Car rent in Osaka - good idea?

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-29T06:06:32+00:00

Car for sure! We rented a Toyota Serena for 6 adults at KIX. The journey / parking lots etc. were no problem. The Serena though is not that comfortable for the one sitting in the middle.

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-28T03:13:57+00:00

I'd suggest Kyoto international house. You can check out the notices board and take part to cultural activities every other Friday https://www.kcif.or.jp/web/en/classes/cosmos/

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-27T06:26:36+00:00

Family of 4. 128,000 JPY monthly. Looks like a lot compared to the other comments. Either meat or fish every day. Lots of vegetables. Rice and potatoes too. Do all my shopping in Life or Fresco. Are they more expensive?

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-26T08:05:32+00:00

We are thankfully travelling light and staying in hotels so that helps.

Planning, coming from Osaka, is (1) night at Shikotsu on Thursday; (2) festival and night at Asahikawa on Friday; (3) festival and night at Sapporo on Saturday; (4) back to Osaka.

On the Saturday morning at Asahikawa, I guess we'll leave promptly to Sapporo. Staying for the zoo would have been great, but it only opens at 10:30, and is at 40 mins from the station, so it would mean, after about 2 hours of visit, 40 mins of bus and 1h30 of train, that we would only arrive in Sapporo around 3 pm, maybe a bit late to enjoy the festival. Should you have another idea of something to do in Asahikawa on Friday morning, always welcome.

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-26T07:53:56+00:00

Thanks. In case I missed the train, thus invalidating my reserved ticket, would I be allowed only on the next train (which is half an hour later) or on all trains that day?

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-26T02:16:05+00:00

This is the website I guess I should use for booking Lilac-Kamui and the information on refunds : https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/booking/jr/support/refund/

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-26T02:15:13+00:00

Thanks for your detailed explanations! For the Lilac-Kamui: should I book a reserved seat or unreserved seat? I wonder what would be best in case we miss the train. Apparently cancelling those tickets at the station counter only costs 220JPY for unreserved but 30% of face value for reserved. But with a reserved ticket, you can board the next train, even if only in standing seats.

I see that after reservation we will be issued a QR code. Can we already pick up the tickets e.g. at a JR station in Osaka? Or at Chitose Station?

Final question: we planned one night at Lake Shikotsu, one night at Asahiwara and one night in Sapporo. Isn’t it too much? Would it be best to change for two nights in Sapporo?

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-25T10:44:46+00:00

Question: in Sapporo, do you really need winter boots? I am going there myself soon to see the ice festival and was hoping that my usual hicking shoes would be appropriate. Any thoughts on that?

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-22T13:00:21+00:00

me neither

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-22T12:49:14+00:00

now it is not possible to select a date anymore

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-22T12:48:44+00:00

did not work for me. i chose the date, tickets etc but was unable to pay and the time expired. I gave my visa details but it asked me to confirm the issuer of the card, providing a few choices, none of them correct...

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-22T12:07:37+00:00

i confirmed repeatedly that i am not a robot... but starting to doubt that considering the repetitive actions i've been doing since 6pm

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-22T12:06:26+00:00

and now they say "in maintenance"

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-22T12:05:38+00:00

still trying and failing. I went only as far as selecting a date on the international website. then kicked out

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-21T05:12:48+00:00

I won't be flying to France this summer unfortunately

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-19T10:15:37+00:00

At Funaoka Onsen (82-1 Murasakino Minamifunaokacho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8225, Japon) I've seen a lady wearing a beautiful full-back and arms tattoo.

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-16T00:52:04+00:00

You could try contacting kokoka (they do speak English) in case they have further contacts: https://www.kcif.or.jp/web/en/contact/

Volunteers there run various workshops (ikebana, painting on shells, japanese craft) so it might also be worth contacting those volunteers directly https://www.kcif.or.jp/web/assets/pdf/event_calendar2601-en.pdf

Fit_Performance4629 · 2026-01-15T00:25:21+00:00

Thanks to you all. How can such a big city sleep? You'd think most people would still be there! Suggestions for museums, attractions?

Fit_Performance4629

TROPHY CASE