Buses play an auxiliary transport role in places where there is currently no train service or between railways and airports, etc. Express bus services between cities are also used in long-distance travel.
Local Buses
Local buses that cover short distances within cities or link railway stations with the suburbs are just as important as trains for sightseeing. There are, in general, many stops on bus routes and although they are an economical form of transport, caution is required in more rural areas as the number of services drops sharply. It is a good idea to check times for buses going to and coming back from your destination when you are travelling. In general, buses stop at all bus stops on their route. Fare payment methods differ. If the fare is fixed, it is normally paid when boarding the bus but if the fare rises in keeping with distance travelled, it is normally paid when getting off the bus.
Riding on buses allows you to enjoy the particular scenery of the area you are travelling in. Local buses are different from trains in that they run through the streets of towns and, as they provide close access to sightseeing spots, it is possible to get even closer to the real Japan than when using trains.
How to use local buses
●Riding Buses
When using buses, wait for the bus at the bus stop that will take you to the vicinity of your destination. The front or side of the bus will display the route number, the final destination of the bus or its main route so please check this before you board. In general, most buses board from the front and you get off at the back. However, depending on the type of bus, there are some where boarding is conducted from the back and you get off at the front.
●Paying Fares
It should be noted that, depending on the company that operates them, Japanese buses have different payment systems: payment when boarding or payment when getting off. In general, it is not necessary to buy tickets for local buses in Japan. Fares are paid by dropping the correct fare directly into the fare box located beside the driver’s seat when boarding or getting off, depending on the bus. If you do not have the correct change, you can change a 1,000 yen note in the bus. Place the note in the change machine, pick up the change and place the correct fare in the fare box. Fare box types differ from bus to bus so it is advisable to prepare your fare well in advance to avoid confusion after boarding.
●Fares
There are two fare systems for buses: fixed fares notwithstanding distance travelled and fares that rise in keeping with distance travelled. Fixed fare systems do not usually require a ticket; however, the other system usually requires the passenger to take a numbered ticket when boarding the bus. You can check your fare by matching the number on the ticket with the fare displayed on the electric fare board at the front of the bus. Some regions also sell bus passes and these can be extremely convenient.
●Getting off Buses
All buses in Japan have announcements of the name of bus stop that they will arrive at next. When passengers hear the name of the bus stop at which they want to get off, they press the “stop request button” which can be found at various points along the bus. It should be noted that the bus will not stop unless this button is pressed. The button lights up when it is pressed and the announcement “Tsugi teisha shimasu (stopping at the next stop)” can be heard. The driver will then stop at the requested stop. If another passenger has already pressed the button, it is not necessary to press it again. If you cannot catch the announcements in Japanese, check the name of the current bus stop on the electric fare board at the front of the bus and take care not to miss your stop. The door for getting off the bus is most likely to be different from the one you used to board the bus so check which door other people use to get off the bus. Further, if you need to pay when getting off, prepare the correct change as far in advance as you can so that you don’t have to rush when getting off the bus and so that you don’t cause problems for other passengers. If you need change, use the change machine before you arrive at your destination bus stop.
Direct Destination Sightseeing Buses
Sightseeing buses are aimed mainly at sightseeing and are usually operated on a group charter basis. Regular sightseeing buses follow a fixed route set by bus companies around major cities or sightseeing spots. They are easy to use with departure points such as bus terminals, airports, terminal train stations and hotels offering day trips of lengths varying from 3 to 8 hours. Some services provide accompanying bus guides who provide services and tourist information inside the bus and act as a guide at the destination.
Express Buses
Express buses use expressways to travel long distances of 10s and 100s of kilometers between cities or between cities and sightseeing spots. There is a nationwide express bus network meaning that it is possible to arrive at a destination with almost no transfers. Fares are fairly cheap and there are also night buses that run overnight to arrive at their destination early the next morning. However, there is the possibility of traffic jams in most areas on Sundays and holidays so it is recommended that there is leeway in your schedule when using these buses. There is also the disadvantage of not being able to move around freely inside the bus for long periods of time.
