Overnight Bus/Train: Kyoto to Hakuba
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SEA/DEN
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Overnight Bus/Train: Kyoto to Hakuba
Does anyone know of an overnight bus/train, preferably direct, from Kyoto or Osaka to Kyoto.
I think the train is pretty much out but buses were proving hard to find. As always, thanks!
I think the train is pretty much out but buses were proving hard to find. As always, thanks!
#2
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
Do you really need to do this trip overnight? If you can go in the afternoon, it looks like 5-1/2 hours and 3 transfers but it can be done by train and you'd be there before 9:00 pm. It is 4-1/2 hours and 2 transfers if you can leave in the morning.
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/se...d&sum_target=7
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/se...d&sum_target=7
#3
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,426
During winter season there are several overnight bus from Kansai (Osaka and Kyoto) area to Hakuba area, catering to skiers. These bus services are seasonal and usually run as a charter bus by various tour companies. Tickets are sold as individual passengers, just like scheduled bus service, but often tickets are sold through tour companies only. Usual websites to search trains and bus schedules will not show these type of bus services.
Websites are in Japanese only and often reservation by phone calls are by Japanese only. One way fares are somewhere form 5000 yen plus. Departing Kansai area anywhere after 9 p.m. and arriving Hakuba 6-7 a.m. next day. If you read Japanese, some of tour companies with such bus services are:
http://bus.otokuski.jp/kansai_hakuba.html
http://www.upon.co.jp/nature/ssw/
http://www.snowclub.jp/bus/kansai_hakuba.html
JR used to have various overnight trains form Tokyo and Osaka area to ski areas during ski season back in good old days of peak of bubble era. However, as ski become less popular and people shifted mode transport to driving, those winter only overnight ski trains disappeared.
Websites are in Japanese only and often reservation by phone calls are by Japanese only. One way fares are somewhere form 5000 yen plus. Departing Kansai area anywhere after 9 p.m. and arriving Hakuba 6-7 a.m. next day. If you read Japanese, some of tour companies with such bus services are:
http://bus.otokuski.jp/kansai_hakuba.html
http://www.upon.co.jp/nature/ssw/
http://www.snowclub.jp/bus/kansai_hakuba.html
JR used to have various overnight trains form Tokyo and Osaka area to ski areas during ski season back in good old days of peak of bubble era. However, as ski become less popular and people shifted mode transport to driving, those winter only overnight ski trains disappeared.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SEA/DEN
Programs: Hostelworld.com Diamond Plated Platinum
Posts: 390
Do you really need to do this trip overnight? If you can go in the afternoon, it looks like 5-1/2 hours and 3 transfers but it can be done by train and you'd be there before 9:00 pm. It is 4-1/2 hours and 2 transfers if you can leave in the morning.
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/se...d&sum_target=7
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/se...d&sum_target=7
During winter season there are several overnight bus from Kansai (Osaka and Kyoto) area to Hakuba area, catering to skiers. These bus services are seasonal and usually run as a charter bus by various tour companies. Tickets are sold as individual passengers, just like scheduled bus service, but often tickets are sold through tour companies only. Usual websites to search trains and bus schedules will not show these type of bus services.
Websites are in Japanese only and often reservation by phone calls are by Japanese only. One way fares are somewhere form 5000 yen plus. Departing Kansai area anywhere after 9 p.m. and arriving Hakuba 6-7 a.m. next day. If you read Japanese, some of tour companies with such bus services are:
http://bus.otokuski.jp/kansai_hakuba.html
http://www.upon.co.jp/nature/ssw/
http://www.snowclub.jp/bus/kansai_hakuba.html
JR used to have various overnight trains form Tokyo and Osaka area to ski areas during ski season back in good old days of peak of bubble era. However, as ski become less popular and people shifted mode transport to driving, those winter only overnight ski trains disappeared.
Websites are in Japanese only and often reservation by phone calls are by Japanese only. One way fares are somewhere form 5000 yen plus. Departing Kansai area anywhere after 9 p.m. and arriving Hakuba 6-7 a.m. next day. If you read Japanese, some of tour companies with such bus services are:
http://bus.otokuski.jp/kansai_hakuba.html
http://www.upon.co.jp/nature/ssw/
http://www.snowclub.jp/bus/kansai_hakuba.html
JR used to have various overnight trains form Tokyo and Osaka area to ski areas during ski season back in good old days of peak of bubble era. However, as ski become less popular and people shifted mode transport to driving, those winter only overnight ski trains disappeared.