Osaka by bus · Osaka by bus
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Osaka by bus
Osaka by bus
As Osaka is a major city, there are many daytime and overnight buses which run between Osaka and other locations throughout Japan, which can result in significant savings when compared to shinkansen fares.
The JR Bus Group is a major operator of the routes from the Tokyo area to Kansai. Buses operate via the Tomei Expressway (to/from Tokyo Station) or the Chuo Expressway (to/from Shinjuku Station).
Other bus companies offer trips between Tokyo and Osaka, but it should be pointed out that seat reservations for most JR Buses can be made in train stations at the same "Midori-no-Madoguchi" (みどりの窓口) ticket windows used to reserve seats on trains. Moreover, the Japan Rail Pass is valid on ALL JR buses operating from the Tokyo area to Osaka. (Note that the pass is NOT valid on buses to/from Yokohama.)
Bus tickets are also sold at separate ticket counters operated by the various JR bus companies; you can find these counters in and around major train stations served by the buses. If you wish to buy discounted advance-purchase tickets offered on most buses, you must purchase your tickets at these counters, not from the "Midori-no-Madoguchi" windows.
From Tokyo, buses run to and from Osaka in approximately 8 to 8 1/2 hours. Major bus locations are as follows:
Tokyo: Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit (東京駅八重洲口), with a few buses discharging at the Nihombashi Exit (東京駅日本橋口)
Shinjuku: Shinjuku Station New South Exit (新宿駅新南口)
Osaka: Osaka Station Sakura-bashi Exit (大阪駅桜橋口)
All buses that run from Tokyo to Osaka are double-decker buses and can be classified under the following three categories, in order of price:
Seishun buses: So-called "youth" buses, these are not exactly targeted at youth, but are simply the budget-conscious choice. Seats are narrow with four per row in a 2x2 configuration and limited recline.
Standard buses: These are the regular buses, which offer seats with increased width and footrests. They are arranged three per aisle in a 1x1x1 configuration. Blankets are provided on evening routes.
Premium buses: Recently introduced, these buses are the luxury members of the route. The seats are bigger, and the buses seat less people than the others. In addition to the extra room, there is also air filtration and a closed-circuit camera system. On the top floor, seats are arranged three per row in a 1x1x1 configuration. More expansive first floor seating (of which there are only four seats) incurs an additional surcharge ... but you do get your own television. Blankets and toiletries are provided for all seats on evening routes.
The following services are available: (Current as of November, 2010)
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Osaka Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.