Unsurprisingly, many Singaporeans can’t quite resist the urge to jet off to Japan this holiday season, and we don’t blame them one bit. The country is vast and filled with so many things to immerse yourself in; one moment you could be tackling the rides in Super Nintendo World and the next, hand-feeding cattle at a countryside farmstay.
If you want to make the most of your trip, you can cop a Japan Rail Pass to catch a bullet train which will bring you to the various cities in the blink of an eye. But if you’ve got the time to spare, consider hopping on one of WILLER EXPRESS’ overnight buses. They’ve got routes throughout Japan, and you can even opt for their unique sleeping pod seats for a novel ride. Here’s all you need to know about them:
The current exchange rate is S$1 = ~JP¥111.81 as of 30th November 2024.
Image credit: Mitsui & Co.
WILLER EXPRESS is a highway bus operator in Japan that has routes which service various prefectures all over the country. Those on a tight budget who might not want to shell out the money for a JR pass to ride Japan’s bullet trains can consider travelling across the country via highway buses, as they are considerably cheaper.
For instance, a train ride from Tokyo to Osaka on the Japan Railways costs around JP¥13,870, while a bus ride spanning the same distance only costs JP¥3,500. Of course, rides on highway buses are longer than those on the Shinkansen, but there are highway buses that operate overnight, so travellers will have the rest of the day to explore Japan when they alight in the morning.
Back to WILLER EXPRESS, they’re one of many Japanese highway bus operators that provide overnight bus rides. Most importantly, the WILLER EXPRESS website is in English, which makes your booking experience hassle-free. After making payment, they’ll email you your tickets in the form of a QR code that the bus captains will scan as you board the bus.
Buses which contain ReBorn seats feature 1 column of individual seats and 1 column of paired seats, so both solo travelers and couples can ride comfortably.
Image credit: WILLER EXPRESS
Something which sets WILLER EXPRESS apart from other highway bus operators in Japan is their special sleeping pod-like ReBorn seats that ensure a restful journey. They’ve got designated buses that are completely filled with 18 of such seats grouped in rows of 3, which means you won’t be bunking with too many people during your rides.
Currently, WILLER EXPRESS only has 4 bus routes that are available with ReBorn seats, here’s a handy table which shows where each bus is headed for, travel times, and prices:
| Bus route | Travel time | Price |
| Tokyo – Osaka/Kyoto | ~8 hours, 40 minutes | From JP¥9,600 |
| Osaka/Kyoto – Tokyo | ~ 9 hours | |
| Tokyo – Nagoya | ~ 7 hours, 15 minutes | From JP¥7,680 |
| Nagoya – Tokyo | ~ 7 hours, 25 minutes | From JP¥8,080 |
In case you’d rather travel during the day, WILLER EXPRESS also has buses with Reborn seats that depart from as early as 7.30am.
Each ReBorn seat is equipped with nifty features for a cosy and comfortable ride. For starters, since there are only 18 seats per bus, this means there’s more leg room for each passenger. In fact, each seat has a foot and leg rest, so feel free to stretch your limbs throughout your journey.
Serial Netflix binge-watchers can also rejoice, ReBorn seats are fitted with their own electrical outlet to keep their devices juiced up. There’s also a small reading light and stowaway table at your disposal, so even the most diligent of passengers can whip out their laptops to get some work done. Sadly, there’s no on-board Wi-Fi, so you’ll have to rely on portable hotspots or travel eSIMs to stay connected to the Internet.
Image credit: @willer_japantravel via Instagram
A free blanket, neck pillow, and eyemask are bundled with every seat, and when it’s time for some shuteye, recline your seats with the remote control and pray your neighbours aren’t massive snorers. For maximum privacy, extend the canopy above your seat to shun prying eyes to block out unwanted light.
If you’re wondering about the toilet sitch, the bus will visit 3 rest stops along the way, where passengers can alight to use the loo or buy some food at convenience stores. After about 25 minutes, the bus will depart, so be sure to board before then. You are allowed to bring food to munch on during the trip, but stronger-smelling food items might not be permitted on board.
And that’s pretty much all you’ve gotta know about WILLER EXPRESS’ peculiar ReBorn seats. If you’re not strapped for time and would like to save a couple of hundred yen on transport around Japan, then it’s definitely an option when it comes to traversing popular tourist destinations like Tokyo and Osaka.
Unfortunately, lovey-dovey couples will have to make do with sleeping in separate pods for now, though.
For other alternative modes of transport to consider on your holidays:
Cover image adapted from: WILLER EXPRESS
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