The courage to break into the kiosk of desire!
The Great Night Bus Anatomy: Money Saver or Hidden Trap?
Night buses (Chinese:夜行バス) are long-distance buses that depart at night, sleep on the bus, and arrive at their destination the next morning, as the name implies. This is an attractive option for travelers on a limited budget who want to make effective use of their time. Especially in Japan, night bus routes connecting major cities are very well established and are very popular among business people and tourists who want to make effective use of their time. The following is a brief introduction to night buses:
Pros and Cons
- Advantages
- Save money and timeNight buses are much cheaper than airplanes or Shinkansen routes, and you can save a night's accommodation, making them ideal for young backpackers with limited budgets. For example, a basic night bus from Yokohama to Osaka costs about 5,000 yen, while a more advanced bus costs more than 7,000 yen, or even more than 10,000 yen. However, it is usually much cheaper than traveling by plane or Shinkansen.
- Multiple seating optionsNowadays, there are many different types of seats on night buses, ranging from basic seats to luxurious ones equipped with internet, toilets, sockets, headphones, quilts, pillows, etc. There are even 3-person and 4-person seats, with the 3-person seats usually being more spacious and comfortable. Of course, the smaller the number of seats, the higher the price.
- Abundant rest stops: Many of the rest stops are open 24 hours a day, where you can buy local products and meals. If you are a night owl who doesn't like to sleep, you may be able to experience a special kind of "shopping along the way" fun.
- Some vehicles are divided into male and female zones: Some night buses will arrange seats for male and female passengers in separate zones so that female passengers can feel more secure.
- Disadvantages
- Neighborhood Luck Matters: This is really crucial. If you meet an unfriendly or unhygienic (e.g. smoky) neighbor, the whole trip will be a pain.
- Cramped seating space: For taller or stockier people, the seating space of night buses may be very cramped and uncomfortable for long periods of time.
- Frequent breaks: Night buses usually stop at rest stops once an hour, which means there will be a lot of people coming in and out, and if your seat is on the aisle side, your sleep may be constantly disturbed.
Selection Tips
When choosing a night bus, there are a few key points that I would like to emphasize:
- Seat Selection
- For solo travelers, opt for three-row seating, which is more expensive but offers more personal space and comfort.
- If you are traveling with a friend or partner, we recommend four rows of seats for a more intimate travel experience and lower travel costs.
- can be accessed fromTodd ColombeRefer to four-row, three-row, and two-row rides.
- Availability of restrooms: Since you don't know when there will be a rest stop, having a restroom on the bus will give you a lot of peace of mind.
- Do you have internet access: When you can't sleep, if you have internet access, you can watch dramas or study.
- Availability of sockets: After all, it's a 7+ hour trip, so if you're playing with your cell phone on the way, it's going to be a hassle.
- Whether there is a special compartment: If you are a woman, it is safer to choose a women-only compartment.
Ticket Booking (Comparison of Bus Companies)
This time, we will compare the night bus services provided by LUXURY TRAVEL, AIR TRIP and LINCOMBO MAGAIND (Links of Mind) and introduce their respective features and benefits.
LUMINE TRAVEL (LUMINE TOUR)
LUMINE® TRAVEL is known as Japan's largest travel booking website and its bus booking service is quite comprehensive. It has partnered with many bus companies to provide a wide range of choices. Below are the advantages of this booking site:
- Convenience of Booking: You can accumulate and use Rakuten Points, which can be utilized to enjoy more favorable bookings for Rakuten users.
- Search Function: You can conduct a detailed search based on origin, destination, fare, time slot and other criteria to easily find the right bus for you.
- Reviews and Ratings: Comments and reviews from actual users are posted on the website, so you can check the comfort level of the bus and the service content beforehand.
Air Trip
EATRI is an online travel agency known for its air and hotel bookings, but also offers bus ticket bookings. Here are the advantages of this reservation site:
- Simple booking process: An intuitive interface that makes the booking process smoother.
- Price transparency: Fewer extras and hidden fees, with clear price settings.
- Promotions and Discounts: Regular promotions and discounts for travelers who want to save on their travel expenses.
Link Obama (Links of Mind)
Link Obama has introduced a unique bus service that focuses on comfort and convenience. The following are the advantages of this reservation site:
- Premium EquipmentThe newest addition to the lineup is a reclining seat, footrest space, and a charging port for a comfortable travel experience.
- Dedicated App: A dedicated app for instantly viewing bus location information and managing bookings is available, making it very convenient for users.
- Customer Service Support: Provide 24-hour customer service support and peace of mind even if you encounter problems.
Trivia
Each of the three companies has its own advantages. "LUMINE® TRAVEL is suitable for travelers who want to enjoy a wide range of choices, as they can use their points to enjoy discounted bookings. "Airteli is recommended for travelers who are interested in price-performance ratio because of its simple and transparent pricing and frequent promotions. On the other hand, "リンクオブマインド" is an ideal choice for travelers who are looking for a comfortable trip with its high-quality in-vehicle equipment and comprehensive customer service support. However, no matter which website you visit, the earlier you book your tickets, the cheaper they will be!
Choose the most suitable night bus service according to your travel style and priorities, and enjoy a comfortable journey.
| Features & Services | LUMINE TREVELS | エアトリ | Reinking the ObManager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convenience of Booking | Available Rakuten Points | Simple and intuitive booking | Dedicated app for easier management |
| Price Setting | Variety of choices and point discounts | Transparent, less extra cost | Higher price, but with a focus on comfort |
| In-vehicle equipment | Varies by bus company | Complete basic equipment | High quality equipment |
| Promotions & Discounts | Rakuten Points Offer | Regular discount offers | Fewer specific discounts |
Night Bus Nightmare: Seven hours of torture from an old bong!
I was a student at that time, so I was looking for a cheaper ticket, so I booked a 4-row ticket from LUMINE TRAVEL. At that time, there were only seats left in the aisle, so I didn't think much about it, so I booked a seat, paid for it, and received an e-ticket.
On the night of my departure, I went to Yokohama with anticipation, ready to take the night bus to Osaka Umeda that departed around 11pm, and then the nightmare began...
When I got on the bus, I showed my name to confirm my identity and sat down. A middle-aged man was already seated next to me, but I didn't realize that he was an old smoker.
Since the bus would stop at rest stops every now and then for people to go to the toilet or smoke, that uncle would get off the bus every time to smoke, and then he would wake me up to make way for him when he got on and off the bus, and the smell of cigarette smoke all over his body made me feel uncomfortable. On the bus, he would snore all the time, making it difficult for me to sleep. I ended up getting off at every stop to get a feel for the atmosphere at the rest stops.
In addition, maybe I am taller, my shoulders are wider than the shoulder width of the seat, that night I just tried to shrink my back, as a result, my shoulders were very sore for a week, and because of the narrow distance between the front and the back of the seat, I could not straighten my legs at night, so it was like a year of physical and mental torture for seven hours.
Although it is said that night bus saves money and time, this experience has made me realize that comfort and quality of sleep are priceless! For people like me, who are more concerned about the quality of sleep, night bus is not a good choice. Unless you are the kind of person who can fall asleep very easily, or you don't care about your neighboring passengers at all, I would highly discourage you from taking a night bus with four rows of seats. Here are the essential tools I regretted not bringing with me:
- Earbuds/noise-canceling headphones: Prevent from being disturbed by other people's snoring or laughing, some noise-canceling headphones in recent years to offset the external sound function, very recommended.
- Motion sickness medication: Prevents motion sickness caused by poor sleep quality.
- Antiperspirant/wet wipes (summer): It was summer and I didn't bring any wet wipes. I took a shower before getting on the train, but after getting off the train at the rest stop, I would be more or less sweaty, which made my body sticky and affected my sleeping comfort.
Just when I couldn't stand it any longer, I finally heard the conductor's announcement:
"Osaka Umeda is here. Passengers getting off at this station, please prepare to get off."
Related Resources
- Thorough Comparison! Failed High-Speed Bus Search Portfolio3
- Night bus holders, necessary items, and convenient items
- High-speed buses and night buses with 4 rows of seats are in hell, 4 rows of seats are very fast and easy to use.
Message Center Feedback