Experience Japan – Travel around Japan in 17 Days is so much easier than you can imagine!

Today, I am going to share how I travel around Japan in 17 days. It took me around 3 months to plan this trip and it successfully turned into my fantastic trip. 
Transportation was one of my concerns right before my trip. Well, thanks to the greatness of Japan, I managed to use Hyperdia to search for the train time schedule and at the same time, Japan provides a special ride pass (JRPass) for visitors to take their trains across whole Japan. These should be good enough for me to explore the most out of Japan within my limited time in Japan!
As my departure and arrival was at Tokyo, I decided to make a trip from Tokyo to Osaka then stop by Tokyo again before heading to Hokkaido, lastly back to Tokyo.
Then, I used Hyperdia to find out the duration to travel from one place to another via train. Finally, I managed to schedule a plan that worked perfectly with the precision timing by train.

Itineraries
Day 1: Kuala Lumpur > Tokyo

Day 2: Tokyo
Buy Tokyo Metro Special 2 Days Pass For Unlimited Ride around Tokyo (1200 Yen)
Visit Sensoji Temple – Akakusa Station
Visit Shibuya Hachi Dog Statue – Shibuya Station
Lunch at Tendon Soba Udon
Shibuya Shopping
Visit Odaiba
> Liberty Statue and Rainbow Bridge
> Odaiba Kaihin Park Firework Performance at night (Seasonal event)
> Gundam in front of Diver City Tokyo Plaza
> Venus Fort, Palette Town
> Hello Kitty’s Kawaii Paradise
> Toyota City Showcase
Day 3: Tokyo > Hakone > Tokyo (One Day Hakone Trip)
*Activate JR Pass 14 days
Transport: Tokyo Station > Odawara Station (34 minutes – Shinkansen)
Buy Hakone Free Pass at ticket machine (7800 Yen)
Transport: Odawara > Gora (Hakone Tozan Train)
> Souzan (Cable Car)
> Owakudani (Ropeway)
Owakudani – Hell Ramen and Signature Black Eggs
Transport: Owakudani > Togendai-ko (Ropeway)
> Hakone Machi-ko (Cruise)
> Hakone Yumoto (Tozan Bus)
Hakone Yuryo Private Onsen Session (Guide To Book Hakone Yuryo Private Onsen) (5900 Yen)
Transport: Hakone Yumoto Station > Odawara Station
Transport: Odawara Station > Tokyo Station (36 minutes)
Visit Tokyo Tower – Onarimon Station
Day 4: Tokyo > Takayama (To West Japan)
Visit Tsukiji Fish Market (Tuna Auction) – Tsukiji Station
Breakfast at famous Tsukiji Market Street –米花 Eel Bento
(Other choice such as sashimi, long queue up to 30-50 people)
Roppongi – Louise Bourgeois's giant spider sculpture (Maman) – Roppongi Station or Roppongi-Icchome Station
Bic Camera Store – For electronic gadgets shopping
*Deposit half of our luggage at hotel
Transport: Tokyo Station > Nagoya Station (106 minutes)
Transport: Nagoya Station > Takayama Station (144 minutes)
Check in J-Hopper Hostel Takayama (Tatami style)
Day 5: Takayama > Shirawakago > Takayama > Osaka (Kansai Area, West Japan)
Shirakawa-go Half Day Tour (4400 Yen) – UNESCO Heritage Site
*Discount 500 Yen for J-Hopper guests
Take scenic view from top of Shirakawa-go Village
Walk around Shirakawa-go village
Check out from J-Hopper Hostel Takayama
Visit Takayama Old Street (within walking distance from hostel)
Transport: Takayama Station > Nagoya Station (137 minutes)
Transport: Nagoya Station > Shin Osaka Station (63 minutes)
Visit Umeda Building – Sky Garden & Christmas Market – Higashiumeda Station
Day 6: Osaka
Buy Osaka Kaiyu Ticket (2550 yen) – You can get it from any ticket office at subway station.
*Free One Day Unlimited Metro Pass With Purchase of Kaiyukan Ticket
Kaiyukan Aquarium, Tempozan Ferris Wheel – Osakako Station
Dotombori – Namba Station
-          Glico Man Signboard
-          Kani Doraku 道乐
-          Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade
-          Amerikamura
-          Den Den Town
Day 7: Osaka USJ
Transport: Shin-Osaka Station > Universal City Station
One fantastic day at Universal Studio Japan
Visit Osaka Electronic Shop (Yodobashi & Bic Camera)
Day 8: Osaka > Kyoto
Transport: Osaka Station > Kyoto Station > Sagaarashiyama Station
Arashiyama Bamboo Groove – Sagaarashiyama Station
Kiyomizudera Temple (300 Yen) Kyoto Station Followed by bus (numbers 100 or 206)
Lunch at Tenzhou (Kyoto Must Eat Tendon)Gion-Shijo Station
Kinkaku-ji Temple – Kitaoji Station Followed by bus (numbers 101, 102, 204 or 205)
Fushimi Inari Shrine – Fushimi Inari Station
Day 9: Osaka > Tokyo
Osaka Castle – Tanimachi 4-chrome Station
Osaka Signature – Okonomiyaki
Transport: Shin-Osaka Station > Tokyo (180 minutes)
Day 10: Tokyo > Hakodate
Early check out from hotel
*Deposit half of our luggage before depart to North of Japan
Transport: Ueno Station > Shin Aomori Station (210 minutes)
> Hakodate (130 minutes)
Mt Hakodate Ropeway (1160 Yen)
Motomachi District (foreign looking buildings)
Day 11: Hakodate > Noboribetsu > Sapporo > Otaru > Sapporo
Transport: Hakodate Station > Noboribetsu Station (137 minutes)
Visit Hell Valley (Jigokudani) – Donan Bus 15 minutes (340 Yen)
Transport: Noboribetsu Station > Sapporo Station (75 minutes)
Check in Best Western Hotel Sapporo
Transport: Sapporo Station > Otaru Station (39 minutes)
Music Box Museum
Le Tao – Local products (Dessert, Recommended)
Kitakaro北菓楼 – Local products (Cakes)
Rokkatei六花亭 – Local products (Cookies)
Otaru Canal Area
Transport: Otaru Station > Sapporo Station (39 minutes)
Day 12: Sapporo > Kiroro Resort > Sapporo
Full Ski Day at Kiroro Resort Mountain Center (Rental 7800 Yen, Lesson 4500 Yen)
*Grabbed discounted cash voucher for early bird at any related convenient store
Kani HonkeSapporo Station
Day 13: Sapporo
Hokkaido Shrine
Sapporo Ramen in Ramen Alley – Susukino Station
Shiroi Koibito Chocolate Factory (Entrance Fees 600 Yen) – Miyanosawa Station
Sapporo Clock Tower – JR Sapporo Station
Sapporo TV Tower – Christmas Market – Odori Station
Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade (狸小路)
Day 14: Sapporo > Tokyo
Transport: Sapporo Station > Hakodate Station (211 minutes)
 > Shin-Aomori Station (130 minutes)
 > Tokyo Station (206 minutes)
Akihabara – Akihabara Station
·       M’s Adult Store
·       AKB48 Café
Day 15: Tokyo
Morning walk at Shinjuku Gyoen
Shinjuku
Sky Tree

Day 16: Tokyo Disneyland
*There are two different theme parks which are separated to two sides, one is Disney Sea, another is Disneyland.
One magical day at Tokyo Disneyland
Day 17: Tokyo > Kuala Lumpur
Kiddy Land
Ben & Jerry Ice Cream
Ichiran Ramen
Harajuku

Tips and tricks:
·       Deposit your luggage at the deposit box if you find it inconvenient to carry them.
·       If it's a return trip, you can deposit partial of your luggage at hotel to ease your burden. They can help you keep up to a week or more.
·       Look for their free magazine in train. They often offer special discount for famous ski resorts or restaurants.
·       Most of the long train ride requires advance reservation. (normal JR Pass only eligible for normal seat)
·       Massive discount for food items in department (Isetan) store after 9pm.
·         You can opt for Ryokan Stay in Shirakawa-go Village to experience their culture and heritage.
·       Short distance ride between cities such as Otaru – Sapporo, Kyoto – Osaka are covered by JR Pass.
·       Reserve all your seats in advance to avoid more time wasted at queuing. You can only reserve/buy your seats at the counter. Vending machine/kiosk doesn’t support JR Pass users.
·       Buy USJ and Disneyland tickets online to avoid the long queue.

Updates:
·       Tsukiji fish market has moved to a new site called Toyosu in November 2016

This was the longest trip I've ever planned. We really enjoyed the adventure of Japan with their ease of transport. It drives me further to go for my next adventure in the future.
The whole trip was estimated about RM6000 per person excluding air tickets and souvenirs.

Summary (per pax $)
Flight ~RM1300 (MAS airline)
JRPass 14 days pass around 46000 Yen ~ RM1400
Accommodation ~RM1600
Food ~RM1600
Leisure ~RM1400

Additional price information:
·       Tokyo Metro Unlimited Pass 1200 Yen
·       Hakone Free Pass 7800 Yen
·       Hakone Yuryo Private Onsen 5900 Yen
·       Shirakawago Half Day Tour 3900 Yen
·       Kaiyukan Ticket 2550 Yen
·       Mt Hakodate Ropeway 1160 Yen
·       Noboribetsu Donan Bus 340 Yen
·       Shiroi Koibito Chocolate Factory 600 Yen
·       USJ One Day Studio Pass 7400 Yen
·       Disneyland One Day Pass 7400 Yen

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