Luxury Night Bus Journey from Tokyo to Osaka — Guaranteed Good Sleep | ReBorn/Japan
Guaranteed good sleep!?
Luxury overnight bus “ReBorn” trip This bus trip starts from Maihama Station in Chiba Prefecture Maihama Station is very lively It seems a monorail also runs in front of the station On the way to the bus stop, I recognized that red silhouette… The globally popular mouse character Tokyo Disneyland,
Immigration! That’s right, this is actually the nearest station to Tokyo Disneyland! Am I the only one excited about the overnight bus? I really feel like I’ve wandered into the land of dreams… Tokyo Disneyland Hotel It’s in a prime location right in front of Disneyland The dreamland atmosphere is incredible…! For me, this is a dream, the timetable of the luxury overnight bus
21:10 departure for Osaka Heading to the bus stop This time’s route From Maihama Station to Osaka Namba
510km, about 10 hours of travel Here it is, operated by Willer Express The bus called “REBORN” As the name suggests, can it really be reborn? Time to board…! Oh! Amazing! There are only 18 seats in total A normal bus has 45 seats, so this is a very luxurious arrangement With capsule pods lined up, it feels like a futuristic vehicle My seat is the front row center seat A blanket is, of course, provided It’s sufficiently large On the left side, there is also a drink holder The water I bought fits perfectly There is also a reading light It seems it will properly illuminate my hand area On the right side, there is a safety booklet An sick bag for emergencies is also provided I try reclining the foot section Whir The range of motion is large, so I can adjust to a comfortable position The aisle is fairly narrow like this Those with large luggage should check it in But the seat is spacious, which is nice! There is a shelf above Of course, on the opposite side as well The front row center seat I chose is very open Unless I lean out, I don’t make eye contact with the person next to me The seat on the left next to me is the same, no eye contact I can relax without worrying about being seen The front area is also spacious Never thought I’d use the word “spacious” for an overnight bus! And of course There’s a power outlet No worries about my smartphone running out of battery The pillow is adjustable Easy to adjust to a comfortable position I try reclining the backrest It’s easy with just one button on the remote It reclines quite far, so it seems comfortable for sleeping Also, the whole seat doesn’t move, so I don’t need to worry about the person behind Good news for me, who dislikes saying, “Ah, can I recline the seat…?” 21:45 Tokyo, Otemachi
Seats filled up in no time Passengers are picked up at the two stations I rode at, Maihama and here at Otemachi, heading to Osaka The fare to Osaka was 16,600 yen/$113 It costs quite a bit, but it’s fully booked Many overseas travelers also used it The front row center seat I’m on doesn’t have a table It’s fine for me since I don’t need it, but please note this when booking It’s 22:00, departing from Otemachi Here comes the announcement to turn off the lights It gradually gets darker, entering sleep mode Not completely dark, just the right dimness Currently driving through the center of Shibuya The center seat has no window, so I can’t show the view of Shibuya I turn on the reading light With a wall, I can turn it on freely without worrying about the person next to me It’s about 27 minutes from here to the next destination, Ebina Service Area I’ll relax while eating some gummies By the way, if I were to point out a drawback of this bus, it has no toilet Because all comfort is focused on the seat, they even omitted the toilet But it’s okay There are three breaks along the way, so I can use the toilet then Eye masks are also provided If light bothers you, you might want to use one We’ve arrived at the first rest area The bus entrance displays the departure time.
Must return by 23:30 I remember the bus’s features so I won’t get lost on the way back This is Ebina Service Area
The break is about 15 minutes It’s also one of Japan’s largest service areas At this hour, the outdoor stalls were of course closed The famous melon bread shop at Ebina SA was also closed Hello! Kitty!
One melon bread, please …Hello Kitty also seemed to be asleep Indoor cafeterias and shops are open They sell cup ramen and sweet bread Yoshinoya beef bowls, ramen, and udon seem to be open 24 hours I use the toilet and return to the bus Many buses are lined up I was able to return to ReBorn without getting lost Too comfortable, it already feels like home I put my luggage on the shelf and prepare to sleep properly Adjusting the foot recline as well Wearing a thin long-sleeve, ready to sleep Good night Good morning Rubbing my sleepy eyes, heading to the toilet for the second time Will return by 2:30 Rest area rule:
Check bus location Aichi Prefecture, Nagashino-Shitaragahara PA
Break is just over 10 minutes This is the land where Samurai fought in the past. The moon that watched over the battle long ago Shines on Shitaragahara today as well Deep red armor was displayed inside the PA It’s a photo zone, and you can hold the sword or matchlock on the right Noisy crane games and capsule toy corners as well So, after using the toilet, I safely return to the bus This staircase gives me a sense of relief It’s past 2:30, so we depart Looking at the map, we seem to be in the eastern part of Aichi Prefecture Heading to the last rest area at 85km/h Now, sleep for a while Good morning Arrived at the last rest area Departure seems to be at 4:40 As for the toilet, I can’t see a building Could it really just be a break? No, there it is
Konan PA in Shiga Prefecture Break is just under 15 minutes As it’s the Ninja village, Ninjas are everywhere Parking lot almost full I can see the sky getting brighter Finished at the toilet, on the way back, a bit lost Only trucks around, can’t see the bus Hey, ReBorn, where are you There it is, pushed to the side it seems Climbing the relief staircase I’m back~ Currently on the south side of Lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture A little more to the destination Osaka We’ve traveled quite far from Tokyo Scheduled departure from Konan PA was 4:40 Current time is 4:47! I hear the driver on the phone Seems one person hasn’t returned yet What will happen They returned 10 minutes late Apparently got lost As expected, always check bus location
Good night Good morning Soon arriving at the first destination, Kyoto Almost there Arrived at Kyoto Station
About 9 and a half hours from Maihama Station Perhaps for sightseeing in Kyoto
Many passengers got off The final destination, Osaka Namba, is about 45 minutes away For now, a short rest Good morning Finally, we have arrived in Osaka! We arrived about 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled 7:10
It was a 9 and a half hour journey The seats were more comfortable than I have ever experienced Although it’s a bit pricey, considering it saves on hotel costs, it might actually be cost-effective Time to say goodbye to ReBorn I never thought I would want to stay on a night bus longer It was that comfortable
Thank you, ReBorn This is OCAT in Osaka Namba A large terminal for highway buses Directly connected to Namba Station, very convenient for transfers Hungry now, I walk to get some Soba Early morning shopping streets are quiet and easy to walk The shop I’m aiming for is here:
Udon Soba Matsuya A shop with a charming, old-fashioned exterior Kake Udon starts from 300 yen/$2, very reasonable Open from 5 a.m.! First, buy a meal ticket outside the shop I wanted vegetables, so I chose the Sansai（wild vegetables） Soba There is another ticket machine that supports cashless payments I like the atmosphere inside the shop too Sansai（wild vegetables） Soba The rising steam looks inviting Perfect for a hungry stomach after the overnight bus I finished all the vegetables without leaving any It was gone in no time Thank you for the meal After eating, I take a walk along Dotonbori The Glico sign is extremely famous Even famous tourist spots are quiet in the morning Not only Glico, but also “Mitsuru” is here Dotonbori is great for exploring various objects First, the octopus A fierce man Jumping sushi Just walking here is fun Finally, let’s see Osaka from the top of a tower A hidden gem, but reliable: Dojimahama Tower Take the elevator up to the 16th floor Unmanned observation deck You can see Midosuji Street running north to south through Osaka below Truly the main artery of Osaka! Thank you very much for watching I will continue traveling throughout Japan Please subscribe and leave a comment!
I took a journey on the luxury night bus “ReBorn”, often called the cradle for adults, from Tokyo (Chiba) all the way to Osaka.
It was so incredibly comfortable, I didn’t want the ride to end.
Highlights
・Narrow aisles and no toilet? No problem — the ultra-comfy seats guarantee a perfect night’s sleep.
・Three relaxing stops at service areas.
・Semi-private cabins that feel almost entirely private — sleep without a care in the world.
・Fully reclining seats without worrying about anyone behind you.
About the Luxury Night Bus “ReBorn”
・Seats: 18 (far fewer than the usual 45-seat bus!)
・Amenities: Reclining seat, table, power outlet, drink holder, blanket, eye mask, reading light
・Operator: WILLER Inc.
・Fare: ¥16,600 / $112 (from Maihama, Chiba Pref. to Osaka Namba)