Holly's Reviews Page 3/8

On this trip, I traveled from Nagoya through Ise, Matsusaka, and Tsu, then continued on to Osaka. I used the KINTETSU RAIL PASS 5day plus. After actually using it, I think that for this pass to really be worth it, it's best to plan at least two longer trips, such as Nagoya to Ise and then Ise to Osaka. If you only have one long-distance trip and the rest are short trips, the savings aren't as noticeable.

The most valuable part of PLUS is that you can take Mie Kotsu buses within designated areas in the Ise region. Places like Futamiura and Naiku aren't most conveniently reached by Kintetsu alone. Especially when going to Futamiura, the bus stop is closer to the main attractions, and you can also walk a lot less when going to Naiku. So if you're only taking Kintetsu, the regular 5-day pass may be enough, but if you want to explore Ise more thoroughly, I'd recommend PLUS.

At one point, I even got on the wrong bus and rode all the way to the area around Shima-Isobe Station, then took Kintetsu back to Ujiyamada. Although I accidentally made a huge detour, having the pass meant I didn't have to recalculate fares the whole way, and it instead became an amusing little incident during the trip.

What's a bit disappointing is that the KINTETSU RAIL PASS has now switched entirely to digital tickets, and the old paper version is no longer available. You now need to buy it in advance or online and display a QR Code on your phone to ride, so you have to keep an eye on your phone's battery and internet connection during the trip. For someone like me who likes to keep physical passes as travel souvenirs, it's still a little disappointing not to have a paper version.

I actually preferred the simple one-day bus pass, but unfortunately it has been discontinued. Now there's only the combined Subway & Bus One-Day Pass, which costs JPY 1,100 for adults. Although the pass includes the subway, I'm still more used to taking buses when traveling in Kyoto. Many temples, shrines, and smaller attractions in Kyoto are some distance from subway stations, while buses can take you closer to your destination, making it easier to get around on foot.

However, if I'm traveling a longer distance or it's rush hour or a busy sightseeing period, I'll take the subway instead because the roads can get congested. So while this pass isn't as cheap as the old bus-only pass, it at least offers more flexibility. Although it costs more than before, it's still easy to get your money's worth if you're visiting several attractions and taking the bus multiple times that day. And for people who aren't very familiar with Kyoto's buses, this kind of PASS means there's no need to panic too much if you take the wrong bus. It's still quite good.

I personally find the Toei One-day Pass quite useful, especially on days when I'm getting around central Tokyo a lot. When traveling in Tokyo, my usual approach is to use the subway for long distances and buses for short distances. Although the Tokyo subway is convenient, many attractions are still a bit of a walk from the station. If you don't want to rely on your feet all the time and find taxis too expensive, Toei buses are very useful. In the area between Shinjuku and Tokyo Station, buses run fairly often, giving you much more flexibility when getting around the city.

Buying the pass is also very convenient. Besides subway ticket machines, you can buy it directly from the driver on a Toei bus. I usually have a screenshot of the pass name or an image ready to show the driver, which makes communication much faster.

One thing to note is that even though it's a one-day pass, late-night buses aren't completely free. You have to pay the additional late-night surcharge. Also, the Koto 01 route isn't covered.

Whether the Okayama streetcar one-day pass is worth buying really depends on your itinerary that day. In 2026, the adult pass costs JPY 400, while a single streetcar ride has a flat fare of JPY 160, so if you're only riding the streetcar, it doesn't start saving you money until your third ride.

The Okayama streetcar currently has only two lines, the Higashiyama Line and the Seikibashi Line. Tourists most commonly use the Higashiyama Line, which runs from Okayama-Ekimae to Shiroshita, making it convenient for Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden. The Seikibashi Line is more of a local route. So if you're only making a round trip between Okayama Station and Okayama Castle that day, you may not need a one-day pass. It's best to calculate how many rides you'll take first.

However, Okaden itself is also a little bit of fun because there are so many types of cars. Besides the regular cars, Tigerair has sponsored one featuring Tiggy. There are also KURO and MOMO, designed by Eiji Mitooka, a car recreating the old Tobu Nikko Tramway design, and special streetcars such as the carp streamer streetcar that occasionally runs during the season and is very popular with children. If you like trains, it's pretty fun to use a one-day pass for a few extra rides and see what kind of car you'll encounter that day, even if you're not rushing between attractions.

The paper one-day pass is also easy to buy. It's available at the public transportation information center at the east exit of Okayama Station and is also sold on the streetcars. After you buy it, a staff member will scratch off the date of use for you. After that, simply show it to the driver when getting off.

I've used the Have Fun in Okayama Pass twice, and overall, as long as you choose the right options, it's actually pretty easy to get your money's worth, especially when there's a discount promotion on the platform.

My most recommended combination is the discount coupon for the Bic Camera Okayama Station Store, the fruit parfait at Hotel Granvia Okayama, and the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter sightseeing benefits. The first is practical, and the second feels like a treat. The Kurashiki sightseeing coupon is great because it's flexible and can be used toward desserts, souvenirs, museums, experiences, and more, making a stroll around Kurashiki more interesting.

However, this pass has one very important restriction: once activated, it must be used within 7 days. If you're planning to visit central Okayama and Kurashiki several days apart, you need to calculate the activation date in advance so you don't run out of time to redeem something.

After using it, I think its biggest advantage is that several of the options are quite practical and located at places that aren't difficult to get to. As long as you're staying in Okayama, you can easily use three options. If you're already planning to visit central Okayama and Kurashiki and can get it at a promotional price, it's really good value for the money.

Sora no Eki Komatsu is on the first floor of Komatsu Airport and is probably the most prominent souvenir shop as you enter the terminal. The store mainly carries food, sweets, alcoholic beverages, and household goods from Komatsu and the Ishikawa area. If you didn't have time to buy everything earlier in your trip, it's convenient to stock up here at the airport. If you collect goshuin-style airport stamps, you can buy one here. I bought mine here as well.

The capsule toy machines near the entrance are also interesting, but the machine I encountered didn't take coins directly. You had to exchange money for tokens inside the store first. I didn't know that the first time and put yen directly into the machine, but it wouldn't turn. After asking a staff member for help, I learned that I needed to get tokens first.

Buses connecting Komatsu Airport to the surrounding area don't run very frequently. If you miss one and have to wait at the airport for a while, you can buy some snacks and drinks here to tide yourself over.

Komatsu Airport itself isn't large, but because it is a joint military-civilian airport shared with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Komatsu Air Base, you can find JASDF-related merchandise inside. For example, there are Kutani ware capsule toys featuring unit emblems such as that of the 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Komatsu Air Base. Although the terminal is small, it still tries to bring together as much of the Hokuriku region's character as possible. There's even a moving Fukui raptor on the first floor, and the souvenir shops sell specialties from Ishikawa and Fukui as well as dinosaur merchandise.

Personally, I think the biggest drawback is still the transportation to and from the airport. Buses to Kanazawa and Komatsu Station don't run as frequently as they do in big cities. Most services are scheduled around domestic flights, but if you're flying Tigerair, you should basically be prepared to miss the bus because Tigerair is delayed so often. I even skipped checking luggage and cleared immigration in under 10 minutes, but I still didn't make it. That time, I waited about an hour for the next bus. This was the most inconvenient part of using Komatsu Airport for me, and it really made me miss how considerate Okayama Airport is toward Tigerair passengers.

While staying in Asakusa this time, I unexpectedly came across the annual Sanja Matsuri, held in May. Since I hadn't planned for it, I couldn't make time to attend any of the related events, but as long as you're in the Asakusa area, it's actually hard to miss the festival entirely. While walking around Asakusa and Kappabashi, I would occasionally come across mikoshi processions and local residents wearing happi coats and other festival attire. The atmosphere was completely different from Asakusa during a typical sightseeing visit.

I happened to be staying on the outskirts of Asakusa, and after returning to my hotel one evening, I noticed a mikoshi procession passing nearby, so I followed it for a short while. It unexpectedly became a fun memory from the trip. During the festival, many nearby hotels and shops also put up Sanja Matsuri decorations, and throughout the neighborhood, you could really feel that the local residents were involved. It was very interesting for a foreign visitor.

The Shikemichi Townscape Preservation District was much quieter than I expected, but it actually covers a fairly large area. There are many preserved white-walled storehouses, machiya townhouses, stone walls, and narrow alleys, giving it the atmosphere of an old Edo-period castle town. This time, I specifically went looking for the Yanegami shrine. There was a map on-site for reference, so it wasn't difficult to find. Hidden in the alleys are also the Komori Jizo statue, cafes converted from old houses, and small arts and crafts shops, making it fun to explore at a leisurely pace. You can also easily continue on to the nearby Endoji Shopping Street, though it was also surprisingly quiet when I visited.

If you just want to admire the old buildings and take streetscape photos, I think it's actually a good idea to come before the regular attractions open or before evening, since the peaceful atmosphere suits Shikemichi well. But if you want to take your time visiting cafes and variety stores, don't schedule your visit too early or too late, as the businesses here aren't open for very long.

We happened to visit during Kenrokuen Garden's nighttime opening. Although it wasn't quite the season for the classic yukizuri snow-rope scenery, the illuminated garden was truly gorgeous at night. The lights reflected on the ponds, trees, and buildings, and occasional live music performances made the overall atmosphere very romantic.

However, visiting at night also has some clear drawbacks. Many details of the garden are hidden in the darkness. The landscaping, terrain, and overall layout that are easy to see during the day are harder to fully appreciate at night. Some paths are still quite dark even with lighting, so watch your step and follow the staff's directions.

Overall, Kenrokuen Garden at night has a wonderful atmosphere and is worth experiencing once, but I would still treat it as an extra activity in addition to a daytime visit. After all, daytime is better if you want to see more of the garden's details. If you want to enjoy romantic lighting and a seasonal atmosphere, you can plan another visit in the evening. Nighttime openings are also usually free, making them a great addition to a daytime visit.