Like a hard rain, like a night train

Hello there again readers!!! It is I Lala posting again from Japanlands. Today I`m going to talk about buses.

There are a few rules about transportation in Tokyo.

1. The trains go everywhere.
2. Where the trains don`t go the subways go
3. Where the subways don`t go the trains go.
4. You walk anywhere else.

Japanese buses are usually designed to seat about 30 people. That may seem like a lot but most American buses can seat 60 people. This isn`t to say that Japanese buses can`t hold 60 people. Japanese buses use most of its space to hold people standing up. The proceedure to ride buses doesn`t change. You get on in the front, pay, then get off in the back.

Now I would like to talk a little about long distance buses.

Much like greyhound Japan has buses that travel all over. I recently rode a bus from Tokyo to Osaka. JR (Japan Railways) owns a series of "highway buses" The most popularly ridden ones are the night buses. Since traveling by auto is very lengthy people often take the night bus to a distant location. The trip from Tokyo to Osaka lasts about 8 hours (by bullet train it is 3). The seats recline really far back and the lights are dimmed giving for a perfect relaxing aura. Its great to fall asleep in Tokyo and wake up in Osaka. Plus the buses don`t smell of angry bum urine.

These buses are usually double deckers and can hold lose to 70 people. This method is great for people who arn`t in a hurry and don`t want to worry about a place to stay for the night! Another advantage to the Highway bus is that it is half of the cost of a bullet train ticket.

Well it appears I am almost out of time at this manga kissa again. I might travel to temple town (AKA Kyoto) today.

See you next round!
~Lala~

JR Highway bus information http://www.jrbuskanto.co.jp/bus_route_e/ (English)