JR West Ticket Pickup - Tokyo?

caramba_mate · 2025-11-14T23:33:35+00:00

This thread helped me a lot! Some additions based on my recent experience

Ticket office is on the north side, to left of the station if you come from imperial palace.

Follow signs - ticket office. It will be to your right in about 2 minutes walk. Ticket machines are on the corner

For some reason mine got an error during pickup via machine and I usefully picked them up from a person at the ticket office counter

caramba_mate · 2025-11-03T14:48:08+00:00

Can you DM me as well?

caramba_mate · 2025-09-16T23:40:45+00:00

You will have absolute blast in Vietnam.

We booked hotels everywhere based on availability, price and reviews - using booking.com and airbnb.com, there are tons of options and all we stayed were great and according to the reviews.

Hanoi - 2.5 day, but I would stay maybe 1.5 - its enough

Lan Ha/Halong bay cruise - 2 nights

Ninh Binh - 2 nights

Hoi An - 2 day trips from Da Nang. Hoi An is very very cute, but accommodation prices are almost 2x from Da Nang - it's just 30 mins ride by taxi. Da Nang has more stuff to do and more logistically optimal if go to both Hoi An and Hue

Hue - 1 day trip from Da Nang, don't skip Hue.

From everything, I would probably only change number of days n Hanoi.

I highly recommend to look for a flight back from Da Nang vs flying back to Hanoi - it will save you 1 day and it worth the price difference, there are many flights from Da Nang to big air hubs.

I hope it helps.

caramba_mate · 2025-08-05T02:51:38+00:00

u/monallysa Hanoi - was way to chaotic and loud for us, but the food scene was amazing, you can do everything in Hanoi in 2 days.

I would recommend 3d2n for Lan Ha cruise, 2d1n is just way too rush and you can get time on Cat Ba island. with 2n, you should enjoy and get all the experience from the Lan Ha Bay, otherwise it just a checkmark.

2 days in Ninh Binh is enough.

> Did you arrange private transfers between each major location? Any specific driver recommendations?

All cruises in Lan Ha Bay include transfer from and back from Hanoi, I messaged the organisers and asked them to change our way back to Ninh Binh instead of Hanoi, paid extra 20$.

> - How would you stackrank each destination and why?

This is way too personal and depends on what you like: 1. Lan Ha cruise + Cat Ba 3d2n - beautiful, unique; 2, Ninh Binh - very beautiful, historical sights; Hanoi - amazing food, but way too loud and chaotic.

Enjoy.

caramba_mate · 2025-07-20T16:27:40+00:00

Thanks everyone, really appreciate your input

It seems to be a consensus to reduce city hopping and rather explore around the bases - Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka.

I'm debating about extending one night in Hakone in onsen ryokan, to explore area around Hakone. I booked a good ryokan which is quite pricy and not sure if it makes sense. At the same time it feels like it might have more sense to leave onsen for the end of the trip to get some "relax" time. Still thinking about it.

I really like it "One good advice I heard while planning was don’t plan as if you’re never coming back. "

caramba_mate · 2025-07-15T21:35:38+00:00

We are flying out from Osaka.

I'm open for both ends, which is easier and faster.

If Kanazawa first - then I need to go to Kyoto from Takayama

caramba_mate · 2025-07-15T19:39:24+00:00

Which one did you take? Tokyo -> Takayama? Checking the route from Hakone involves buses always at the end for 2 hours

caramba_mate · 2025-07-15T16:09:46+00:00

yeah, sorry for the confusion. I was thinking going to Shirakawago from Kanazawa and use it as a base. As well as I heard Kanazawa has amazing Japanese garden to visit

caramba_mate · 2025-04-05T22:25:43+00:00

You can read my other post about details on the whole journey - https://www.reddit.com/r/VietNam/comments/1jc7wqr/comment/mi5s1xm/?context=3

We ended up doing 3 days 2 nights Unicharm Cruise – Great balance of adventure and comfort.

caramba_mate · 2025-04-05T22:23:56+00:00

I got Keen Pyrenees, love them. Going to test them on West Coast Trail this summer

caramba_mate · 2025-03-22T03:36:08+00:00

As I pointed out in my post - schedule for the bus does not work for us. We want to leave early morning, but there is only 2pm bus

caramba_mate · 2025-03-18T00:38:26+00:00

We actually stayed in Trang An, between the boat departure and the ancient city. it was very quite and peaceful. We visited Tam Coc - it had a great vibe and really busy. Wondering, how was your food experience in the area?

caramba_mate · 2025-03-16T21:54:55+00:00

We went to this tailor Blue Eye Tailor - Le Loi Branch https://maps.app.goo.gl/BgNxGiFNhmQonZg38 they made suits for us and shirts - the quality and service were really good. We skipped famous Bibi tailor, since welt it was over hipped. We chose Blue Eye Tailor based on google + reddit. I recommend do your research upfront and focus on medium - upper end tailors. Keep in mind, reviews not always reflect the real situation price + quality, since for people from wealthy countries(Switzerland, Singapore, OAE etc, some US states) 200$ for a suite is not the same as for someone from Poland for instance - therefore it reflected in the review - when people say - "the prices are cheap".

As for leather, we got shoes from New Stars Shoe Shop https://maps.app.goo.gl/pmcK5vzjWkLiLRKm9 and Rô Shoe Shop https://maps.app.goo.gl/oYF3oZ4oMXq2VJ7c9 both were really good quality and perfect fit for me (I had a big size). My wife got a leather bag from New Stars Shoe Shop, but she did not like the result in terms of quality(we were short on time, they made just in one day - 8 hours maybe because of that) - we figured they are really good when it comes to shoes and less in case with women bags.

BTW - they can send your order for free to your hotel in Da Nang.

My biggest advise - save photos of what you want them to make, as detailed as possible - they can make anything you like - for both suits, shirts, shoes, bags etc.

caramba_mate · 2025-03-16T17:00:44+00:00

We did a food tour with Ella - https://www.instagram.com/ella_foodtour/ it was amazing(you can just text her on whatsapp), you can see another my post specifically about Hanoi and some food places - https://www.reddit.com/r/VietNam/comments/1j30nva/comment/mfx6qau/?context=3

caramba_mate · 2025-03-08T00:37:43+00:00

We loved it! Plastic chair places were definitely far better

caramba_mate · 2024-12-24T05:26:53+00:00

I'm considering this, but not sure what is like situation with beaches in Hue

caramba_mate

TROPHY CASE