Transportation in Japan Part IV
In the previous entry titled "Transportation", I have written that many people in Japan use trains as
main transportation. Some people use to go to school,some people use to
go to work,some people use for general transportation to get to
destination.
Then, in previous entry titled "Transportation in Japan Part II", I wrote how to buy a train tickets in Japan,and smart rechargeable card called "Suica",which you can use to ride train,bus and also you can use it for vending machine or at convenience store.
In the another previous entry titled "Transportation in Japan Part III",I wrote that for business trips,vacation, job hunting/interviews etc., many people use unique fast train called "Shinkansen". It is very slender body, and it runs 300km/h (186 mi/h). Very very fast.
Other than trains, many people in Japan use buses to get around city.
In this entry, I would like to write about how to get around Japan by bus.
Trains are most popular transportation in Japan, but if you were looking to save money for upcoming family trips or getting around big cities, using buses will be the most economical and easiest transportation in Japan.
In Japan,there are 3 types of buses; city bus (bus that runs in the city), tourist bus (bus that carry tourists to popular tourists spot and souvenir shops, and there will be a guide for you), and long distance bus (bus that runs on highways to carry passengers from one place to another).
City bus..
In big cities like Tokyo,Osaka,Kobe etc.., city bus is the secondary transportation to get around the city. Local bus also runs in small city or areas where train network is not as much developed as big cities.
Big city also has bus stops that linked to highway bus (long distance bus).
With Japanese buses, you will see the destination sign with Chinese characters on front top,and just below the Chinese characters,often times,you will find the destination in English.
How to ride Japanese bus..
In the states, it seems that people get on bus from front door and get off from both doors with their choice, and riding/getting off the buses is one thing that confuses me sometimes.
In Japan, especially with the bus that require different fare depending on how far you will ride, you will board from back door,picking up the automatic ticket coupon and pay the exact fare that appear on the front sign with your ticket number when you arrive at your destination in front when you get off.
One thing you might find different with Japanese buses is the fare box you would see in front,usually right next to the driver seat. If you did not have exact fare with cash, you would use the fare box and pay the exact fare in cash when you get off.
How to use the bus fare box..
With fare box, you will find several slots on the box. One for coins, one for bills,one for where you will see the returned change comes out.
On top of the fare box, you will see another slot,and this is where you will drop the coupon ticket,exact fare with cash.
Here is a scenario of riding buses in Japan.
1.Board the buses from back door,picking up the automatic coupon ticket
** You will see the number on the ticket.When you were approaching to your destination stop,look for the number on on your ticket on the fare board in front top,where you will see the fare you would pay
2. When your stop coming next, press the buttons on the side of the windows so driver knows he/she would need to make a stop for you
** Usually, tape recorded announcements are made before each coming stop
3.Pay the exact fare in cash with coupon ticket and get off the bus
** If you did not have exact fare, use the fare box and get change and pay the exact fare and get off the bus
** Some buses in certain places run with flat rate and, you would still need to pay the exact fare when you get off but you do not have to worry about how much the fare will be
You can watch the youtube video that shows you how to use the Japanese bus at youtube website. Please click here to watch the video.
Long distance,highway buses..
Some travel agencies and bus companies offer tour bus package deals,and the buses would take you to popular tourists spots and souvenir shops from local bus stops.
Nice advantage of using the tour bus is that you will be with guide and she/he would tell you stories about the popular tourists spots,and you may find something interesting to learn from them.
On occasions, the tour guide would entertain your ride with singing songs etc..
I came across the youtube video where you can see the Japanese tour guide singing song for the tourists. Please click here to watch the video.
The song the guide is singing is titled "Shima Uta (Island song)" by singing group called "Boom".
You can listen to their music by youtube video below.
Shima Uta
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
Some bus companies offer long distance buses. Long distance buses take longer for you to get to the destination place than trains or bullet train "Shinkansen",but fare is very economical and you can save money a lot.
Interesting thing in Japan is that almost all prefectures have their own bus companies,and each runs at daytime and overnight time to other prefectures for long distance traveler.
Along side the prefecture's bus company, Japan Railway,which operates Japanese bullet train "Shinkansen" also operates bus.
There are also regional bus companies as well.
How to make reservation for long distance highway bus..
Tickets for long distance highway bus can be purchased through travel agencies, by phones,major bus stops or if you were to purchase tickets for JR bus, you can purchase tickets at major JR stations.
Usually,seat reservation is required especially the overnight highway bus. It is possible that you can reserve the seat right before the bus departure time at the bus stops if seats were not fully booked, but reservation is recommended.
Now you know how to get around Japan by bus
Then, in previous entry titled "Transportation in Japan Part II", I wrote how to buy a train tickets in Japan,and smart rechargeable card called "Suica",which you can use to ride train,bus and also you can use it for vending machine or at convenience store.
In the another previous entry titled "Transportation in Japan Part III",I wrote that for business trips,vacation, job hunting/interviews etc., many people use unique fast train called "Shinkansen". It is very slender body, and it runs 300km/h (186 mi/h). Very very fast.
Other than trains, many people in Japan use buses to get around city.
In this entry, I would like to write about how to get around Japan by bus.
Trains are most popular transportation in Japan, but if you were looking to save money for upcoming family trips or getting around big cities, using buses will be the most economical and easiest transportation in Japan.
In Japan,there are 3 types of buses; city bus (bus that runs in the city), tourist bus (bus that carry tourists to popular tourists spot and souvenir shops, and there will be a guide for you), and long distance bus (bus that runs on highways to carry passengers from one place to another).
City bus..
In big cities like Tokyo,Osaka,Kobe etc.., city bus is the secondary transportation to get around the city. Local bus also runs in small city or areas where train network is not as much developed as big cities.
Big city also has bus stops that linked to highway bus (long distance bus).
With Japanese buses, you will see the destination sign with Chinese characters on front top,and just below the Chinese characters,often times,you will find the destination in English.
How to ride Japanese bus..
In the states, it seems that people get on bus from front door and get off from both doors with their choice, and riding/getting off the buses is one thing that confuses me sometimes.
In Japan, especially with the bus that require different fare depending on how far you will ride, you will board from back door,picking up the automatic ticket coupon and pay the exact fare that appear on the front sign with your ticket number when you arrive at your destination in front when you get off.
One thing you might find different with Japanese buses is the fare box you would see in front,usually right next to the driver seat. If you did not have exact fare with cash, you would use the fare box and pay the exact fare in cash when you get off.
How to use the bus fare box..
With fare box, you will find several slots on the box. One for coins, one for bills,one for where you will see the returned change comes out.
On top of the fare box, you will see another slot,and this is where you will drop the coupon ticket,exact fare with cash.
Here is a scenario of riding buses in Japan.
1.Board the buses from back door,picking up the automatic coupon ticket
** You will see the number on the ticket.When you were approaching to your destination stop,look for the number on on your ticket on the fare board in front top,where you will see the fare you would pay
2. When your stop coming next, press the buttons on the side of the windows so driver knows he/she would need to make a stop for you
** Usually, tape recorded announcements are made before each coming stop
3.Pay the exact fare in cash with coupon ticket and get off the bus
** If you did not have exact fare, use the fare box and get change and pay the exact fare and get off the bus
** Some buses in certain places run with flat rate and, you would still need to pay the exact fare when you get off but you do not have to worry about how much the fare will be
You can watch the youtube video that shows you how to use the Japanese bus at youtube website. Please click here to watch the video.
Long distance,highway buses..
Some travel agencies and bus companies offer tour bus package deals,and the buses would take you to popular tourists spots and souvenir shops from local bus stops.
Nice advantage of using the tour bus is that you will be with guide and she/he would tell you stories about the popular tourists spots,and you may find something interesting to learn from them.
On occasions, the tour guide would entertain your ride with singing songs etc..
I came across the youtube video where you can see the Japanese tour guide singing song for the tourists. Please click here to watch the video.
The song the guide is singing is titled "Shima Uta (Island song)" by singing group called "Boom".
You can listen to their music by youtube video below.
Shima Uta
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
Some bus companies offer long distance buses. Long distance buses take longer for you to get to the destination place than trains or bullet train "Shinkansen",but fare is very economical and you can save money a lot.
Interesting thing in Japan is that almost all prefectures have their own bus companies,and each runs at daytime and overnight time to other prefectures for long distance traveler.
Along side the prefecture's bus company, Japan Railway,which operates Japanese bullet train "Shinkansen" also operates bus.
There are also regional bus companies as well.
How to make reservation for long distance highway bus..
Tickets for long distance highway bus can be purchased through travel agencies, by phones,major bus stops or if you were to purchase tickets for JR bus, you can purchase tickets at major JR stations.
Usually,seat reservation is required especially the overnight highway bus. It is possible that you can reserve the seat right before the bus departure time at the bus stops if seats were not fully booked, but reservation is recommended.
Now you know how to get around Japan by bus
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