Day 2 (6/12) Ueno to Nagano

Seawal jam 8.30 pagi semua telah berkumpul dan bersedia untuk meneruskan perjalanan ke destinasi berikutnya iaitu Nagano. Setelah check out kami bergerak semula ke Ueno Station. Oleh kerana masih banyak waktu sementara menunggu train berikutnya ke Nagano, kami sekadar lepak di dalam station.

Perjalanan ke Nagano memakan masa kira-kira 1.30 jam. Pemandangan diluar amat cantik terutamanya apabila memasuki kawasan perkampungan dan masing2 excited bila nampak bandar yang dilitupi salji di Karuizawa.

Sampai di Nagano kira-kira jam 1.00 petang. Cuaca memang agak sejuk iaitu kira-kira 2-3C. Singgah sebentar di Tourist Info Counter. Untuk pergi ke Nozawa mungkin agak suntuk. Oleh itu kami membuat keputusan pergi terus ke Hotel yang terletak betul2 diluar stesen Nagano, hanya perlu melintas jalan. Kali ni saiz bilik agak besar berbanding di Ueno. Kami menginap di Abest Hotel Nagano.

Oleh kerana tiada perancangan khusus hari ni, kami sekadar berjalan2 di sekitar bandar dan menuju ke arah Zenkoji Temple yang merupakan salah satu tarikan utama di sini. Sambil bersiar2 dalam cuaca sejuk kami menikmati pemandangan indah yang mana sebahagiannya telah dilitupi salji yang memutih. Setelah puas berjalan kami terus balik ke bilik untuk makan malam,

Sempat juga berjalan2 diwaktu malam untuk mencari sarung tangan dan stokin untuk persediaan esok.

Day 1 (5/12) Narita to Ueno

Tiba di Narita Airport kirjam 8.00 pagi. Masing2 excited dan sempat bergambar di welcoming signage. Ketibaan di imigresen disambut dengan penuh ramah oleh pegawai imigresen berasal dari Filipina yang membantu kami menyusun dokumen yang telah diisi dan dibawa ke kaunter pemeriksaan.

Setelah mengambil bagasi, kelihatan pegawai kastam yang membawa poster mengenai larangan membawa buah-buahan. Pemeriksaan bagasi dibuat dan terpaksalah menyerahkan sebungkus merah yang dibawa. Alhamdulillah makanan lain tak diambil.

Kami seterusnya pergi ke kaunter JR Pass untuk menukarkan voucher JR Pass yang dibeli di Malaysia. Di kaunter JR Pass ini juga kami akan membuat tempahan tiket untukmenaiki Narita Express (NEX) ke Ueno. Destinasi terakhir NEX ialah Tokyo tetapi kami berhenti di Ueno kerana lebih hampir ke Hotel yang ditempah. Perjalanan Narita ke Euno mengambil masa kira-kira 1 jam.

Sampai di Euno Station kira-kira jam 12 tengahri, kami terus mencari arah ke Ueno Hotel. Cuaca di luar agak sejuk. Jarak ke Hotel lebih kurang dalam 500 meter. Memandangkan masih awal, kami tidak dibernarkan check-in. Sementara menunggu dan berehat sebentar, masing-masing mengeluarkan bekalan yang ada dan makan di ruang cafetaria bersebelahan reception. Setelah kenyang, sebahagian dari kami meneruskan perjalanan ke Ueno Market yang terletak tidak jauh dengan Ueno Station.

Seperti yang telah dirancang, hari ni merupakan hari aktiviti bebas terutamanya untuk mencari pakaian sesuai untuk dibawa ke Nagano esok. Ketika kami mahu meninggalkan hotel, kira-kira jam 2.30 petang kami telah dibenarkan masuk ke bilik. Setelah selesai memunggah barang ke bililk yang agak sempit, solat jamak dan terus bergerak ke Ueno Market yang lebih dikenali sebagai Ameyoko.

Umpama Petaling Street, terdapat banyak kedai2 menjual pakaian disini. Terdapat juga banyak kedai Kebab Halal disini. Walaupun banyak kedai pakaian, tetapi UniQlo jugak menjadi tempat dituju. Setelah selesai membeli pakaian sejuk, kami terus balik memandangkan cuaca sudah semakin gelap dan sejuk. Waktu maghrib agak awal iaitu kira-kira jam 4.30 petang.

Day 0 (4/12) KLIA2 ke Narita Airport

Perjalanan yang dirancang sejak kira-kira bulan Julai 2014 telah menjadi kenyataan. Siapa sangka dalam waktu terdekat dapat mengumpul 6 keluarga untuk sama-sama meneroka bumi Jepun. Kalah rombongan cik kiah. ALhamdulillah sekarang harga Yen telah jatuh so boleh tukar duit lebih sikit.

Macam biasa my favorite money changer would be the one dalam Wisma Sentral (bukan yang diluar tu). Tanpa perlu bargain, terus dapat tukar pada kadar 2.93.

Bertolak dari rumah kira-kira jam 8.30 malam dan sampai ke KLIA 2 kira-kira sejam kemudian. Sempat dinner dan tapau burger beli di Marrybrown, in case budak2 lapar bila sampai di Tokyo.

Kami menaiki Air Asia X ke Narita dan perjalanan mengambil masa kira-kira 7 jam.

Travelling Options Narita Airport to Tokyo

List of Routes

Rail access to and from Narita Airport is via the Narita Sky Access line, Keisei line and JR line.

Line	Service	Website (Timetable, Fares)	Inquiries
Narita SKY ACCESS Line	Skyliner Access Express	KEISEI ELECTRIC RAILWAY Website Skyliner Website	Keisei Ueno Information Center, Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd. +81-(0)3-3831-0131 (9:00-18:00) (English and Japanese only)
Keisei Main Line	Morning Liner Evening Liner Rapid Express
JR Line	Narita Express Airport Narita	JR EAST Website Narita Express Website	JR East Telephone Center +81-(0)50-2016-1603 (10:00-18:00)
Rail(Special service using Keisei Main Line, Toei and Keikyu rail systems)	-	KEISEI ELECTRIC RAILWAY Toei Transportation Information Keihin Electric Express Railway	-

Rail tickets can be purchased at the station counters on the B1 level or in the international arrival lobby on the 1st floor.

Source: http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/access/train/

Halal Food in Japan (www.feeljapank.com)

Salma Tikka Biryani (Shinagawa, Tokyo)

Salma Tikka Biryani is located within 5 minutes walking distance from Shinagawa Prince Hotel.
Brunei Embassy staff are regular customers there.

<Shop Information>
Address. 4-22-11 Takanawa Minato-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-3449-5302

Potohar (Shibuya, Tokyo)

Potohar is located within 5 minutes walking distance from Shinjuku Washington Hotel and serve Indo & Pakistan dishes.

<Shop Information>
Address. 3-29-5 Yoyogi Shibuya-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-3378-3139

Kebab Box J (Shinjuku, Tokyo)

Kebab Box J is located within 5 minutes walking distance from Shinjuku Washington Hotel and serve Chicken Kebab sandwich.

<Shop Information>
Address. 1-14-15 Nishi-Shinjuku Shinjuku-ku Tokyo

Hisar (Okubo, Tokyo)

Hisar is located within a few minutes walking distance from JR Okubo Station (Next to Shinjuku Station).
You can enjoy Turkish meals provided by Muslim Turkish Chef.

<Shop Information>
Address. 1-24-11 Hyakonincho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-3771-0081

Chandrama (Tokyo)

Chandrama is the first Japanese chicken curry restaurant supervised by Malaysian Halal Corporation.

<Shop Information>
Address. New-Shinbashi Building416 2-16-1 Shinbashi Minato-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-6268-8339

Chicken Man (Ueno, Tokyo)

Halal Chicken shop was opened next to Halal Kebab Shop at Ameyoko street.

<Shop Information>
Address. 1F Ameyoko Street Center Builiding 4-7-8 Taito-ku Tokyo
Url. http://www.chickenman.jp/english/index.html

Siddique (Tokyo) -Indian & Pakistani restaurant group

Siddique is the one of the biggest Indian & Pakistani restaurant group mainly in Tokyo area.
They have more than 20 restaurants.
Siddique is famous for its big size of naan.

<Shop Information>
Url. http://www.siddique.co.jp/shop/index.html (in Japanese)

Samrat (Tokyo) - Indian restaurant group

Samrat is the one of the biggest Indian restaurant group in Tokyo.
They have 8 restaurant in Tokyo.
You can enjoy buffet and sometime show-time (Turkish dance show….) there.

<Shop Information>
Url. http://www.samrat.co.jp/shop/

Moses san no Kebab (Ueno, Tokyo)

This shop is located at Ameyoko street(Ueno) and one of the busiest Kebab shop in Tokyo.
Many Muslim students also enjoy Kebab there.

<Shop Information>
Address. 1F 4-7-8 Ueno Taito-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-3837-4774

JR Pass vs Manual Ticket - Cost comparison

Manual Ticket:

Narita > Tokyo > Narita : ¥ 4,800 (RM140)
Tokyo > Nagano > Tokyo : ¥ 16,000 (RM470)
Total: ¥ 20,800 (RM610)

5-Days JR Pas: ¥ 22,000 (RM650)

7-Days JR Pas: ¥ 28,300 (RM830)





Source: http://www.jrpass.com/


Source: http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/

Nagano to Nozawa Onsen

How To Get There

Where is Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort?Nozawa Onsen is located in the northern part of the Nagano Prefecture of Honshu, the main island of Japan. Nozawa is one of the Nagano ski resorts, located 46km northeast of the city of Nagano. 

Driving times to Nozawa Onsen from: 

• Tokyo- 4.5 to 5 hours
• Narita Airport – 5-6 hours
• Nagoya - 5 hours
• Osaka or Kyoto – about 7 hours

Travel to Nozawa OnsenThere are broadly two options to get to Nozawa Onsen from the Tokyo Narita Airport. 

Option A is road transport (ie bus or taxi) which takes about 5-6 hours and provides the convenience of not having to drag your luggage between trains and buses. 

Option B consists of catching a train to Tokyo and then to Nagano. Depending on connections it takes about 4 hours to get from Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen via train and bus. In the future the trip will be much quicker because construction is underway for a Shinkansen that goes to Iiyama, only 12km from Nozawa Onsen. Another advantage of taking the trains is that it’s a great cultural experience. 

Option A: Shuttle or Private Road Transport to Nozawa Onsen

There are private charter operators that provide transport from Narita Airport to Nozawa Onsen, or shared taxi services. 

A cheaper option than a taxi or the trains is to catch a bus from Tokyo Narita Airport to Nozawa Onsen which can be booked as part of a Nozawa Onsen ski package or separately here. This option will work well for flights that arrive into Narita late in the day because the bus departs at 8pm and arrives at Nozawa Onsen at 1am. All guests will be dropped off at their accommodation in Nozawa Onsen on arrival. (NB you can’t book the trip a long way in advance. If it states that it’s not possible to make a booking for that date, check back closer to your travel time).
 

	Nagano Snow Shuttle Tokyo (Narita) airport; daily shuttle service to Hakuba,Shiga Kogen or Nozawa Onsen. Buses depart 8pm & average transit time to Nagano ski areas is approx 5 hrs.

Option B: Train from Tokyo to NaganoCatching the train is a common mode of transport to Nagano. From Narita Airport (the Tokyo international airport), catch the Narita Express (NEX) train to Tokyo Station (1 hour). There are frequent departures from the airport railway terminal. 

Upon arrival at Tokyo Station take the escalators up and follow the green signs for the Nagano Shinkansen Asama. The platform number for departure is usually about 20-23. Check Hyperdia for schedules, although unless you’re travelling early or late in the day, there are frequent departures so you can probably just go with the flow. The bullet train from Tokyo to Nagano takes about 100 minutes. If you do arrive late in Nagano, you might need to stay overnight in one of the Nagano hotels.

One way to cover the fares for the NEX and the Shinkansen is to purchase a JR East Pass which provides 5 days of train travel over a 14 day period. This voucher can be exchanged for the rail pass at the airport station, and then you’ll need to reserve seats for the trains. See our Japan rail page for more information or you can get your Japan Rail Pass voucher here or as part of aNozawa Onsen ski package.

For train travel to Nagano from Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto or other parts of Japan, see Hyperdia for routes, schedules and fares. 

	International Rail - JR Rail Passes Buy JR East Rail Passes online. 5 days of train travel in any 14 day period. Non-Japanese residents only. Must be purchased outside of Japan before you arrive.

Option B: Getting from Nagano to Nozawa OnsenOption 1: 
From Nagano there are six buses each day to Nozawa Onsen between approximately 9am and 4pm. The trip takes 1:20 hours. Return buses start at 9:15am from Nozawa with the last bus departing at 4:45pm. Check the Nagaden Express website for the latest timetables (it’s in Japanese but hopefully your google translator will pop it into English for you). 

Upon exiting the gates at Nagano station turn left to the east exit and take the lift down to the bus stops. The buses for Nozawa Onsen generally depart from bus stop number 4, but the bus schedules are listed next to each bus stop so you can check. A one way fare costs about ¥1,500 per adult. This bus only stops at one central place in Nozawa Onsen. 

Option 2: 
Catch a local train from Nagano to Togari Nozawa Onsen Station on the Iiyama Line (about an hour). When checking schedules in Hyperdia, type in “TogariNozawaOnsen” with no spaces, and don’t confuse it with Nozawa Station about 4 hours away from Nagano. From Togari Nozawa Onsen train station it’s a 20 minute taxi ride to Nozawa Onsen. Alternatively there’s a bus that usually connects with the train. This bus makes various stops in Nozawa Onsen town at Shinden, Nakao and other stops. 

Option 3: 
If you arrive late in the afternoon you may need to catch a taxi from Nagano to Nozawa Onsen. Taxis are small sedans that don’t necessarily have roof racks, so you may need to take your skis or board out of the bag to fit into the taxi. 

Getting Around Nozawa OnsenThe town of Nozawa Onsen sits below the ski resort, and considering there are three main base areas (Hikage, Nagasaka, and Karasawa), most lodgings are within walking distance of a lift. Access to and from the Hikage gondola is facilitated by Yû-road, a 300 metre undercover uphill moving escalator (minus the steps). Sometimes getting up and down to Yû-road can be a little treacherous in ski boots (but it makes for an interesting spectator sport!). If you’re renting skis and boots, you may want to store them overnight at one of the Hikage gondola shops. 

There is a town shuttle bus that travels up to the Nagasaka gondola, but most people don’t tend to use it unless they’re staying in the lower reaches of town. 

The town is rather hilly and even though the narrow roads are heated with onsen water, it can be a little slippery so wear sturdy footwear. Take care (even if you haven’t been drinking!) because there are many ditches and drains off the side of the walkways, some with six foot plus drops. And if you’re driving around town, be really careful of these big dikes! 

Other Ski Resorts NearbyThere are various other Nagano ski resorts, so Nozawa Onsen can easily be combined with other ski areas on your Japan ski holiday. To get to Hakuba, Myoko Kogen or Shiga Kogen you can get a shuttle bus from Nozawa Onsen with Nagano Snow Shuttle. The inter-resort transfers leave in the morning. You can check timetables and rates here. (NB often it’s not possible to book the transfer a long way in advance. If it states that it’s not possible to make a booking for that date, check back closer to the start of the season). 

Another option is to get a taxi or private shuttle. A private door to door shuttle to Hakuba may cost about ¥30,000, whilst a taxi to Shiga Kogen or Myoko Kogen (a one hour trip) costs about ¥21,000. 

Nearby Madarao Kogen can be plenty of fun on a powder day, and the ski area is connected to Tangram Ski Resort. Togari is also close by and has largely mellow slopes. The Nozawa Togari Madarao Bus provides transport between the three ski resorts for very reasonable rates.

Source: http://www.powderhounds.com/Japan/Honshu/Nozawa-Onsen/Getting-There.aspx

Nagano to Hakuba

How To Get There

Where is Hakuba?

The town of Hakuba is located 44km west of Nagano (about one hour drive) in the Nagano Prefecture. Hakuba is located on the island of Honshu (the main island of Japan), about 270km northwest of Tokyo. “Hakuba Valley” is the large area that encompasses the 11 ski resorts and various villages, but most people just refer to the area as “Hakuba”. The Happo village is the main tourist hub, which extends 1.5 - 2.6km west of the town of Hakuba.

Hakuba Travel – Getting There

There are three main options for getting to Hakuba from Narita Airport to Hakuba:

1. Train/train/bus combo – this includes a train from Narita to Tokyo (or Ueno), then a bullet train (Shinkansen) to Nagano, and then a bus to Hakuba. This is the fastest route. From the Tokyo international airport the total trip takes about 3.5 to 4 hours depending upon connection timing. The other advantage of taking the trains is that it’s a great insight into a part of the Japanese culture.
2. Direct transfer – this involves getting a shuttle bus or shared taxi transfer directly from Narita Airport to Hakuba, which tends to cost a little more than the train/train/bus combo. The trip takes longer, about 5-6 hours, but it provides the advantage of not having to lug your bags around the train stations and on and off trains and buses. This is also the transport of choice if you arrive at the Narita airport in the evening (so you can avoid having to overnight in a Narita hotel or Nagano hotel). You can book this transfer with Nagano Snow Shuttle which departs Narita at 8pm (NB you can’t book the trip a long way in advance. If it states that it’s not possible to make a booking for that date, check back closer to your travel time) or it can be booked as part of a Hakuba ski package.
3. Train and shuttle – this involves 1-2 trains from Narita Airport to Shinjuku Station and then a shuttle bus to Hakuba – takes about 5 to 6 hours.

Nagano Snow Shuttle Nagano snow shuttle is the ideal way to get to and from Tokyo (Narita) airport to Hakuba, Shiga Kogen orNozawa Onsen. Buses leave after 3pm & are only filled to 75% so plenty of room for luggage.

OPTION 1 DETAILS If you want flexibility to do a Tokyo stopover or side trips to other parts of Honshu, it’s probably worthwhile purchasing a Japan Rail Pass, which is a 5 day pass (non-consecutive days) to be used within a 14 day period for bullet and local trains. See our Japan rail travel page for more information or you can get your Japan Rail Pass voucher here. 

The cost of purchasing the JR East Pass is generally similar to the fares for the NEX (train between airport and Tokyo) and the Nagano Shinkansen (train between Tokyo and Nagano).

The information below outlines each of the steps in the trip.

From Tokyo (Narita) Airport
From Tokyo international airport, take the train (Narita express) to Tokyo (Shinjuju) station which will take about 1 hour. These trains depart the airport rail terminal frequently.

Option 1B): If you don’t plan to purchase the Japan Rail Pass because you’re only going to Hakuba, the other option is to pay as you go and catch the Keiser Skyliner train that goes from Narita to Ueno (a station on the Nagano side of Tokyo) in a very speedy time of about 35 minutes!

International Rail - JR East International rail is a specialist rail travel company. Buy JR East Rail Passes online. Non-Japanese residents only. Must be purchased outside of Japan.

From Tokyo Station (or Ueno) to Nagano
The Tokyo train station is a tourist destination in itself, with the fascinating rush of people bustling about, the many food options to choose from, and the endless souvenir shops. Trains from Narita Airport arrive at underground platforms #1-4 so there’s quite an eye-opening hike up to the Shinkansen Bullet trains which leave from platforms #20-23. The Nagano bullet train (Asama Shinkansen) departs Tokyo Station regularly throughout the day (you can checktrain timetables here), and the super speedy trip (at over 200kph) takes only 90 minutes.

Option 1B): At Ueno you have to swap from the local train station to the Shinkansen train station, a walk of about 150 metres. This station isn’t quite as chaotic as Tokyo and offers the advantage of a faster trip time.

From Nagano Station to Hakuba
There are various options to get from Nagano to Hakuba which all take about one hour:

• a) Alpico buses from Nagano to Hakuba run every hour from 8:20am to 7:40pm (Friday night 9.00pm) and cost about ¥1,500 one way (children ¥700). Buses depart from the East (Higashi) exit of Nagano Station from bus stop 6. Most people use this option.
• b) You could get a taxi directly to your hotel for about ¥18,000, although you and the taxi driver might need to be creative in accommodating your ski/board bag.
• c) You can catch a local train to the Hakuba Station. 

From Hakuba Bus Terminal to your Accommodation
If you are coming to Hakuba via bus for part or all of the trip, your bus is likely to end up at the Happo Information Center. There is not much accommodation within walking distance of the bus terminal, so it’s likely you’ll need onward transport. The staff in the centre speak English so they’ll be able to help you with this.

Many of the Hakuba accommodation providers offer transport from the Happo Info Center if pre-arranged, or there are lots of taxis.

Getting Around the Hakuba Ski Resorts

Resorts close to Happo One include others in the Hakuba Valley such as: Hakuba 47 (2km away); Goryu (4km away), Hakuba Iwatake (3.5km away), Tsugaike Kogen (9km away) and Cortina (16km). To get between the different ski resorts, there are hotel-run shuttles and well as the free public bus system that operates along the valley. There are also buses around Happo, Wadano, and Echoland that connect the accommodation areas with the Happo One slopes.

The ski shuttle buses are pretty regular but for some routes (e.g. from Upper Wadano, or to Cortina, Kashimayari or Jiigatake) you may need to first change buses at the Happo Information Centre. You can get Hakuba bus timetables and route maps from the information centre or your accommodation.

Getting Around the Hakuba Villages in the Evening

It is possible to walk between Wadano, Happo and Hakuba town, but the walks can be fairly long. And this is probably not the place to wear your glamorous après boots because the roads can get rather sloppy!

The other option is a taxi, or from late afternoon there is a paid shuttle service called "Genki-Go" which runs around Happo, Wadano, Hakuba town, and the Echoland area. It only costs 300 yen per trip. The bus stops are numbered - at each stop there is a small route map and the timetable for that route. The Genki Go buses only tend to run in peak season (pre-Xmas to the end of February).

Getting Between Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen and Shiga KogenIf you’re sampling multiple Nagano ski resorts on your trip, there are shuttle buses between Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen, and Hakuba and Shiga Kogen withNagano Snow Shuttle.  The inter-resort transfers leave early in the morning and buses depart or arrive at Hakuba at Happo, Echoland and Goryu. You can check timetables and rates here. (NB often it’s not possible to book the transfer a long way in advance. If it states that it’s not possible to make a booking for that date, check back when the season is about to start).


Source: http://www.powderhounds.com/Japan/Honshu/Hakuba/Getting-There.aspx

Budgeting Reference

a) Accommodation

- Hotel Ueno x 1 night (Twin Room ¥11,790 / RM360)

- Hotel Abest Nagano x 2 night (Double Room ¥ 13,960 /RM425, Twin Room ¥17,960 / RM547)

- Hotel Best Western x 3 night (Double Room ¥ 17,200 / RM525, Twin Room ¥26,800 /RM816)

- Hotel Marroad x 1 night (¥ 37,800 for 6 rooms = ¥ 6,300 / RM192 per room)

b) JR Pass: 5-day flexi JR East Area Pass

- Adult 12 and above: ¥ 22,000 / RM670
- Child 6 - 11: ¥ 11,000 / RM335

c) Tokyo Disneyland

2-Day passport

- Adult 18 yo and above : ¥11,000 / RM335

- Junior 12 - 17 : ¥9,800 / RM300

- Child 4 - 11: ¥7,600 / RM230

- Child 3 and under: Free Admission

1-Day GROUP Passport

- Adult 18 yo and above : ¥5,800 / RM177

- Junior 12 - 17 : ¥4,900 / RM150

- Child 4 - 11: ¥3,900 / RM120

- Child 3 and under: Free Admission

JR Pass Coverage

EAST REGION

Start your journey comfortably from Narita Airport by taking the Narita Express to Tokyo. The pass gives you access to JR lines in central Tokyo, including the famous Yamanote Line, the circular line, which connects the key districts of the capital, such as Shibuya, Shinjuku as well as Ueno and Tokyo.

Next, make a stop at Nikko to visit the Nikko Tosho-gu, a magnificent shrine dedicated to then Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, or choose to climb Mount Fuji. Finally, head for Kamakura to admire the imposing Daibutsu (Giant Buddha), and if you travel during summer, enjoy its black sand beaches.

With the pass, you can also go to Tokyo Disney Resort and Disney Sea

List of Hotels in Japan

1) Ueno Hotel

Ueno Hotel is located within a 10-minute walk from Ueno Subway Station. The hotel provides free WiFi access throughout the property and a 24-hour front desk service.

Each carpeted room here will provide you with a refrigerator, a flat-screen TV and air conditioning. Featuring a shower, the private bathroom also comes with a hairdryer and free toiletries.

Hotel Ueno offers free a luggage storage service. Laundry services are available at an extra charge and guests can use the on-site drink vending machines.

In the surroundings are National Museum of Nature and Science Museum and the Museum of Western Art, both within a 10-minute walk. A 15-minute walk away is Ueno Park. Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Garden is a 20-minute train ride and Tokyo Haneda International Airport an hour train ride away.

2) Hotel Abest Nagano Ekimae

Located right in front of JR Nagano Shinkansen (bullet train) Station, Hotel Abest Nagano Ekimae offers compact accommodation equipped with a flat-screen TV, free wired internet and an en suite bathroom with a bath tub. It provides complimentary dinner meals to the guests.

Rooms feature a small desk, a compact fridge and an electric kettle. A hairdryer and free toiletries are included in the bathroom. Extra items like a humidifier and an iron can be borrowed from the front desk.

The 24-hour reception desk at Nagano Ekimae Abest Hotel offers free luggage storage services. In-room massages and dry-cleanings can be arranged at extra charge. Internet PCs can be used at the lobby for free.

The hotel is a 15-minute train ride away from Zenko-ji Temple, one of Japan’s National Treasures. Joyama Park is a about a 20-minute train ride from the property.

A daily breakfast buffet with Japanese and Western dishes is served at Oasis dining room on the 10th floor. Guests can enjoy some dinner meals for free with an advance reservation upon check-in.

3) Hotel Best Western Tokyo Nishikasai

Offering a free shuttle to Tokyo Disney Resort, Best Western Tokyo Nishikasai is a 2-minute walk to Nishikasai Subway Station. The cosy rooms include a flat-screen TV and free wired internet.

Rooms at Nishikasai Best Western have interiors with lively red touches. Each has a private bathroom and guests can enjoy video-on-demand movies. Limited units of non-smoking rooms for each room type is available.

Tokyo Disney Resort is 6 km from the hotel. The Nihonbashi and Otemachi areas are a 15-minute subway ride from nearby Nishikasai Station.

The Best Western hotel provides a massage service as well as coin-operated laundry machines.

Guests can enjoy Western dishes for breakfast and lunch at the stylish Aletta Buffet Restaurant.

4) Marroad International Hotel Narita

Situated a 10-minute drive from Narita Airport, Marroad International Hotel Narita offers free airport shuttles and a chargeable fitness centre. A tennis court and an indoor swimming pool are also available. The airport and air crafts can be viewed from some rooms and top-floor restaurants. This hotel also offers special day-use plans.

Decorated with natural colours, each room at Narita Marroad International comes with a flat-screen TV, a fridge and an electric kettle. The en suite bathroom includes a hairdryer and toiletries.

Guests at the Marroad Hotel can enjoy a work-out in the fitness gym or relax in the public bath at an extra charge. A gift shop and drink vending machines are available on site. Free luggage storage services are offered.

The hotel is a 10-minute drive from Museum of Aeronautical Sciences, and a 30-minute drive from Narita Yume Farm. Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple is a 15-minute drive away.

Lumiere restaurant on the top floor offers hearty buffets and the views of the airport, while Marroad serves Chinese and Western course meals. Cocktails and whiskies as well as the views of the airport can be enjoyed at the Galaxy bar.

Japan Travel Itinerary 2014

Day 0 (Thu, 4/12)

21:00 Travel to KLIA

00:55 Depart to Narita from klia2

Day 1 (Fri, 5/12)

08:45 Arrival at Narita International Airport

10:00 Train to Tokyo

Check-in Ueno Hotel

Tokyo Free-and-Easy:
- Ueno Market
- Tsukiji Fish Market

Day 2 (Sat, 6/12)

Check out from Ueno Hotel

Travel to Nagano

Check in Hotel Abest Nagano Ekimae

Day trip winter activities at Nozowa

Day 3 (Sun, 7/12)

Day trip winter activities at Hakuba


Day 4 (Mon, 8/12)

Check out from Hotel Nagano

Travel back to Tokyo

Check in at Best Western Tokyo Nishi Kasai

Tokyo free and easy

Day 5 (Tue, 9/12)

Disneyland Tokyo

Day 6 (Wed, 10/12)

Disneysea Tokyo

Day 7 (Thu, 11/12)

Check out from Best Western Tokyo Nishi Kasai

Day trip to Mt Fuji

Last minute shopping

Travel to Narita

Check in Marroad International Hotel, Narita

Day 8 (Fri, 12/12)

Check out from Marroad International Hotel, Narita

10:00 Flight back to KUL

16:45 Arrival at klia2

Hakuba

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Happo One with the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium Hakuba (白馬), located in the Northern Alps of Nagano Prefecture, is one of Japan's most popular ski areas, offering good snow and several large ski resorts to choose from. During the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, Hakuba gained world wide recognition as it hosted several olympic competitions, including alpine (downhill, super g, and combination) and nordic (ski jump and cross country) events. Today some of the olympic facilities remain in use, such as the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium. There is also the Hakuba Olympic Village Memorial Hall, a small but interesting museum, located within walking distance of the ski jump. On the slopes of Hakuba 47 Hakuba can be reached relatively easily not only from Tokyo, but also from the Nagoya and Kansai regions. While it is possible to do a day trip from Tokyo, Hakuba is best enjoyed overnight. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, there are hot springs (onsen) available around town. Twelve of the major resorts (including all of those listed on this page) have teamed up to offer the "Hakuba Valley Ticket" package, which gives discounts on multiple day lift tickets to be used at any of the participating resorts. Two 1-day tickets (valid over a three day period) cost 8700 yen, while three 1-day tickets (to be used over a five day period) cost 12,500 yen. A variety of other combination tickets are also available and some locals hotels offer further discounts to staying guests. Happoone Description Happoone is the the largest and most famous resort in Hakuba. In 1998 it hosted the downhill, super g, and combination ski events of the Nagano Winter Olympics. It is also the resort located closest to the village center and Hakuba Station. Season Early December to early May (2013/2014 season dates to be determined) Lifts 32 Lifts Tickets full day 8:00 to 17:00 4800 yen Rentals ski Local half day 8:00 to 13:00, 12:00 to 17:00 3700 yen board Local nighter 17:00 to 21:00 2000 yen clothes Local Access bus/train 6 minutes by bus from Hakuba Station. Served by express buses from/to Nagano. car 2.5 kilometers west of Hakuba village center Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba 47 group:A ticket bought at either Hakuba Goryu or Hakuba 47 can be used at both resorts. Hakuba Goryu Description Hakuba Goryu is located relatively close to central Hakuba village and is located on the same mountain as and connected to Hakuba 47. Season Early December to early May (2013/2014 season dates to be determined) Lifts 13 Lifts Tickets full day 8:00 to 17:00 4800 yen Rentals ski Local half day 8:00 to 13:00, 12:00 to 17:00 3800 yen board Local nighter 18:00 to 21:30 1800 yen clothes Local Access bus/train 5 minutes by shuttle bus from Kamishiro Station. Served by express buses from/to Nagano. car 4.5 kilometers southwest of Hakuba village center Hakuba 47 Description Together with its larger brother Hakuba Goryu, Hakuba 47 makes up the second most popular resorts in the area. Season Early December to early May (2013/2014 season dates to be determined) Lifts 6 Lifts Tickets full day 8:00 to 16:00 4800 yen Rentals ski 4000 yen half day 8:00 to 13:00, 12:00 to 16:00 3800 yen board 4000 yen nighter N/A N/A clothes 3000 yen Access bus/train 10 minutes by shuttle bus from Hakuba Station. car 4.5 kilometers southwest of Hakuba village center Hakuba Norikura and Hakuba Cortina Kokusai Group:Located just outside of the Hakuba village limits. A combination ticket to both resorts costs 4000 yen. A half day combination ticket is available for 2800 yen. Hakuba Norikura Description Hakuba Norikura is located just outside of the Hakuba village limits next to Tsugaike Koen. Season Early December to early April (2013/2014 season dates to be determined) Lifts 10 Lifts Tickets full day 8:00 to 17:00 3500 yen Rentals ski 3000 yen half day 8:00 to 13:00, 12:00 to 17:00 2300 yen board 3000 yen nighter N/A N/A clothes 3000 yen Access bus/train 20 minutes by bus from Minami-Otari Station. Served by express buses from/to Nagano. car 10 kilometers north of Hakuba village center Hakuba Cortina Kokusai Description Hakuba Cortina is the furthest major resort from central Hakuba. It is just next to and partnered with Hakuba Norikura. Season Mid December to early April (December 14, 2013 to April 6, 2014) Lifts 9 Lifts Tickets full day 8:30 to 17:00 3300 yen Rentals ski 4500 yen half day 8:30 to 13:00, 12:00 to 17:00 2500 yen board 4500 yen nighter 17:00 to 20:00 1000 yen clothes 4500 yen Access bus/train 20 minutes by bus from Minami-Otari Station. car 12 kilometers north of Hakuba village center Unaffiliated Resorts: Hakuba Iwatake Description Hakuba Iwatake is located close to central Hakuba, and is one of Hakuba's largest single resorts. Season Early December to early April (From December 20, 2013) Lifts 16 Lifts Tickets full day 8:00 to 17:00 4000 yen Rentals ski Local half day 8:30 to 13:00, 12:00 to 17:00 2800 yen board Local nighter N/A N/A clothes Local Access bus/train 15-20 minutes by bus or shuttle bus from Hakuba Station. Served by express buses from/to Nagano. car 3 kilometers north of Hakuba village center Tsugaike Kogen Description Tsugaike Kogen is the second largest resort in the area. It is located next to Hakuba Iwatake, just outside the Hakuba village limits. Season Early December to early May (2013/2014 season dates to be determined) Lifts 26 Lifts Tickets full day 8:00 to 17:00 4700 yen Rentals ski 2500 yen half day 8:00 to 13:00, 12:00 to 17:00 3700 yen board 3000 yen nighter 17:00 to 21:00 2000 yen clothes 2500 yen Access bus/train 30 minutes by bus from Hakuba Station. Served by express buses from/to Nagano. car 7 kilometers north of Hakuba village center Any Questions? Ask them in our question forum.

How to get there

From Tokyo By shinkansen via Nagano Take the JR Nagano Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano (100 minutes, 8000 yen) and then an express bus from Nagano to Hakuba (60-90 minutes, 1600-1900 yen), where the bus stops at Hakuba Station and directly at the base of several ski resorts. The Japan Rail Pass covers the shinkansen trip but not the bus journey. By limited express train via Matsumoto Take the JR Azusa limited express train from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station to Matsumoto and transfer to a local train on the JR Oito Line to Hakuba. Some Azusa limited express trains run all the way to Hakuba. The one way journey takes about 4 to 4.5 hours and costs around 8000 yen. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. By direct highway bus from central Tokyo During winter, six bus round trips per day are operated between Tokyo (Shinjuku) and Hakuba, where the buses stop in the village center and at the base of the Goryu and Happoone resorts. The one way journey takes about 4.5 hours and costs 4850 yen. A round trip ticket is available for 8700 yen. By direct highway bus from Narita Airport During winter, one round trip per day is operated between Narita Airport and Hakuba (Goryu, town center and Happo-one). The one way trip takes about six hours and costs 8,500 yen. From Nagoya/Kyoto/Osaka Take the JR Shinano limited express train from Nagoya to Matsumoto and transfer to a train along the Oito Line to Hakuba. The one way journey takes about 3.5 hours and costs around 7000 yen. It is fully covered by theJapan Rail Pass.