Christmas at Hakuba

[bushpig 0]

yeah sunrise, that was me (or one of em was)

[Markie 0]

It was impossible to spot you that night. With the tables full of naan bread, curry, fish tikka, chicken masala, mutton vindaloo....everyone there were pigs.

[NoFakie 45]

That was a wicked feed. Thanks again Markie!

[Markie 0]

You're welcome, Mr Wiggles. Will I catch you again this time?

[bushpig 0]

were you there too Mr W??

[morganwindsor 0]

HAVING READ THE FORUM FOR SOME TIME i FINALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO POST SOME QUESTIONS TO YOU GUYS.

MY days of high excitement are over but may be matched by bringing a wife and 4 boys to Hakuba for Xmas after jagging 6 Frequent flyer flights (doesnt anyone want to fly to jpn) -Ill be the one that looks like mother goose on the mountain!

The first of many questions to you guys are

What would you think about hiring a car to go from hakuba/Nagano to Osaka when leaving . Despite the hassle this is much cheaper than rail for 6 people. Do you think that is feasible.

[bushpig 0]

yes easily feasible. But remember that to do the drive in reasonable time, you'll need to use the expressway which costs money. Have you factored that into your costs? Also, navigating Osaka CAN be a bit of a nightmare in a car if you don't know the area well. Most rental cars have navigation (gps) systems, but are in Japanese. Ask the rental comany if they have any with English programs running.

[morganwindsor 0]

Thanks so much BP -if i can be so familiar. where would you pick the car up?and can you suggest a company that i can actually use the website on . It seems that ?national have a website that could do it.

Im already having nightmares about loosing a child in the Osaka subway and seriously considering some UHF radios.

The train back would be about 50K yen for 6 vs about 25 for the car for 1 day. I do enjoy a driving challenge.

We are having the new year holiday in Osaka and back to Aus Jan 1

[bushpig 0]

no worries. as for sites, I'll get back to you with some links if I can find some. OK, so that cost will be cheaper, even with the highway toll, which I'm guessing would be somewhere around 7000 yen?? The Osaka subway, while maybe a little daunting is not all that bad, and I wouldn't worry... hang on, I just reread your post. 4 boys?? how young? Yep, that could be a hassle. Hehe. What kind of driving are you used to? Driving in Osaka and using the toll roads is nothing like I had ever experienced in Aus. It can be very confusing/frustrating. But, it is doable.

[bushpig 0]

By the way, I was going to comment on the difficulty of renting a car without Japanese ability, but was assuming you had already found somewhere to do it...

[Yuki's Passion 1]

Just stop on the express and check the exits each time carefully. Dont worry, you can stop and park ANYWHERE you like in Japan...

[bushpig 0]

ok here's one with an office in Nagano city (not hakuba)

 

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/index.jsp?bsc=t&targetPage=reservationOnHomepage.jsp

 

CB, on the tollroads around osaka it's not quite that easy. And there are hardly any places to stop (short of getting off at an exit). It's quite a maze.

[Yuki's Passion 1]

What?? Just stop in your tracks and make them wait or go around. Everbody else does it

 

you forget to take your sarcasm pill today? Think youre missing something...

[bushpig 0]

f'koff!

 

actually, getting out to Kansai airport was a bit of a mare too. I made one missed exit and ended up wasting about an hour trying to get back to where I wanted to be.

[Yuki's Passion 1]

Thats why they have busses mate. 1500 yen from Nishinomiya to the airport front door

[morganwindsor 0]

Yes 4 boys and wife-should be fun lost in Osaka -all hungry etc etc.Fortunately if you can stop by the road anywhere they will love that -just out on the expressway and pee . They never want to go simultaneously of course. Boys 14/12/10/8,

Tx Ill check out the hertz website but perhaps sanity might prevail over the driving challenge!

Any suggestions for a Xmas day lunch?

[bushpig 0]

above comment probably siad tongue in cheek. But, stopping on the expressway is a huge cause of fatal accidents in Japan. The tollroads mostly have very thin emergency stopping lanes, and have walls running down both sides. If you do drive, then I suggest taking CBs advice and drive to Osaka and then bus or train it from there to the airport.

[morganwindsor 0]

BP after an hour on the hertz website im totally defeated by it. Ill cool my heels on the driving to Osaka for a while.

Yes tongue in cheek -thats what empty drink bottles are for on a long drive.

cheers

hagw

[bushpig 0]

really? hard to use? Oh well, I reckon the train is the better option anyway mate. Good luck.

[misorano 1]

Robest: Listen to BP. Driving in Osaka is a pain in the a_s. They have a big loop in the middle that is very difficult to figure out.

If you wan tto rent a car pick it up in Kyoto as the expressway from there is quite easy.

 

Take the Haruka express to Kyoto and then go from there.

 

Also remember you need snow tires or chains from a certain point depending on conditions. This could add a bit to the cost.

 

 

And with that misorano wobbles off to the kitchen to mix up a shochu as it's 5PM on a Friday nite.

[Markie 0]

What about the chartered taxi service? Isn't there one for Kansai like the one for Narita?

[rach 1]

Can I come too?

 

[Markie 0]

Of course you are welcome, Rach. Just drop Fattwins a line if you want to reserve a place where the action is gonna be.

[fjef 0]

robest - I have 2 boys, 14 and 9 ( I guess I fell asleep and missed on the other 2) and we are also making plans to be in Hakuba for Xmas. Having been there several times, (we live near Tokyo) I think you are much better off with a rental van - for getting to and from the airport and for getting around in Hakuba. It will work out cheaper and much more convenient with a family and all your gear.

[slow 0]

I'd love to go to Hakuba for having a good time with you guys, but usually around Xmas, there is not enough snow there... Markie, you should stay longer if possible.