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nuchie · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 5:38 am Post subject: Cheapest Way from Osaka to Tokyo

HI

Just decided to go to Tokyo during the holidays

someone told me I can take a bus and its way cheaper than the shinkansen but obviously takes longer, but I read in the lonely planet that buses are little or no cheaper than the trains? so not sure which is true

Anyone knows how much from Osaka to Tokyo by Bus and how long? and by Train?

Just want to know the comparison as I'm trying to save money.

Cheers!

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

Shinkansen will cost about 14,000 yen and take 3 hours.
Train will cost about 8,500 yen and take 9 hours.
The bus will cost about 8,500 yen and take 8 hours, but it is overnight so you will be asleep for the duration of the journey (assuming you fall asleep).

If you are debating which mode of transportation is better, bus or train, the bus is better in my opinion. I'd have to sleep anyway, may as well do it while travelling.

Alternatively, you can take the train and hop the final JR gate and it would only cost you 190 yen for the initial ticket, but you'd be doing something very illegal. (true story, I had a friend do that, among other things. He'd also hitchhiked from Osaka to Tokyo, and he rode a stolen bike 40 miles between towns at one point. interesting life that guy leads.)

nuchie · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 6:46 am Post subject:

Thanks for the reply

are those prices one way or return?

8/9hrs is a very long travel time...

if those prices are return then I might just take the shinkansen

now with another problem is Accomodation, gonna be difficult getting one as its a bit too late and xmas holidays as well

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

The prices I gave are for one way.

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

Hi,

You can get the "Seishun Jyuu-hachi kippu" from any JR ticket office.

This allows you to use local trains for the cost of 2500 per ticket.

This would make the cost of your round trip 5000

However, there's a catch: you have to buy a pack of 5 tickets (for a total cost of 12000)

And you have to use them all up before January 12

If youre thinking of going elsewhere until January 12, it is well worth it

moshimoshi · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 10 Location: Shikoku

I'll also going to Tokyo for the holidays. I'll be taking the overnight bus from Osaka to Tokyo on December 29th and returning January 2nd. A few weeks ago I booked a roundtrip ticket for 9,500yen. I ended up going for the slightly more expensive, luxurious bus (or so my friend claimed) which costs 6,000yen each way. I found the 9,500yen ticket through www.japan-guide.com. My Japanese friend booked the better bus ticket through Orion Tours. I don't know the contact info for them. I think that it may be difficult to find a seat now, though. Gambate!

moshimoshi · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 10 Location: Shikoku

here's the link to the nightbus contact info...

http://www.nightbus.info/contactdetails.htm