TRaVeL & LiFeSTyLe

Finally, here’s my first installment on the JR Pass ~

Travel by taxicab in Japan will cost you an arm and a leg. Seriously! An urban legend: one (1) foreigner decided to take a taxi from the airport to his hotel in Tokyo and he paid a whopping $300 USD! That’s Php 13,215 pesos!!!! (Based on 10-1125 Forex via xe.com)

If you are keen on exploring three (3) or more cities in Japan and or staying at least seven (7) days, I highly recommend use of the JR (Japan Rail) Pass with the famous bullet trains. Otherwise, it will not be worth the cost and effort to get one especially if your plan is to stay within one (1) city only. In that case, the best way to explore is by Subway. Let’s discuss this in a separate entry :)

The JR PASS:

• Is intended for travel of tourists within the JR system in Japan
• This pass may be used on JR trains and buses, and the JR Miyajima ferry only
• Please click on link to see the complete list of transportation services / area where this is valid
• This may only be purchased outside of Japan (YES, THIS IS NOT AVAILABLE IN JAPAN)

The JR train ingeniously connects the whole of Japan reaching all corners of its’ four (4) islands. Hence, both residents and tourists are allowed safe, fast and economical travel. You can actually hop through several cities in just one (1) day, and you have several options to do just that :D

First, the two (2) types of JR Pass:

1. GREEN - is for use of the special car train and costs more. 

2. ORDINARY - is for use of the regular car train and costs less. This is what I got and I have no complaints. The car was spacious and seats were comfortable. 

Second, there are various fares for adults and children. Please click on the link to view the rates in Japanese Yen.

Third, the Japan Railways Group is comprised of six (6) companies. Each company covers one “portion / area” of Japan. Thus, travelers, have the option to  either get an:

1. “Inter-city pass” which allows you unlimited travel throughout Japan on all trains of all six (6) companies. 

or  you may get a

2. “Specific area pass” which costs much less. For example, if you plan to visit Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara only, you may just get the KANSAI THRU PASS. I will try to discuss this in a separate entry also.

*Note that the terms in quotation are my own.

Fourth, there are three (3) types of JR trains:

1. NOZOMI - is the fastest train and costs much more than the regular train. The JR Pass cannot be used for travel on this train on both the Tokaido and Shinkansen lines. This train travels from point A to B without stops.

2. HIKARI - is the second fastest train, stopping in selected stations only. You may take this with the JR Pass.

3. KODAMA - is the slowest of the bullet trains as it stops in all stations. You may also take this with the JR Pass.

Fifth, the “inter-city” JR Pass is available in three (3) denominations only:

1. Seven (7) days         
2. Fourteen (14) days    
3. Twenty one (21) days

Sixth, you may use the JR Pass to reserve train seats at the Ticket reservations office inside the Train stations. There is no additional cost. 

NOTES:

• The Japanese are punctual. (Imagine me running after the train! :O )
• Cost of the Hikari and Kodama comes out the same with the JR Pass.
• There’s a SET schedule for the trains’ arrival and departure, and you may get a copy of this from the same Ticket Reservations office. I’m not sure though if all stations have this.
• Reading / understanding a Japanese timetable is a bit tricky so best to ask an attendant / cashier at the reservations office to show you how it works.

Will try MY BEST to draft the second installment… SOONEST ;p Happy planning!

By popular demand - I shall begin to share learnings today from our Do-It-Yourself Japan adventure. Here goes…. :D

Let’s start with the JAPAN TOURIST VISA - without a guarantor in Japan. When we applied for this, we submitted the following to the travel agent:

1. Japan Visa APPLICATION FORM 

• Accomplished 
• You may get a copy of the form from your travel agent

 2. AIRLINE BOOKING                                                                                

• YES, you have to book and pay for a ticket before you can apply for a visa
• We were lucky we caught the promo of Philippine Airlines! Mla-Osaka-Manila for two (2) people under thirty thousand pesos (Php 30,000)!

3. Japan Visa - ID PHOTO

• 4.5 cm x 4.5 cm
• Non-smiling photo (Seriously! You are not allowed to smile!) 
•  White background  
•  I wore a collared top to be sure   
• This should be pasted on the Visa application form   
• I don’t remember the exact cost but I think it was around Php 120 for a set

4. BANK CERTIFICATE

• Must reflect a minimum of Php 100,000 in savings
• I opened a Time Deposit for myself months ahead and then requested for a   certificate a month before application                   
• BDO charged me about Php 100 for the certificate and it took them less than a day to process.

5. TRAVEL ITINERARY in Japan    

• I’m OC so we submitted a very detailed itinerary but I think all they need is a breakdown of your plans to make sure you are really there for just leisure.    
• I’d advise against the over-OCiness as I lost too much sleep obsessing over  this… but the OCiness also helped us project our travel expenses and  decide on our negotiables and non-negotiables for the trip.

6. INCOME TAX RETURN (2316 BIR form)   

• All they need is a photocopy of the original 2316 BIR Form

7. BIRTH CERTIFICATE 

• You need to submit an original copy so we got copies from NSO months before.   
• This shouldn’t be a problem since it’s easy to process online via E-Census 
• Visit: https://www.ecensus.com.ph/Secure/frmIndex.asp

8. MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE - if married  

• I’m not sure but I think they also require an original copy of this. Best to confirm details with the travel agency you are working with.   
• This may also be processed via E-Census online

9. PHILIPPINE PASSPORT

• Take out of cover and submit only the latest / valid one 
•  Do not attach old passports

Additional NOTES / TIPS:

1. We also submitted a copy of our CERTIFICATE/s of EMPLOYMENT (COE).   

• The embassy does not require this, but we submitted original copies anyway as they are strict and we want to assure them that we still plan to go back to Manila after the trip.

2. For the Japan Visa ID PHOTO -    

• Best to go to Kameraworld at the ground level of SM Megamall near the   grocery - if you are in Manila.    
• Wait time for your photo is thirty (30) mins or less. All other studios take at   least one (1) hour.     
• I got a blow dry for this and had other ID photos taken to make the most of the trip to the studio :D Hehe

3. We had our visa application PROCESSED by an ACCREDITED TRAVEL AGENCY

• The Japanese Embassy doesn’t accept applications otherwise   
• We used - RELI Tours and Travel Agency   
• They have a branch at the 5th level of SM Megamall   
• You may also visit their website for more info - http://www.relitours.ph/

4. TURN-AROUND TIME -    

• We submitted our application complete with requirements on a Thursday  night and this was ready for pick-up by Monday night.    
• Basically, it took them one (1) working day to process our Visas   
• But best to allot at least seven (7) working days = that translates to eight (8) days for Filipinos. 

5. Upon APPROVAL of VISA,    

• You need to fly out within the next three (3) months already   
• So even if we got our tickets as early as May, we only started work on our Visas in August.

6. IN CASE your application gets DENIED,    

• You have to wait another six (6) months before you can re-apply.   
• Hence, we recommend that you wait for Visa approval before booking your hotel and tours

7. Processing COST  

• Cost of Visa per person was approximately Php 1,200.

Hope this information helps you in planning a trip to Japan. Happy planning! :D