Autumn, especially September, usually brings out in me an ‘itch’ for travel. With several three-day weekends or holidays approaching, autumn is a great time to get out and explore some nearby places in Japan. Whether you’re a long-time resident out to rediscover some favorite spots or a newcomer on your first jaunt outside the big city, travel within Japan can be a truly wonderful experience.
It can also, however, be a big expense!
Bus tours, a classic way to travel in Japan, offer a few advantages. They cut down on transport costs — bus fares are often 30 to 40 percent cheaper than comparable train tickets. Tours often include meals and lodging, and admission to attractions along the way. Finally, while touring as a group can be frustrating sometimes with the lack of privacy and independence, bus tours are also a uniquely Japanese experience — where else can you meet so many older people and enjoy the pleasure of being led around by a uniformed tour guide with a flag?
My favorite Kanto bus tour company is Hato Bus. Hato Bus tours generally leave from major bus terminals in Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Tokyo, or Haneda Airport. They offer day trips and overnight trips, with some longer tours, to scenic areas in Kanto, Tohoku, and Koshinetsu. Of the several tours I have taken with them, my favorite was an overnight tour to the famous Minami Alps highland area Kamikochi. Our tour offered a five-hour stay in the area — enough for a reasonable hike. We stayed
the night in a beautiful Nagano spa resort, and also toured the Kurobe Dam. We enjoyed three delicious meals, and all transport (include trollies, trams, and the bus) was included for about Y26,000 per person.
Highway tolls and a one-night/two-meal stay at onsen spa would have cost at least that much, and a round-trip train fare alone was at least Y20,000. Day trips to the region are even cheaper — starting at around Y6000-Y7000 per day. Altogether, Hato Bus delivers great value for its services. Some of the more popular bus tours include activities such as fruit picking, all-you-can-eat soba or dessert parties, a sunset boat cruise, a full-day’s hiking trek in the mountains — almost anything.
Are you interested? Check out Hato Bus’s web site to search for a tour you might enjoy. Alternately, pick up one of their distinctive yellow tour pamphlets at a travel agency near you, and have a friend help you choose. Hato Bus has offices right outside Shinjuku and Tokyo stations. Hato Bus also offers a few English-language tours each season to local area attractions, as well as sightseeing bus tours around Tokyo, which are always good for visiting friends or relatives.