The Japan Bus Pass by Willer Express has the potential to revolutionize budget travel in Japan. The pass can be used on overnight and daytime long distance buses on the nationwide network of Willer Express on 3, 4 or 5 days of your choice within two months from purchase. The pass can be used by both foreign tourists and residents of Japan, however, it has to be purchased outside of Japan.
Validity
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The pass can be used for a maximum of two bus rides per day on the entire network of Willer Express, but it is not allowed to travel the same route twice on the same day, i.e. a round trip within a single day is not possible. Overnight buses departing after midnight count for the previous day.
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The bus pass cannot be used during certain blackout periods, such as during long weekends, Golden Week, Obon and the New Year holidays.
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The pass is valid on all buses by Willer Express except some premium buses with a higher level of comfort.
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The pass is valid on 3, 4 or 5 days of the pass holder's choice within two months of the date of purchase. The days do not need to be consecutive.
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Seat reservations are required for each ride and can be made online until one hour before departure.
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The pass cannot be shared between multiple travelers. Photo identification is required when boarding the bus.
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The pass can be used by foreign tourists and residents of Japan alike, however, it has to be purchased outside of Japan.
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Point of Sale
The Japan Bus Pass can be purchased online by accessing the Willer Express website from outside of Japan. Payment by most major credit cards is accepted. When accessing the website from inside Japan, purchase is not possible.
Assessment
The Japan Bus Pass is a revolutionary pass for long distance travel in Japan for budget travelers who do not mind sleeping on the bus. If used effectively, it can reduce the cost of transportation to ridiculously low levels, e.g. under 3000 yen for a trip from Tokyo to Hiroshima (a regular train ticket costs around 18,000 yen). The pass is a particularly good offer since it can be used on non-consecutive days and because overnight travel also reduces the cost for accommodation.
Willer's bus network is centered around Japan's two primary urban areas (Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto), connecting these areas with secondary cities across Japan. Therefore, the pass is a great tool for tourists who base themselves in the two primary urban areas, but it does not provide transportation between secondary cities directly and is less useful for off-the-beaten-track travel.
Sample Itinerary for the "Golden Route" (Tokyo - Hiroshima - Kyoto - Tokyo):
By regular train tickets: around 40,000 yen
By Japan Rail Pass: 28,300 yen (to be used within seven days)
By Japan Bus Pass: 10,000 yen (to be used within two months)
Alternative Tickets
The Japan Rail Pass is the more expensive and less flexible alternative for long distance travelers who do not like traveling overnight on buses. The rail pass has a wider area of coverage than the bus pass, and there are no blackout dates during which the pass cannot be used.
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