Observations

This is not a question, but an opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of our holiday so far, and to note down a few observations.
1. Japan Web QR code at Kansai: we landed at 9.20am: my husband and I had a QR code each: we went through quickly and easily.
Our friends went as Family members on one QR code in the wife's name, but with all the husband's details recorded. The wife went through ok; the husband had to fill out the paper form: the one QR code was insufficient.
2. Collecting the WiFi router at the n.e.s.t counter at KIX was a 30 second job: so easy. And it is only meters away from the JR counter as well. Not far at all.
3. Exchanging the pre-paid (on Klook) One Way Haruka at the JR Counter was also quick and easy, and Reserved Seats were included in the 2200yen cost.
So were we seated in comfort on the 10.16 am Haruka to Kyoto by 10.10am: brilliant.
4. Kyoto tourism is out of control: completely and utterly next level. This is our 8th trip to Japan. The previous 7 were between 2008 and 2015, all of which have been either in Spring, or at this time of year: never have we seen it like this.
Part of the huge problem with the counters at the JR Offices is the fact that with hardly anyone using JR Passes we are all lining up to book tickets for the longer journeys. Ridiculously long lines, because the ticket machines couldn't give people reserved seats together on some heavily booked trains, causing confusion.
Exchanging the One Way Horkuriku voucher from Kyoto to Kanazawa was an exercise in frustration: we initially lined up in what we found out was the JR Central office: then were told to head up to the JR West office: rookie error, but a learning experience.
5. The forecast wet weather has been kind to us until today: so we have had 6 days with cloudy but dry days. Today (Saturday) is torrential, and we braved Fushimi Inari with many other hardy souls. Umbrellas ruled........
So thank you everyone for your input so far, and we are looking forward to Kanazawa and Tokyo.

RE: item ‡C, Kyoto Station crowd.
I saw, too, that the lines at Kyoto Station ticket office (even the vending machines) is out of control. So, I went to another station (Nijo Station) to reserve my seat. The line there was only two person long.

Some further observations from Kanazawa, Shirakawago and Tokyo.
1. The transfer at Tsuruga was interesting: our Thunderbird was 3 minutes late into Kyoto, and 12 minutes late by the time we reached Tsuruga where we had a 15 minute change over.
We made the transfer in the 3 minutes, and fortunately for others they held the Shinkansen for about another 2 minutes.
We had no luggage (having sent it on): luggage and that transfer would have been a nightmare even with full time transfer.
2.Kanazawa is haven of wondrousness: it is our favourite city and did not disappoint.
Even though we were there on the Public Holiday long weekend it was still nowhere near as crowded as Kyoto.
3. Shirakawago is a great day trip from Kanazawa, and we were grateful our hotel had booked our bus tickets a month in advance (on the first possible day they could do so).
When going to the office to collect our tickets there was one flabbergasted young woman who was unable to obtain seats on any bus to go there and return at any time in the 10 days she was in Kanazawa : every possible bus was fully booked.
4. Tokyo seems to be nowhere near as crowded as Kyoto: eg Meiji Jingu , Kappabashi Dori for just 2 places were similar to other visits on previous years.
5. We regret to note that there have been some changes in courtesy since our last 7 visits between 2008 and 2015.
We have observed school girls on crowded Kyoto buses sitting in Priority seats and making no attempt to offer them to elderly, pregnant, or compromised passengers.
Similar observations on subways and trains in Tokyo: no longer to younger passengers offer up seats to those in need
Negotiating crossing of roads, use of escalators in train stations, and general behaviour in crowded areas is a mine field not experienced previously. People being glued to smart phones, and tourists being ignorant of common courtesy has been an eye opener.

We have had a wonderful time and shall return.

Thank you, it is highly interesting and useful to hear your actual experiences!

Thank you @Uji: your help is always invaluable, and I now have one last observation to make.

The train from Shinagawa (where we were staying, so a no brainer) to Haneda lists as a Limited Express is not what we expected: it is essentially a local train on the Keikyu line, which is routed through some stations as an express, and then diverts to Haneda instead of going on to Yokohama.

it was truly awful: fully crowded with everyone with large suitcases, and no seats at all: all standing room only. A young child travelling home to Europe was clearly distressed at the cases bumping into her at every lurch.
Fortunately it was only 20 minutes, but it was a revelation after Limited Express trains on other airport lines!

However the exit from Haneda was seamless: check in was easy and efficient, and the only exit procedure was to scan the boarding pass, and do photo ID: easy, efficient, quick and

This is exactly why I don't share the widespread opinion that Haneda is more convenient to access than Narita: the absence of reservable airport trains.

I get that @Uji. Totally. Completely and utterly.
Unfortunately Singapore airlines from Melbourne is significantly more cost effective than Qantas
It is what it is.
For our return (and we are definitely coming back) we are now thinking into maybe in and out of Kansai.


Thank you @Uji, @Uco, and @JapanCustomTours for the wonderful and extremely helpful advice.

After reading your excellent article on overtourism, I now have a couple of further observations to add after being home for 2 weeks and reflecting on our recent 8th trip:
1. Credit cards: the difficulty of not being able to use Non Japanese ( ie Non JCB cards) credit cards eg in ticket machines, online for Shibuya Sky deck etc etc , is a frustration for foreign tourists. Whilst many more institutions (hotels, many restaurants, some shops) than previously (pre Pandemic) now have card options there was a constant battle with being able to use non JCB cards. Cash is still king.
2. Tour groups: really are a huge annoyance.
Being on a tour does not give the tour guide the right to hold up photo ops for everyone else and take individual pics of all people on the tour; nor does it give the right to occupy small spaces (eg rooms in Nomura House) for 30+ minutes with a monologue on every item in the room.
We were a group of 4 and on occasions went our own ways, meeting up at designated times: researching locations in advance is sensible.
Our guide to Mt Fuji/Hakone was great: essentially, we were on our own once we left the bus, and had to be back by a certain time, and he gave us much information whilst travelling. Advance knowledge is so helpful.
On a very pleasing note the Myoruji temple (Ninja Dera) has now produced truly wonderful guides in different languages, which makes the excellent and understandably compulsory Japanese tour mean so much more now.
3. Essentially, there is good and bad in every situation involving people: some are polite and "get it" by simple good manners and common sense; others are just simply ignorant and uninformed.
Having had a suitcase fall on me on an escalator in Kyoto, (only reason it, its ridiculously over burdened owner and I didn't have a really nasty fall was the presence of a very strong person in front of me), and with our seated friend having a back pack swung into his face on a bus, there are simply thoughtless individuals. That's just life.