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I must admit my experience is a bit different. I lived in the UK for a number of years and still travel back there every few years. The trains can be excellent, when they are on time, but in my experience they are often not on time. And even paying for seats is no guarantee of actually getting...

And so ends a short but very enjoyable trip to Japan. Had an excellent time. Consistent with our previous trips, food was excellent and cheap (last night pizza aside) and accomodation quite reasonable if booked well in advance. For our short trip with only a few locations, purchasing individual...

Our flight to TPE was very pleasant, and had the bonus of arriving at the same terminal from which we were departing, making transit very easy. The lounge was the same one which we used when heading to Japan, which is a comfortable if unremarkable space. We all made sure to eat well, as out...

And so to our last day. Flight scheduled for 5.55pm, which is a bit of an awkward time as it doesn’t leave much of the day before feeling the need to get to the airport. That is particularly true of Mr. ShelleyB who gets a bit antsy worrying about being on time for the flight. We therefore...

The next day was our last full day in Tokyo, and had a day planned with something for everyone. We started off at Tokyo Dome, which is the home of the Tokyo Giants baseball team. We sadly were not able to catch a baseball game (missed it by one day) but were there to visit the batting and...

I generally have 3 notebook inserts at any one time, plus I have the cloth zipper refill. The leather insert looks great, but as you say it's very expensive. My notebook often looks extra bulky when actually traveling as the insert I use to record my travels gets very big with stuff I have stuck...

Our final stop after Kanazawa was Tokyo. To get there we used the Hokuriku Shinkansen, leaving from Kanazawa station at just after 10, arriving in Tokyo around 12.40. Our final hotel was the Mitsui Garden hotel in Kyobashi, an easy 10 minute walk from the station. The room was a genuine triple...

Our final day in Kanazawa was predicted to be rainy after lunch, so we got out and about early to beat the rain. We spent the morning walking around the Nagamachi “Samurai district”. This area of kanazawa contains a subtantial number of well-preserved Edo-era residences. The majority of these...

I know what you mean but the bulk doesn’t bother me so much. Here’s mine on the flight in to BNE yesterday.

Nice. I have the Kyoto one like you. Was tempted to buy Tokyo Station one when I visited a few days ago but can only use one at a time?

Yes indeed! Will edit now

After a few hours in Kenrokuen, headed back towards to the hotel. Mr. ShelleyB and ShelleyB-son headed directly back to the room, but I took a little detour via Hands store to purchase the 2025 calendar refills for my Traveler’s Company notebook, which I have been using from last year. For...

Quite possibly. Had checked via email before arrival so knew they did not do so. As @drron said, could have dropped at 7-11 but decided against the extra effort.

Our next destination was Kanazawa, transiting there on the Nohi bus express via Shirakawa-go. We were tempted to arrange a few hours in Shirakawa-go as the village has world heritage status for its Gassho style houses. However, we would have been a bit hamstrung by the luggage. Coin lockers are...

From the top station past the viewing platforms is the trailhead to Nishiho mountain hut and to other trails beyond. Many climbers use the ropeway for access to the Nishi-hotake-dake climb, staying overnight at the mountain hut then climbing the next day. However, for us we planned to just reach...

Another big day of hiking planned, this time using the Shinhotaka Ropeway to do a lot of the work of getting us to a higher elevation. The bus is around 1.5 hours from Takayama, again via Hirayu Onsen but without the need to change bus. The ropeway itself is two part, with a change station at an...

After concluding our walk ShelleyB-son consumed a well-earned ice cream and we joined the queue for the bus back to Takayama via Hirayu onsen. The queue was long as it was nearing the end of the day, but with the use of the jump seats in the bus, we all squeezed on. There were fewer passengers...

We absolutely enjoyed it and the crowds were not unexpected. I expect it will be crazier in a month or so with the autumn colours really on display.

Over the next two days we planned to visit both Kamikochi and Shinhotaka Ropeway for some hiking. From Takayama the best option is the Nohi bus. We could of course hire a car but I have never been a fan of doing so unless the area we want to visit is completely inaccessible by public transport...

Having done with Osaka and Universal Studios for this trip, our next journey was to Takayama. As mentioned upthread we planned to take the Hida Wide View. Although there is a once a day option directly from Osaka it leaves just after 8am which seemed unnecessarily early. From Nagoya there is a...