by Mama, we strolled to the Ibaraki JR station with our luggage in order to reach Shin Osaka station for the reserved shinkansen trip to Tokyo.

 

From Shin-Osaka to Tokyo station, we spent 3 hours in the bullet train. Then we rode the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (subway) to Roppongi Station and from there, we went out thru' the stairs of Exit 5 and strolled to our AirBnB apartment within 5 min. An easier route using elevator or escalator is located at Tokyo-Midtown (Exit 8), however it would take another 2 more min. to reach our apartment.

The apartment is off the main street of Roppongi Dori - very convenient. As my family rest in air-conditioned comfort of the apartment, I went to buy the 3-day Tokyo subway pass from BIC Camera shop as most travel agencies like JTB, HIS, Kinki, etc. are closed by 6pm. Important note is for all passports to be brought along in order to buy these passes which cost ¥1,500 each.

Just go direct to the cashier located at street level.

Back at the apartment, we gathered and then took subway to Oshiage station for dinner at an udon restaurant as we were all so hungry.

1 Oct. 2016 (Dinner)

After meeting Mama at Ibaraki station, we walked through a shopping street to this Japanese restaurant - Naritaya (成田家).

   
    

Taking a group wefie while we waited for the kaiseki (懐石料理) to commence.

                          

One skill that we picked up from Mama was to remove the backbone of the grilled ayu without breaking up the body before eating the whole fish - from head to tail. Wow!

We all strolled back to "Yasuki Hotel" after a super satisfying 懐石料理 dinner.