Japan Expressway Bus Reservation Guide

March is the peak tourist season in Japan. At this time of year, Japan’s cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Many people like to come to Japan to see the cherry blossoms. So, we must involve transportation. Today, the editor will tell you about the reservation guide for highway buses in Japan!

Japan Expressway Bus Reservation Guide: Expressway Bus Introduction

Expressway buses are buses that mainly run on highways. Express buses have many routes connecting cities and between cities and tourist attractions. Their specialty is that compared with airplanes and railways, freight costs are lower.

Expressway buses are also called HighwayBus, long-distance buses, and night buses (when traveling at night.

How to purchase tickets and take the bus varies depending on the bus company and route. The information introduced here is only for your reference when making travel plans. Please be sure to confirm the information provided by each bus company when actually taking the bus.

Note that expressway buses may be subject to congestion or traffic accidents. Arrival time is delayed due to road reasons

Time required from Tokyo to major cities FAQ

Q: Where can I check the route or fare?

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A: You can check through the Internet or the travel company window

There are various websites on the Internet where you can check the national express bus routes and make reservations and tickets. It is very convenient, but I am deeply worried. Unfortunately, there are currently very few websites with comprehensive content that cater to foreign tourists. In addition to the Internet, you can also visit the green windows of various travel companies and JR Railway stations (limited to highway buses of the JR Transportation Group). Inquiries or purchase tickets

The bus companies and routes accepted by each website vary

Japanese bus WEB

Search across Japan. Expressway bus database. English version included.

Expressway bus website

You can search and check the available seats on the expressway bus reservation website operated by each JR bus company. After becoming a free member, you can make reservations, make payments, and issue online tickets.

JR Bus Kanto

Detailed information such as English timetables and on-board equipment are included, but only for JR Kanto expressways. Buses (departing and arriving in Tokyo.

You can check and make reservations for highway buses departing and arriving in Kyushu (excluding JR buses. A guide in traditional Chinese is attached.

You can check and make reservations for highway buses from all over Japan. (Except JR buses. You can check seat availability and make reservations without registering as a member.

VIPLINER

You can check highway buses across Japan.

< p>There are specific buses (women-only buses, independent 3-row buses, low-rebound seat buses.

JapanBusOnline

Use this website to make reservations and purchases with credit cards from major bus companies across Japan Regular sightseeing bus and highway bus tickets can be easily purchased without logging in or becoming a member.

Q: Do I need to make a reservation in advance? Where should I pay the fare?

A. : You must make a reservation in advance and purchase a ticket before boarding.

For long-distance routes, you must make a reservation in advance and purchase a ticket before boarding. You can do so through the Internet, travel companies, JR green windows, or bus terminals. and the multimedia ticketing system of some convenience stores to make reservations or purchase tickets (varies depending on bus companies and routes.

In addition, you can also make a reservation by calling the reservation center of each bus company and make a reservation at the bus terminal on the same day Buy a ticket. You can reserve a train for one month from now. When making a reservation, please carefully confirm the ticket purchase period (for example, 30 minutes before departure) and how to change or cancel the purchased ticket.

Q: Where should I get on and off?

< p>A: Express bus terminals and parking stations.

Bus terminals, which are both the starting and ending points of express buses, are often adjacent to railway stations in cities, so the connection is more convenient. However, please note that they are usually located in large cities. There are many bus terminals, and their locations vary depending on the bus company or route.

In addition, intermediate stops are often located on highways or near highway entrances and exits, which are the only means of transportation to reach the city. It is relatively scarce, so please check the bus terminal location and arrival time in advance. You can also check the express bus reservation website.

Q: How long before departure should you arrive at the bus terminal. ?

A: You can start taking the bus about 10 minutes before the departure time.

Most long-distance routes and night buses have reserved seats. It is recommended to leave 30 minutes of extra time. Arrive at the bus terminal beforehand.

Q: How should I go to the restroom or eat while taking the bus?

A: Many buses have restrooms and food can be brought into the bus.

Buses that run long-distance routes usually have restrooms. If you are worried, please confirm the facilities of the bus you will take in advance (you can confirm it through the Internet highway bus reservation website, etc.)

No matter Is there a restroom? Since the bus will take regular breaks at the service area of ??the expressway, you can also go to the restroom or buy food by yourself.

But please note that the rest time is only about 15 minutes. If you get off the bus too late, sometimes the bus will leave without waiting for anyone.

In addition, when temporarily leaving the bus, please carefully confirm the parking location or features to prevent getting lost in the vast parking lot or mistakenly boarding another bus.

Q: What are the precautions when riding in a car?

A: Smoking is prohibited in the car. Please use seat belts when the vehicle is moving.

Smokers please use the smoking area in the service area during breaks. In addition, it is a legal obligation to fasten seat belts while the bus is in motion. Please be careful not to cause trouble to those around you when using your mobile phone or eating in the car.

Line buses and automobiles

In suburbs or local towns without railways and subways, line buses and automobiles are the main means of transportation. When taking a bus in Japan, you cannot get on or off at locations other than parking stops.

The method of using a bus varies by company and route, but as long as you master the basics, it can become a comfortable and convenient means of transportation during your journey.

FAQs about route buses

Q: Where should I check the bus times?

A: The bus stops are available Timetable.

There are various types of parking stops, but in most cases timetables and routes are posted (marking the names of the stops passed. The timetable is written with the time to arrive at the stop, except during peak hours. Outside of time slots, buses will basically run on time. You need to consult each bus company for the time it takes to reach your destination.

Q: What is its fare system?

A: There are two types of fares (single fare system and fares based on distance).

In cities, most uniform intervals will be set up, and uniform fares will be used within the intervals, such as municipal public transportation* **The bus fare is a flat fare of 200 yen in the 23 wards of Tokyo (children 100 yen.

When the fare is not flat, you should first purchase the ticket from the ticket issuing machine near the door when boarding the bus. Take out the ticket (a piece of paper with the stop number printed on it when you get on the bus), and when you get off the bus, check the ticket number on the fare table in front of you and pay the corresponding fee.

Use a prepaid card or IC card Because it goes directly through the card reader, there is no need to get a ticket.

Q: How to pay the fare?

A: It is divided into payment in advance (when getting on the bus and Post-paid (two types when getting off the bus.

If the fare is flat, the front-door boarding and pay-in-first-out method is usually used to get on the bus from the front door of the vehicle and pay the fare when getting on the bus; if it is When charging based on the distance traveled, the method of getting on the bus through the rear door and paying the fare when getting off is usually used.

When paying in cash, put coins into the car next to the driver's seat. Fare box. If you have a ticket, you should put the ticket into the fare box together with the fare. It is also recommended that you prepare coins in advance before boarding, so that you can pay the fare smoothly without exchanging coins, which is more secure. .

Q: How should I tell the driver that I want to get off?

A: When getting off the bus, you should press the bell to inform the driver of your intention to get off.

When you are about to arrive at the stop, you can press the stop bell in the car to inform the driver of your intention to get off. The in-car announcement or the bulletin board in front will introduce the next stop, but buses do not have English instructions like railways. There are many situations where it is difficult to understand the broadcast.

In this case, you can ask the passengers or drivers around you to tell you the stop where you should get off so that you can ride with confidence. It is a basic rule of thumb that you cannot get on or off the bus.

If you need to take a highway bus in Japan, then keep this information, pay attention to safety, and have a happy trip!