Japan Winter 2008

[LingNightsky]

thanx everyone for the suggestions! I haven't had the time to re-plan the itinerary yet but the info here are definitely gonna help. Have met up with the group and we would probably scrap the JR Pass as we are probably gonna rent cars to drive. Best mode of transport for birding in my opinion

 

[ReiszRie]

thanx everyone for the suggestions! I haven't had the time to re-plan the itinerary yet but the info here are definitely gonna help. Have met up with the group and we would probably scrap the JR Pass as we are probably gonna rent cars to drive. Best mode of transport for birding in my opinion

private transport certainly is the best mode of transport to get around hard to reach places in Japan but also be prepared for screw-ups as driving around Japan especially Hokkaido for the first time is highly susceptible to screw-ups, therefore, be sure to formulate backup plans for dire situations.... a friend of mine got lost and subsequently ran out of fuel whilst driving in Biei, without any idea where he exactly was and with no one in sight due to the remote nature of the area, he had been stranded out there in the freezing cold for almost an entire day.

 

[syl]

Don't worry about getting lost - there are GPS sets that you can rent with the car.

 

[ReiszRie]

Don't worry about getting lost - there are GPS sets that you can rent with the car.

wow, didnt know they have those now xD

we had to refer to maps back then ahaha, it certainly would make driving around much easier then

 

[leave]

wow, didnt know they have those now xD

we had to refer to maps back then ahaha, it certainly would make driving around much easier then

Errmmm when was "back then" ? even a few years back, I sat in a car with a GPS set with live traffic status/info datafeed over wireless/radio. And with building data that allowed 3D rendering of your current surroundings. That was for Tokyo but at the least they should have a 2D map with a flashing dot for the other parts of Japan . The Americans have had GPS navigation systems in their cars for at least 7 years back. Don't think the Japs would be far behind. It's almost impossible to get lost nowadays with in-car GPS systems (proper ones, not those HP PDA junk toys :bsmilie.

 

[ReiszRie]

Errmmm when was "back then" ? even a few years back, I sat in a car with a GPS set with live traffic status/info datafeed over wireless/radio. And with building data that allowed 3D rendering of your current surroundings. That was for Tokyo but at the least they should have a 2D map with a flashing dot for the other parts of Japan . The Americans have had GPS navigation systems in their cars for at least 7 years back. Don't think the Japs would be far behind. It's almost impossible to get lost nowadays with in-car GPS systems (proper ones, not those HP PDA junk toys :bsmilie.

around 4 years back, not all cars come fitted with GPS systems and certainly not all car rental companies provide cars with GPS systems...