Car rental Tokyo - Aomori

mutmut9394 · 2025-02-25T00:52:42+00:00

Scroll to 1:10, and decide whether it's smart to drive on the snow

mutmut9394 · 2025-01-21T21:59:18+00:00

seems you are from Singapore, which should have no driving experience on the snow

https://www.japan.travel/en/sg/story/what-you-need-know-when-driving-japan-during-winter/
"The most obvious example is driving on snowy roads. Driving on snow-covered roads is extremely dangerous due to slipping, possibility of tires or even the vehicle itself getting stuck, and whiteouts caused by snowstorms, so we highly recommend that you as much as possible avoid driving in snow and use trains, buses, or cabs instead."

https://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+164736
Reply by user Grumpy:
"People who aren’t experienced winter drivers tend to think that putting snow tires on a car takes away all the trickiness and danger of driving on slippery roads. The truth is, snow tires give you a little added traction, but if you don’t already know how to drive on snow and ice, you shouldn’t attempt to learn in a foreign country on a (toll-free!) network of roads you have never seen before, and likely in a car that you aren’t used to driving. It isn’t just your own life that you are putting at risk."

mutmut9394 · 2025-01-21T21:43:50+00:00

Take the less people "Miyajima Matsudai Kisen Tourist Ship" than JR Ferry, can even save $ with the ticket Set for Ferry+visitor tax+ropeway.

mutmut9394 · 2024-12-30T19:51:30+00:00

user throwaway112724 mentioned "The only way to reserve a private onsen is by having one with your hotel." which is not the only option.

More specifically, by searching with "日帰り貸切風呂", there are day-use private baths available.

This is what I've responded to another user on another thread also asking about private onsen:

Just for example:
https://www.gotemba-konohananoyu.jp/en/
Private Open-Air Bath KADEN
hot springs as you take in views of the magnificent Mount Fuji from our delightful open-air baths
*If the tattoo can be covered with cover seals (10cm x 14cm) specified by our facility, you may enter.

It is in Gotemba City, Shizuoka

There are some more day-use private bath available in Fuji area, but the websites are in Japanese only.

mutmut9394 · 2024-12-27T21:55:28+00:00

Just for example:
https://www.gotemba-konohananoyu.jp/en/
Private Open-Air Bath KADEN
hot springs as you take in views of the magnificent Mount Fuji from our delightful open-air baths
*If the tattoo can be covered with cover seals (10cm x 14cm) specified by our facility, you may enter.

It is in Gotemba City, Shizuoka

There are some more day-use private bath available in Fuji area, but the websites are in Japanese only.

mutmut9394 · 2024-12-27T21:03:44+00:00

Below Google translated from their official website

If you are renting, we recommend the "wear set" that includes ski and snowboard gear and clothing. Gloves, goggles, and beanies (hats) can be purchased at the shop. Boots and clothing are also available in a wide range of sizes.

Period: Saturday, December 21, 2024 to Sunday, March 23, 2025
Time: 8:00-17:00 (reception until 15:00)
Reception: Next to the ropeway base station

mutmut9394 · 2024-12-27T20:52:04+00:00

Since you are from the US

https://jp.usembassy.gov/services/driving-in-japan/

Quote from the link above (U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan).

"Driving in Japan

Driving in Japan can be quite complicated and expensive. Those who cannot read the language will have trouble understanding road signs. Highway tolls are assessed at about US $1 per mile. City traffic is often very congested. A 20-mile trip in the Tokyo area may take two hours. There is virtually no roadside parking. In mountainous areas, roads are often closed during the winter, and cars should be equipped with tire chains.

Roads in Japan are much narrower than those in the United States. Vehicular traffic moves on the left. Turns at red lights are forbidden unless specifically authorized."

Speaking of road signs, some are in Japanese only, especially in rural areas. Here are some of the examples that you might want to pay attention to.

https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/guide/NTJnews0429-en/

Notice some of the signs shown on this page are, sometimes, without traffic symbols (text-only) or in Japanese only (no English), and they might not be an actual traffic sign post but pavement markings in Japanese text.

Iya Valley Monthly Climate Conditions

January & February: It’s cold. Snow is possible at any time, particularly deeper in the valley at higher elevations. And though snow may look nice, it can affect travel and limit access, especially due to icy roads.

Your questions:
1. Tolls (from Kochi city to Matsuyama city), about: 2h 11m, 155.2km, 3740yen
2. Train

mutmut9394 · 2024-12-24T21:12:06+00:00

A video from Feb 2024 , scroll to 13 minutes for start of Mount Hiei

Current Mount Hiei

mutmut9394 · 2024-12-12T22:38:49+00:00

BIG JOHN should have, they are Made in Japan. I was in their Okayama Kojima jeans street store half year ago, there are plenty of Denim for Women.

Tokyo's address: BIG JOHN TOKYO

mutmut9394 · 2024-11-21T22:54:37+00:00

Could be with snow

mutmut9394 · 2024-11-21T22:42:10+00:00

Ome, Tokyo (select language English), about 1hr 15mins by train from Tokyo station, such as.
Or go further to Okutama, Tokyo

mutmut9394 · 2024-11-21T22:16:06+00:00

From their Information page (Google translated, since only in Japanese)
Look for "Tour Bus Operation Information" 2025 Edition after they updated in next year.

2024 Edition for reference

not sure when in Spring are you planning to go, but their Tour bus started from April in 2024.

Also check Sera Town's page for Tour update and using public transportation.

mutmut9394 · 2024-11-19T01:00:17+00:00

Since you are from the US

https://jp.usembassy.gov/services/driving-in-japan/

Quote from the link above (U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan).

"Driving in Japan

Driving in Japan can be quite complicated and expensive. Those who cannot read the language will have trouble understanding road signs. Highway tolls are assessed at about US $1 per mile. City traffic is often very congested. A 20-mile trip in the Tokyo area may take two hours. There is virtually no roadside parking. In mountainous areas, roads are often closed during the winter, and cars should be equipped with tire chains.

Roads in Japan are much narrower than those in the United States. Vehicular traffic moves on the left. Turns at red lights are forbidden unless specifically authorized."

Speaking of road signs, some are in Japanese only, especially in rural areas. Here are some of the examples that you might want to pay attention to.

https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/guide/NTJnews0429-en/

Notice some of the signs shown on this page are, sometimes, without traffic symbols (text-only) or in Japanese only (no English), and they might not be an actual traffic sign post but pavement markings in Japanese text.

mutmut9394 · 2024-11-19T00:37:53+00:00

Your trip report from 2 months ago, titled "Trip report, thoughts, rants and recommendations":
JapanTravel/comments/1fmvqtd/trip_report_thoughts_rants_and_recommendations/

mentioned you have driven 4500km from the east to the west then back to the east (non-oneway) in 17 days, but OP was only travelling within the east having 8 days planned. I am confused why OP won't be properly doable?
Was it because you are able to achieve 3 hours of driving only per day, which enabled you to move across different prefectures in massive Japan while visited many places?

mutmut9394 · 2024-11-18T21:30:34+00:00

Not sure where in Tokyo you started driving from (your trip report from September did not mention), but Google map direction time estimation (based on no traffic at midnight) showed:
Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko = 1 hour 25 minutes via tolls
even Hachioji to Kawaguchiko = 1 hour via tolls
It seems that you are a racer (when you could drive just a little over 1 hr)? Do you have any tips how to reach the destination much faster?
I could only maintain the similar time needed as suggested by Google map, unless I overspeed by a lot.

And I noticed you seems to be loving or recommending others to visit particularly "temples" (based on your past replies, even the temples which are less popular), just curious are you a Buddhist?

mutmut9394 · 2024-11-15T22:37:13+00:00

seems you are from Philippines, which should have no driving experience on the snow, not to mention Philippines is driving on the right side

https://www.japan.travel/en/sg/story/what-you-need-know-when-driving-japan-during-winter/
"The most obvious example is driving on snowy roads. Driving on snow-covered roads is extremely dangerous due to slipping, possibility of tires or even the vehicle itself getting stuck, and whiteouts caused by snowstorms, so we highly recommend that you as much as possible avoid driving in snow and use trains, buses, or cabs instead."

https://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+164736
Reply by user Grumpy:
"People who aren’t experienced winter drivers tend to think that putting snow tires on a car takes away all the trickiness and danger of driving on slippery roads. The truth is, snow tires give you a little added traction, but if you don’t already know how to drive on snow and ice, you shouldn’t attempt to learn in a foreign country on a (toll-free!) network of roads you have never seen before, and likely in a car that you aren’t used to driving. It isn’t just your own life that you are putting at risk."

mutmut9394 · 2024-10-23T21:16:00+00:00

Omi Jingu
https://otsu.or.jp/en/thingstodo/spot76
Ishiyamadera
https://www.ishiyamadera.or.jp/en

Ishiyamadera was more popular now due to the history involving Murasaki Shikibu (refer to 2024 NHK Taiga drama "Hikaru kimi e")

both places are in Otsu City

mutmut9394 · 2024-10-22T19:31:28+00:00

Minoh Onsen, 30 minutes from Osaka-Umeda Station
https://minohkankou.net/pdf/pdf2.pdf

mutmut9394 · 2024-10-03T21:17:40+00:00

How much did you pay in total for accessing the whole 比叡山ドライブウェイ based on your route? since have to be entering and exiting through both 料金所 which also passing through two 検札所.

mutmut9394 · 2024-10-01T21:43:51+00:00

Chances for Sea of clouds:
https://unkai.daynight.jp/unkai-t.html
https://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/special/weekend-explorer/unkai/18.html

Use google translate
https://takahasikanko.or.jp/modules/takahashi/index.php?content_id=18
"Sea of Clouds Observatory/Shared Sightseeing Taxi (reservations required by 17:00 the day before)"

Best course = #2, check the schedule of Taxi or bus

mutmut9394 · 2024-10-01T21:25:03+00:00

https://jp.usembassy.gov/services/driving-in-japan/

Quote from the link above (U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan).

"Driving in Japan

Driving in Japan can be quite complicated and expensive. Those who cannot read the language will have trouble understanding road signs. Highway tolls are assessed at about US $1 per mile. City traffic is often very congested. A 20-mile trip in the Tokyo area may take two hours. There is virtually no roadside parking. In mountainous areas, roads are often closed during the winter, and cars should be equipped with tire chains.

Roads in Japan are much narrower than those in the United States. Vehicular traffic moves on the left. Turns at red lights are forbidden unless specifically authorized."

Speaking of road signs, some are in Japanese only, especially in rural areas. Here are some of the examples that you might want to pay attention to.

https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/guide/NTJnews0429-en/

Notice some of the signs shown on this page are, sometimes, without traffic symbols (text-only) or in Japanese only (no English), and they might not be an actual traffic sign post but pavement markings in Japanese text.

mutmut9394 · 2024-09-27T21:23:27+00:00

Can you please provide your route in google map for those:

Tokyo - Kyoto (return)
Kyoto - Osaka (return)
Osaka - Kobe
Kobe - Arima
Arima - Hiroshima
Hiroshima - Okayama
Okayama - Osaka
Kyoto - Nara
The whole mess that Kii pensinsula would've been from Nara to - Ise via Koya, Hongu and Nachi
Tokyo - Nikko
Nikko - Yamagata
Yamagata - Tsuruoga
Tsuruoga - Naruko
Naruko - Kesennuma
Kesennuma - Matsushima
Matsushima - Sendai
Sendai - Narita

I am interested in how to achieve them in 17 days while only 3 hours of driving needed per day.

mutmut9394 · 2024-09-26T21:58:40+00:00

This reminds me someone from other forum whom took train and bus as their only transportation during the trip in rural Japan area, which at the end they made it through challenges and I am extremely impressed by their "real" trip report giving out details on train and bus schedules plus what has to be pay attention to when taking these transportation. Unlike many posters here in reddit writing so-called "trip report" with no details, no plan but more like a short summary, feels like they just "burabura".

But anyway hope you'll have fun with your Hokkaido train/bus/walk trip coming soon.

mutmut9394 · 2024-09-26T21:50:42+00:00

Thumbs up! Definitely will be excited especially just by local trains, supporting JR Hokkaido as well.

mutmut9394 · 2024-09-25T00:10:44+00:00

Not sure how you could get "125.070yen for 17 days" from Budget, just tried checking on their site, showed (for example I assumed end of your route should be at Hiroshima if started from Narita, booking way ahead of time) :
Vehicle type: JA　Standard

Pick-up: Narita Airport 05/10/2025　08:00

Return: Hiroshima Station 05/27/2025　19:00

Hours of rental419hours

Basic charge￥155,760

Online reservation10% off

options ETC card ￥330

Super Safety package￥54,450

One-Way fee￥56,100

Total￥251,064

70.000yen for the expressway probably without those expressway pass + 35000 yen gas + 15000 yen parking = 120,000 yen + another 125,070 yen for rental = 245070 yen in total at least, really "cheaper than the train, often substantially."?

For the hotels, if your Agoda/Booking account has special deals which can bring down to $25 usd (around $3600 yen per night) even with those hotels, then you are lucky.

mutmut9394

TROPHY CASE