Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Japan trip useful links

I'll be going to Tokyo and Hokkaido in Nov/Dec this year (27/11/10 to 8/12/10).
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


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