[日本最廉價長途交通] The Cheapest Long Distance Transport in Japan – WILLER EXPRESS
Subscribe if you want to support me for makingmore trip reports like this! Hello fellow travelers, greetings from Shibuya, Tokyo. My name is Ryan, CY is the short form of my name in my mother tongue. I like to provide tips on traveling on a budget.
So today I’m gonna introduce the cheapest long distance transport in Japan. Willer Express Bus Today’s journey starts at Shinjuku Bus Station. But let’s have a proper dinner at Shinjuky before starting the journey. This is a perfect dining place for me since I am traveling solo. 🤭
Ichiran Ramen is a famous ramen chain in Japan. It looks delicious! This speaks volume about how delicious it is! Arrived at Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal 4th Floor. The Willer Express bus arrives just on time, classic Japanese punctuality! I am taking this overnight bus from Tokyo to Hiroshima.
The journey is around 800km, 10 hours by non-stop driving. But it’s a 13 hours 15 mins journey by traveling in this bus. Let’s hope the bus provides the comfort I need for such long journey. Stepping into the bus, feeling excited. This is a bus with all ‘Relax’ seats, 4 seats in a row.
The legroom is similar with the airline economy seat. It is tight, not ideal for long journey. A hood (canopy) to hide your sleeping face and avoid the worry of other passengers seeing you while sleeping. It’s a popular choice for women, and developed based on customer’s feedback.
The max seat recline angle is 130 deg. A partition between the seats providing privacy. An up-down adjustable neck rest. The USB outlet for window seat. There is also an USB outlet for aisle seat. A blanket is provided for us to spend a night here. The overhead panel with reading light available.
Safety card available in the seat pocket. A wet tissue is also provided, how thoughtful! The first rest stop in this journey. The driver puts up a board showing the time that the bus will leave this rest stop. It’s a perfect way to communicate to the passengers who do not speak Japanese.
Wow, plenty of vending machines here. And convenient shops are still open at this hour for shopping. Also plenty of eateries here. I am not going to eat anything here as we only have 25 minutes in this rest stop. Back in the bus, let’s have a toilet tour!
The toilet is spotlessly clean and well-maintained by the bus driver. Japanese standard! 😴😴😴, where are we now? The 2nd rest stop. We are more than half way into the journey, I am tired as I have trouble of sleeping. All the shops are closed at this hour. Some monitors displaying the current traffic conditions.
Good morning! We are 11 hours 30 minutes into the journey, another 1 hour 45 minutes to go! This is the 3rd and final rest stop. I am feeling hungry, so feeling like craving for this snack bought from FamilyMart. Uji Matcha Mochi, so delicious! Where are we now? We have arrived in Hiroshima city.
Hiroshima station, most of the passengers have alighted. I chose Hiroshima Bus Station as my destination as it is closer to the city center. Ohhh majestic Hiroshima Castle! Cherry blossom trees are in full bloom and lining up along the castle’s moat. Such a welcoming view to Hiroshima city!
Hiroshima bus station is located on the 3rd floor of SOGO building. The bus driver has been great, I just wanna express my sincere thank to him! Well, that’s the end of this overnight bus journey. Thoughts on whether this is a great choice? This bus ticket normally ranges between 6000 to 13,000 JPY.
I booked this ticket at 8,960 yen. I highly recommend traveling with this overnight bus if you would like to save on accommodation. 13 hours in a bus, how does it feel? Honestly speaking, the seat is not comfortable and I had trouble sleeping even with the seat fully reclined.
Having said that, the bus provides almost every facility you need for an overnight travel. It is a smooth ride on the road, the noise level is low and it also provides the little privacy you need. This is the most affordable way to travel long distance compared to JR trains or flights.
Atomic Bomb Dome, one of the last buildings remains standing after the atomic bomb detonation… Let’s taste the famous local dish together! 😋😋 Hiroshima-styled Okonomiyaki! I ordered Okonomiyaki with Oyster, it costs 1800 JPY. It looks delicious, isn’t? 😋 Hiroshima is such an underrated city with so many scenic attractions and good food!
It’s a relatively cheap travel destination and I highly recommend fellow travelers to visit this city! That’s the end of this trip report. Kindly subscribe if you want to support me for making more trip reports like this! 😊😊
My personal experience on the cheapest overnight transport in Japan, traveling from Tokyo to Hiroshima.
00:00 Introduction
00:19 Pre-departure Dinner
01:22 Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal
01:56 Seat Features Introduction
03:26 First Rest Stop (Ebina Service Area)
04:02 Toilet Tour
04:21 Second Rest Stop (Talarazuka-Kita Service Area)
05:00 Third Rest Stop (Yahata PA)
05:33 Hiroshima Station
06:30 Hiroshima Bus Station
06:55 Final Thoughts
08:00 Attractions in Hiroshima