----------------------------------- sanji Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:41 am How to use jalan.net - online reservation for hotels/ryokan ----------------------------------- This thread is to explain you how to use jalan.net, which is probably the largest on line reservation system for lodging in Japan. Understanding this tool will tremendously help you to find available hotels, ryokan, minshuku or pensions when and where you want to stay. It is useful both for travel to the cities and in the countryside... New version from october 2009. This guide is ONLY here to help you. You would be much more comfortable using this web site if you can read some Japanese... Use this guide at your risks, and don't complain if you reserved a luxurious ryokan in Hokkaido while searching for a pension in Tokyo... You first need to register (you will have to do that only once). Part 1 - Registration on jalan.net First important thing : registration is free. Go to the following link : http://www.jalan.net/ji/pc/jit2001.do Click on the blue button - which becomes orange when you pass the mouse over it. 1296 This will bring you to a new screen, where you will be prompt to enter your email address. Press the button (次へ) at the bottom. You need to use a valid email, and to wait for the confirmation. Once you get that email from jalan.net, click on the first link provided, this will bring you to the registration page. 1292 Fill the following : - A Password (twice) - you have to use at least 1 letter and 1 number - Your name and first name. The first line is for kanji, but katakana are acceptable, too. You might want to try romanji (not sure if this is acceptable). The second line is for katakana. You have to enter your name in katakana on that line, otherwise you will be denied registration. Note that if the name is too long, it might cause an error - in that case, try also to remove the space between the family name and the first name, this can help, too. - Choose a nickname - Select your birth date - Select your gender (first button for male, second for female). - Do you want to receive jalan.net newsletter? I recommend the 3rd choice, "no". - The last part is to fill in your address in Japan, but this is not mandatory. - Click on the large button to submit. 1294 Review your information and confirm (right button on the bottom - the left one is to go back and change your personal details). If some of the parameters are missing, you will be taken back to the previous screen and an error message will be displayed. 803 It is finished. You can either click on the large button to go back to jalan.net home page, or fill your ketai (mobile) email address to get direct contact from jalan.net (no very useful, probably).