Gonna consolidate some useful Japan links I come across here for my easy reference and for sharing.
General Japan info:
Lots of useful info
http://www.japan-guide.com/
Japan National Tourism Organisation
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/
e-Magazine which contains many useful Rail pass details and Tokyo Maps
http://www.infomapjapan.com/ebook/index.html#page=2
Accomodations:
Booked most of my trip's accomodation through Japanican website
http://www.japanican.com
Budget hotels:
Cube Hotel
http://www.cubehotel.jp/
Super Hotel chain
http://www.superhotel.co.jp/en/index.html
Sunroute Hotel chain
http://www.sunroute.jp/SunrouteTopHLE.html
Dormy Inn Hotel chain
http://www.hotespa.net/business/en/inquiry/index.html
Transportation:
Skymark (Domestic Airline) *only available for booking 3 months in advance*
http://www.skymark.co.jp/en/
JR Pass (Japan Rail)
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en001.html
Shinkansen
http://jreast-shinkansen-reservation.eki-net.com/pc/english/common/timetable/index.html
Shinkansen Free and Easy packages (shinkansen + hotel)
*much cheaper than getting shinkansen and hotel separately*
http://www.japanican.com/special/shinkansen
Narita Express (train between Narita Airport to Tokyo)
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/nex/index.html
Suica + N'EX (Narita Express) *to be purchased from Narita Airport*
Suica is a pre-paid stored value card for subway/buses in Tokyo
Narita Express is a 1 (or round trip) way ticket from Narita Airport to Tokyo area.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/index.html
Airport Limousine Bus (For Narita/Haneda Airport to Tokyo area)
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/
Airport Limousine Bus + Metro Pass
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/discount_ticket/en/index.html
Tokyo Monorail (Haneda Airport)
http://www.tokyo-monorail.co.jp/english/
JR Hokkaido train timetable
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ttable/index.html
Hyperdia (a VERY useful transport guide with trains time table/interval/fare/duration)
www.hyperdia.com
Hyperdia (a VERY useful transport guide with trains time table/interval/fare/duration)
www.hyperdia.com
Other people blogging about Japan:
http://www.dannychoo.com/landscape/en/japan/#landing
http://alvinology.wordpress.com/2009/02/21/alvinology-goes-to-japan-day-1-of-14/
http://www.chazrt.net/tag/japan/
http://sgitchyfeet.blogspot.com/search/label/Hokkaido (Hokkaido)
http://sgitchyfeet.blogspot.com/search/label/Tokyo (Tokyo)
http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffreyyen/Hokkaido# (Hokkaido)
Tokyo links:
Akihabara
http://www.akiba.or.jp/english/index.html
Ameyoko
http://www.ameyoko.net/e/
Ekiben (Bento sets sold at JR stations for Shinkansen trips)
http://www.ekiben.or.jp/main/shinagawa.php
Sylvanian Families theme restaurant (Tokyo Bay outlet) *I'm a huge fan and collector of this series :) *
http://sylvanian-families.jp/store/kitchen/tokyobay/
Odaiba area and monorail map
http://www.yurikamome.co.jp/en/contents/hp0005/index.php?No=5&CNo=5
Onsen (Hotspring) Themepark at Odaiba:
http://www.ooedoonsen.jp/higaeri/english/index.html
Tokyo guide website with nice maps
http://www.tokyopocketguide.com/tokyo/
Kyoto links:
Kyoto Tower & Hotel
http://www.kyoto-tower.co.jp/
Kyoto Travel guide:
http://www.kyoto.travel/
Kiyomizu-dera
http://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/
Kinkakuji (Golden Temple)
http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/english/e_kinkakuji/index.html
Ginkakuji (Silver Temple)
http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/english/e_ginkakuji/index.html
Hokkaido links:
Sapporo tourist maps
http://www.welcome.city.sapporo.jp/english/access/wide_range.html
A Noboribetsu blog which I came across
http://noboribetsu-onsen.blogspot.com/
Le Tao (cakes and pastries)
http://www.letao.jp/global/en/stores.html
Shiroi Koibito Park
http://www.shiroikoibitopark.jp/english/index.html
Otaru Music Box Museum
