• expired

Sale on Express Bus Tickets for Japan Intercity Travel - ¥1500 (AU $19) @ Rakuten Travel

750

I was booking tickets for inter-city express buses last night and saw that they were having a sale on some bus lines .

from usually 6000yen (up to 8000yen) for an adult —-> reduced to 1500yen.

intercity express buses run overnight on the expressways (think autobahn - but people obey the speed limit mostly)

so, overnight bus - save on accommodation, also cheap travel save on expensive shinkansen tickets.

i usually arrive too early to check in to airbnb so I just check my luggage into a luggage locker at the station (always plenty) which cost 300-500 yen. then head out for the day for sightseeing.

I usually fly in to Narita in the early evening. get a train to Ikebukero or Tokyo stations where the bus departs, go have some dinner, and couple of beers. then get on the bus and snooze.

the night buses have fixed closed curtains so it is quite dark and you are not disturbed by outside lights.

here is a screen dump of tickets for tickets from tokyo to Kyoto

I use this page to translate my name to Katakana for the booking.

This deal is only for travel until 30/11/2018.

hope this assists someone.

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  • -3

    With bonus typhoon?

    • +1

      Lol. OPs idea to save money isn't bad.

      • yep they're great.

    • +2

      yes free Wen'n'Wild there at the moment.

    • -4

      typhoon is a genuine concern +1 from me

  • +17

    Good luck. When I've taken night buses in Japan, I've got little sleep, arrive in around the back of some train station disoriented, am not up to a day's sightseeing & am too early to check in.

    • -7

      You're a "glass half empty" type it would seem.

      • +17

        I enjoy my frequent travel in Japan & my sleep.

        Taken night buses in the past. But usually is a waste of the next day for me, which isn't a good idea on a holiday - so no longer catch night buses. The economics of a lost day outweigh the savings.

        Best to know if this type of travel is for you! There are various seat classes, some with more privacy & larger seats. Buses in Japan often lack a toilet, stopping every few hours - so be careful about these options to get the best out of your travel.

        • I tend to agree. Travelling by bus waste a whole day and that’s not accounting for other passengers who get sick on there as well. Flying is the way to go.

        • +6

          @nightelves:
          I just explore a region each trip. That means little long distance travel after reaching the area.

          I then base myself in a local business hotel (have paid as little as $13/n for a basic room with facilities down the corridor) or Airbnb. Of course I do treat myself.

          But also hitchhike & camp (free on beaches & islands) in more remote areas. Infrequent local transport & almost no accommodation makes it difficult to do otherwise.

          Japan is a country of wonderful regions & seasons. Dedicating time to explore for more than a decade has been pure pleasure👍

        • @nightelves:

          It depends if you want to see the countryside. I've only been to Tokyo so may take the bus in the future. Stayed in Ikebukero last time as well. Got a cheap hotel for $50 so its not a bad area.

        • @Icecold5000:

          With frequent flyer points it’s been handy flying to nearby destination for cheap. It’s normally $10 return most times with Jal.

        • @nightelves:

          Would rather see the countryside. Literally spend 99% of my life in cities so its good to change it up

        • @Icecold5000:

          You can. Hire a car.

        • @nightelves:

          Wouldn't that be more expensive than a bus? I've traveled on buses extensively throughout SE Asia. Good way to see a country and would recommend it to anybody.

        • @Infidel: what would be your top 5 to cover based on your experience? remote areas i mean. we're comfortable driving there too if helps

        • @inamberclad:
          Far too broad a question to answer. Depends on your interests, season, region, budget, who is travelling (family, group or sole traveller), and for what reason.

          I couldn't answer that from my perspective of travelling in Japan since 2007. Every time is different. I plan little & often stumble on amazing places & people.

          As a sole traveller, I favour long mountain walks (eg the ancient Kumano Kodo where people have walked the stone paths for over 1000 years), rugged coastlines, & tiny islands - there are so many of those. It gives an insight into the culture, religion, beauty, people & food.

          Japan is best appreciated by experiencing the little differences - soaking in a hot tub at an Onsen, beside a mountain stream, with snow flakes falling on your face. Totally enjoyable & memorable.

          And the hospitality of the people, who don't understand how wonderful it is to a weary traveller. It just what they do.

          So for me the most important thing to take with me is time & curiosity. No matter where I go, I always have a great time In Japan.

      • I sort of agree with him. I was okay with taking the night bus and hopping in between backpackers' accomodation when I was younger, but now I just want a quick ride and convenient, private accomodation to stay in.

        • +1

          Yes, depends on your / your loved ones requirements😉
          Lost a good girlfriend from being a too frugal travel partner😢
          Comfort is usually a requirement for happy travels.

        • @Infidel: It depends on how you guys are paying for travels and how much you're both making. If you're making a gazillion and she's not, and she's expecting you to pay for most of it, I think its well within your right to seek cheaper options. If she makes a lot, and you don't, I don't see why you need to get yourself broke just to keep up either.

        • @clubhonda:
          It's not necessarily the expense of travel, but the type of travel or holiday.
          My partner & I were travelling on savings for months, with no job to return to but similar budgets. I pushed the spending down to extend the travel time, but pushed it too low & chose the cheapest travel options. It was my first time travelling overseas, but not hers. I didn't discuss my travel ideas much as I didn't understand them then. Our requirements for travel were generally closely matched & we had a great time. But too long a time, without a bit of luxury, friends, & time apart…

          People have different expectations from holidays or travel. That may not be apparent until you both want very different things while travelling! So as in all relationships, an understanding of your & their values & expectations can ease possible tensions.

          Travel can be a good test of relationships. Some couples find separate travels suits their relationship better, taking off at different times to different destinations, possibly meeting up along the way. It can kindle desire & keep the relationship fresh.

          I love to explore, plan & book little, spend little on transport including flights, put those funds into local food plus cultural experiences, & I travel light (carry-on only) allowing maximum flexibility - buying some clothes etc in the country.

          Women I know just say "Well that may be ok for you, but I need all my cosmetics & changes of clothes!" which is understandable. Hence I am a sole traveller. You meet a lot of people that way.

          Most would find that stressful. They would prefer the low-stress resort luxury I find uninteresting. For me the randomness of unexpected interactions & sights is what I crave.

          But finding a travel companion for adventures that constantly change is difficult. So I sometimes team up for periods along the journey.

          (Had an interesting time with a British journalist on the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar - I spotted a corpse but no one wanted to know as was likely a military killing!! That's almost no ones idea of a holiday. But it gave a great insight into the culture for us.
          I had just trained locals there as a volunteer for 8 days. Had seen an American the locals treated with great respect, so teamed up with him on his project. We had an amazing traditional party on the river at the end, with me paying the us$50 bar tab for 40 people!
          Stumbled on the first International Writers Festival hosted by Aung San Suu Kyi (days after censorship involving jail terms was lifted by the military government). Was lucky to get sold out tickets from the British Embassy.
          And so much more on a short trip.
          All of it unplanned. A real adventure.)

    • I only took night bus once and I slept even better than when I sleep on a plane.

      • It varies with individuals & varies over time.
        I used to sleep well on buses in some less developed countries - with chickens & a goat as passengers. Those were great sleeps!
        Over time, my travel has improved, but my sleep declined on transport. Find sleep on flights is good.

        I mainly travel in rural Japan, so save costs by hitchhiking. Locals are so generous. Was given $200 after 2 days travelling with a group of Japanese tour guides. We had the best time🍻

        • yeah it varies. Nowadays I can get some sleep on the plane, but not great sleep. I'm definitely more fussy than you, there's no way I can sleep with chickens and goats lol

          Do you speak Japanese at all?

        • +1

          @purplelady:
          About 6 words that get me by😉
          And I've had too many visits I no longer remember how many. Some of those were for months. The locals generally want to try out their English & help.

          I've found only in very rural areas that my lack of language is a problem. I haven't spoken English for weeks sometimes. It's quite refreshing. But that's when I have my best experiences.

          Areas I have travelled in rarely see Foreigners. A child asked her Mother if I was going to eat her!

          As for travelling with livestock - not my preferred method now, but it's the only transport in some places.

        • +2

          @purplelady:
          Like too many Foreigners… I've appeared on Japanese TV - but performing Rakugo, traditional Japanese storytelling - in English. Locals recognised me & praised my performance for showing great respect.

          Strangely if I had performed in Japanese, I doubt I would have received that response, as much more would have been expected of me. The Japanese training is rigorous, not allowing the slightest variation from the 400+year old ways!

          Japanese place high expectations on others, but not on Foreigners who can break many conventions. We can be seen as cute children who don't know any better. I think that makes Japanese act differently with Foreigners, freeing them up.

    • +2

      Japanese I have mentioned night buses to just ask "Why?".

      They are generally a frugal people, but very cheap long distance bus travel is not in their thinking. Trains are the usual choice, with Shinkansen the obvious choice for speed & comfort. (Short work holidays mean fast travel is important to get the most from their highly organised holidays.)

      Other cheap but slower forms of transport…

      Japanese laugh at my use of the Seishun18 ticket which allows unlimited rides on local and rapid JR trains (excluding reserved seats) throughout Japan - on 1 day. Downside is it's slow travel, has frequent transfers, & limited availability dates. They usually tell me "Oh I did that when I was a student…".

      As for my hitchhiking in rural Japan - I'm told "it's so dangerous!". Japan is rather - a hitchhiker's dream country. Useful when few other options are available to see some amazing out of the way places. But I would not recommend for long distance highway travel.

      Note Japanese top speed limit on motorways is 80kph😱

      Japanese are proud to show off their favourite spots. I've had wonderful unexpected adventures. But you need time to travel slow.

  • Thanks OP! I'm not going to Japan anytime soon, but appreciate your tips nonetheless.

  • I will likely be going Okinawa round January for a week, any tips?

    • +4

      Enjoy the warmth of the climate & the people. They proudly say they have heart.

      Was on one island where the local fishermen got me too drunk to leave. Every time I'd ask to go, there would be another group to meet, with more hospitality. Was taken out on a glass bottomed boat trip to view the coral - not advisable after drinking too much.

      Try the local drop - Awamori. It's good, but often sold in bottles with a dead snake.

      The various islands are interesting. I took the ferry from Naha to Kagoshima. The voyage is 24 hours, but the ticket was good for 7 days. So stopped off at a few islands. Helped that I had a tent & camping gear.

      Also, some locals hate American military. So if you look like you might be one, expect possible abuse like I copped from a little old lady. But I saw terrible abusive language from drunk off duty military towards locals. Suggest not wearing caps or clothes that shout USA. They are a proud people.

      • Any suggestions for sights for a family with 2 young kids spending 4 days in Okinawa in December? Or even suggested places for stays? So far, just got the aquarium planned..

        • +2

          Family travel is very different to my free sole travel. Knowing what will tick the boxes for your family is important, along with all that planning.

          I was almost outside the famous aquarium - It's not my thing. I was heading to the islands. But great for almost anyone.

          The castle in Naha would be pleasant with ceremonies & history to entertain kids. I enjoyed it.

          The Okinawan music is infectious. (Google it…) If I feel a little down, I put it on. If you can, see a dancing singing drumming show if it. Locals of all ages love it. (Locals also love Hawaiian music & culture you can't escape around the shops of Naha.)

          I arrived for a festival at the main Shinto shrine during Children's Week in May. So there were a lot of singing, dancing, dragon-dog displays.

          The people - some of the warmest people. And longest living. On an island, I came across a woman harvesting shell fish who looked 60 but was probably 100. She was delighted I was interested & explained how she prepared the delicious (the only word I understood) food. And enjoy the food, although Macas & a lot of US food is available due to the military. Many kids just want what they're used to

          Local houses are guarded by sculptures to fend off evil spirits. There is a display of the old houses & ways. The people are proud of their traditional ways & say they are not Japanese. It can be a very different cultural experience - why i visited.

        • @Infidel: Thanks for the useful info! One last question, where to for the best shopping? Local stuff and outlet stores both tickle our fancy.

        • +1

          @iversonjack:
          I only travel light with carry-on, so I'm not the one to answer😉

        • +2

          I did a long weekend in Okinawa when I lived in Japan a year or so ago.
          We stayed at the Kise Beach Palace, a little drive from Naha but a pretty beach for the main island as has a private water adventure park (think poor mans wipeout course). Can snorkel too. Would be great fun for a family.

          We took a day trip out from Naha to Tokashiki island. You can catch the quick ferry across in the morning then a short cheap bus ride to the beach. The beach was stunning, super safe and amazing clear water snorkeling. Well worth it and if I spent time at Okinawa again I would head straight to the islands.

        • Pm me. Lived there for a few months. Aquarium is great. Shopping in naha only ( near airport). The real magic is the food, resorts and islands. Better for you to book a resort hotel nearish the aquarium imo, I.e north on the main island. Winter is a quiet season there so don't expect to do much swimming if any at all. Beaches are closed with jellies in the water

    • I hope you like taro, snake sake and pig ear jerky!

      • +2

        Plus Hawaiian shirts & non-stop Hawaiian music in Naha.

      • sounds delicious

        • It is😉
          But I've only had the Awamori without the snake - that's for tourists. I ate & drank with the locals.

    • +1

      Tips for Okinawa. I spent a week there around this time last year. Highly recommend a hire car. Public transport isn't as good as mainland. Although the island is small, it will still take a few hours driving from top to bottom.

      Depends what you're into. If you enjoy history and the great outdoors, it's awesome. Anything outside of that you may struggle to fill your week.

      I personally did the Aquarium and surrounding park area. Nakijin castle ruins near by was cool with an incredible view. I did the major war memorials, cape maeda and snorkeling tour around the islands. Visited the American town opposite the military base, etc.

  • The bus site is in Japanese. When you change language to English it takes you to travel/Rakuten.com. And theres no link to bus bookings.

    • open using google. it should automaically translate pretty much everything.

      I noticed it didn't translate the destination - so you have to google the destination name for the Japanese Kanji.

      • +1

        Open using Chrome, not Google

        • you are correct. thanks

  • Night transport has been a cost saving travel tip for many decades. Think the advice dates at least from student travel in Europe in the '60s.

  • +1

    Great find! I've already booked my tix for later this month, but I'll keep it in mind for next time.
    Also, the landing page for the sale is
    https://event.travel.rakuten.co.jp/special/sales/bus/pokkiri…

    Tickets are available for 1500, 2000 and 3000 yen (use the tabs near the top of the page)
    The sale runs until 23:59 on Mon, Sep 17.

    • M flying next week, Hopefully Jebi be over by then.

      • Been through a few major Typhoons in Japan. Went to a traditional (drag) show as 2 typhoons hit Osaka - show went on. Was in a wooden Inn in small village as typhoon passed another time - scary, and many died on an island. Japanese are used to it.

        Flooding causing major disruption to rail network is usually biggest problem for travellers. (eg One visit, flooding in Kyoto disrupted many Honshu rail lines that go through Kyoto. Took many days to return to normal. Many anxious travellers!)

        Main transport disruption now seems to be closing of KAI due to winds & flooding that won't last long.

        • Thanks Mate, I'm only worried about my 4-year-old she might not like the extreme weather, she the whole reason we going to Japan (Disneyland and stuff). Would you recommend buying a sim before flying or in the country itself?

        • @letmesingh:
          I've never bothered with SIMs. But for your & her piece of mind get one.

          Probably bit late for local SIM now but would decrease the things to do there. Available in large electrical stores there. Some have pickup at airport or delivered to hotel.

          Think there is info on OzBargain & others know more.

          Enjoy your & her adventure🗻

        • +1

          @Infidel: Thanks Mate. really excited for this trip

        • +1

          @letmesingh: i collected mine at the airport on my last trip there.

  • +1

    travelling to japan for 3 weeks in October… good tips however overnight busses aren't for everyone. i'll be going with 2 toddlers and 2 elderly. all hail shinkansen.

    • Make sure you book ahead so you reserve your seats and get close together. Costs a couple of dollars of yen but worth it esp if you have a rail pass cause booking is then free.

  • Oh is this what the company that sponsors the Warrior's jersey does!

    • +1

      They are similar to Amazon, sell a bunch of different things.

  • +1

    do JR passes / shinkasen tickets ever go on sale or are they regulated and same price all of the time?

    i ask because i've booked flights to japan for april and i'm wondering if there's any value on holding off a few months to pay for our transport arrangements or if we may as well get in early (at the standard rate) since it's going to be just about peak season.
    cheers

    • no real sale. prices are relatively stable. you might get a few % off through a reseller. but no significant savings.

    • Worth noting if you go with a JR Pass it has to be redeemed within 3 months of purchase. As far as I'm aware the JR Pass price is just a direct conversion of the price in yen so the price can fluctuate a tiny bit.

      • +9

        As far as I'm aware the JR Pass price is just a direct conversion of the price in yen so the price can fluctuate a tiny bit.

        I used to trade currency. this asian guy came in and wanted to exchange 10,000yen - I gave him $120.
        a week later he came in with another 10,000yen - I gave him $105.
        a week after that he came in with another 10,000yen - I gave him $135.
        the guy said to me in an annoyed voice " why one week $120, then $105, then $135! - why the difference?!!?"
        I says to him "fluctuations"
        He responds "fluck you white people"

        boom tish, thank you ladies and gentlemen, I'll be here until I leave for japan (my former country of residence).

  • I'm going in April 2019… hope this will be available then!

    • +1

      The sale runs until 23:59 on Mon, Sep 17.
      book before then.
      this amounts to significant savings.

      • is there an expiry date on the card? Are there likely to be more such promos later in the year?

        • +1

          This sale appears to be for travel until Nov 30.

          As for other Rakuten promos, don't know for sure, but there were at least two last year (Mar and Nov).
          Try googling "楽天トラベルスーパーSALE" [Rakuten travel super sale] when you're planning your trip, and see what comes up.

        • unfortunately this deal is for travel until 2018/11/30

        • @samd:
          thanks buddy! very helpful!!!

  • +1

    great and thanks for sharing the information.
    i just did a road trip to kurashiki (I recommend) and then across the bridge to shikoku and matsuyama, then back up to hiroshima and then home (nagasaki). Spent all day in the car. having the night buses saves you time during the day to do exploring. Your best time to spend the day in japan is from 4pm - night, as most things dont open until 10am, and you want to see the night light up in a big city. that doesnt apply to seeing attractions, but on our trip a few things closed at 7pm, which was affected by our daytime driving.
    I'll use this in the future, thanks Altomic.

  • as above - good to have options
    but a JR pass seems to be better for the following / when you have limited days in jpn.

    hope someone could find a decent deal for them

  • It says, write your name in full katagana, how do we get our name in katagana??

    ※ Please enter your full name in full-width katakana.
    * If the person to board is other than yourself please rewrite your name.
    Representative: Please enter your last name in full-width katakana

    • +3

      I use this page to translate my name to Katakana for the booking

      sometimes is just takes a slight variation of your english name in the "translation webpag" (which is then translated to katakana) to be accepted in the name field of the rakutan site.

      interestingly - I booked for 4 people. I copied and pasted the same family name for all of us. in the confirmation field it shows our "romanised" katakana name and the family name is different for each of us. though very similar but variation.

      • Thanks - bookmarked that handy page.
        Deal is a great price for bus travel👍

  • I was thinking about doing this inn Nov when I am there for a week (Flying in Tokyo, out Osaka) as I won't be buying a JR pass, but decided to stick to the shinkansen.

    I do well on not a lot of sleep, but don't want to risk one bad night when I will be flying into Japan on the redeye a couple of nights before.

  • The buses are nice - we took a Willers one from Hiroshima to Kyoto (4pm - 11pm) it was quite comfy and they have regular breaks along the way. Personally, I wouldn't travel regularly on it but it was nice for the experience.

  • Does this include travel from Narita airport to Hakuba? I couldn't find it.

  • So it looks like a Rakuten membership is required with an address in Japan. What have people entered for this? Do the bus tickets get sent to this address?

    • I ended up signing up to tenso.com (parcel forwader) to get a Japanese address. The booking confirmation is via email.

    • +1

      I used my old house address in Sendai city.

      just find any japanese address (e.g. Oz embassy in Tokyo) and use that.

      tickets are emailed to you.

  • +1

    sitting on a tokyo bound bus at the moment. ¥1500 (instead of ¥6000+). thanks for posting OP.

    • Huh? I thought you were the OP?

      • +2

        altomic is just happy to be in Japan again, forgetting such minor matters🏯🎏

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