Japan - Night bus Tokyo to Kyoto
keisari
Mar 21, 12, 10:28 pm
I found a company called Pumpkin Bus (or something like that); 7400 to 8000 yen one way, night bus.
I have enjoyed nice buses in Argentina where the seat is 170 to 180 degrees and it is essentially like a Business class seat. Not a real bed but very comfy for a long trip
Do you know of any companies in Japan that offer this type of bus experience?
armagebedar
Mar 22, 12, 1:39 am
I found a company called Pumpkin Bus (or something like that); 7400 to 8000 yen one way, night bus.
I have enjoyed nice buses in Argentina where the seat is 170 to 180 degrees and it is essentially like a Business class seat. Not a real bed but very comfy for a long trip
Do you know of any companies in Japan that offer this type of bus experience?
There are tons -- for example, the various JR companies offer a variety of seat types. The best is probably Willer Travel (http://willerexpress.com/x/bus/dynamic/3/en/html/pc/bus/index.php).
You'll find that the most competition is on the Tokyo-Osaka route, so that's where the best products are used. As long as you don't mind the 30 minute train ride from Osaka to Kyoto, I'd look there.
Also, I doubt you'll find anything with a 170 or 180 degree recline. The most I've seen is about 140 degrees or so.
valve bouncer
Mar 22, 12, 3:31 am
I've used Willer Bus a few times. I quite enjoyed the time I went to Osaka during the day but the two overnight trips were a bit of an ordeal. The seats are ridiculously narrow though leg room is adequate and the bus is kept uncomfortably hot. Can't beat the price though and they have a top notch English website.
Willer offers a bus pass that allows up to two long-distance bus trips per day for 3, 4 or 5 non-consecutive days:
http://willerexpress.com/x/bus/dynamic/3/en/html/pc/buspass/
I don't think we've discussed it in detail in the Japan forum, but it's been mentioned in the budget travel forum:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/budget-travel/1107062-japan-budget.html
It works very differently from the rail passes, which allow you to hop on and off as many trains as you like, with or without reservations. I might think of this as a discounted set of tickets rather than a "pass" as such. So you need to read the Ts and Cs quite carefully to make sure it works for you. If it does, I think it should be a very attractive proposition for budget travelers who want to go long distances in Japan. The fact that it can be used on non-consecutive days makes it particularly useful - as you can see from the example itineraries:
http://willerexpress.com/x/bus/dynamic/3/en/html/pc/buspass/course.php
keisari
Mar 22, 12, 7:05 pm
this is great information
some of the seats are three to a row with an incline of 140-146 degrees which is not the best bed around but looks comfy for one night.
Maybe the mod can merge this with the link to Japan on a budget.
Thanks
Taiwaned
Mar 23, 12, 4:48 pm
I do the night bus ride between Tokyo and Osaka fairly regularly.
Regarding seat comfort and seat incline. It depends on the price of the ticket.
If you purchase the real "cheap" bus line then you get the real narrow "cram as many people you can" type of seats but if you get the more expensive ticket (1000-2500 yen more) then the seats are more spacious and comfortable.