by Philbert Ono
Some basic do’s and don’ts when touring Japan by bus for an extended period. Especially for tourists from overseas who might not be aware of common practices and manners in Japanese sightseeing buses.
Don’t sit in the front row of the bus unless the tour guide allows it. If there is a tour guide/leader and tour conductor, they will usually sit in the front row.
If there’s only one tour guide and no tour conductor, the tour guide will sit right behind the bus driver on the right side (when facing the front of the bus) to use the microphone, and the front row’s left side might be free.
*The tour conductor buys tickets, confirms hotel reservations, etc., while the tour guide/leader explains what you see. In many cases in Japan, there’s no tour conductor and the tour guide also does tour conductor work during the bus tour.
If sitting in the front row is allowed, take turns every day with other people wanting to sit there.
In the back row of the bus, avoid sitting on the center seat at the end of the aisle. It’s safer to sit behind a seat in front of you.
Always wear your seatbelt in the bus. Required by law in Japan.
While the bus is moving, don’t stand up or walk in the bus. The bus can jerk or stop suddenly and make you fall.
No smoking in the bus. Smokers can use the smoker’s booth at highway rest stops if the bus stops for a restroom break.
When getting off the bus for sightseeing, always take your valuables with you.
If the bus has a toilet and you need to go, hold on to the grab handles on the seats while walking to/from the toilet. It can be shaky in the toilet, so hold on. Or try and wait for the next highway rest stop or destination.
If you’re prone to motion sickness or car sickness, keep a vomit bag handy if the bus does not have one.
On long-distance tour bus rides, the bus will stop at a highway rest stop (parking area or service area) for a restroom break every 90 to 120 minutes. This is when you should take your trash and dump it in the proper trash bins. Note that trash is sorted into plastic/PET bottles, cans, glass bottles, and paper.
At the end of the day, take all your trash with you to your hotel room, etc. Don’t leave your trash in the bus. Note that there’s hardly any trash bins in public places in Japan.
In the bus, don’t eat drippy, melting, or messy things in the bus such as an ice cream cone (soft serve or “soft cream” in Japanese) and juicy fruits. Finish eating it before boarding the bus. Also avoid eating smelly food. If you bring a cup of coffee, it must be covered or in a bottle or can.
If you’re coming back to the bus with a wet umbrella, the tour guide or bus driver will usually provide a plastic bag for the umbrella.
Don’t panic if the bus is running on a narrow road or tunnel. Japanese bus drivers are expert and experienced on such roads/tunnels. Enjoy the thrill and be amazed.
If the air conditioning in the bus is too cold or too hot, let the tour guide or bus driver know.
If you’re in an open-top bus, dress warmly in colder months, wear sunglasses, and don’t wear a cap or hat that can be blown away. Watch for overhanging tree branches, etc.
After the bus tour ends, check around your seat and overhead rack for any belongings. If you forget something on the bus, it can be a real hassle to retrieve it. People commonly forget their cell phones on the bus. That’s not something you want to forget anywhere in Japan.
Tipping the tour guide and bus driver would be appreciated assuming that you liked their service. Although tipping is not customary in most cases in Japan, the tour guide/leader and bus driver will not refuse any tips.
Thanks for reading and safe travels!
