OSAKA - Around Osaka Station, nine long-distance bus terminals operate in close proximity, making the area one of Japan’s most competitive hubs for highway bus travel. Despite the speed of planes and shinkansen, the affordability and convenience of buses continue to attract a loyal following.
From Osaka, direct services run as far east as Tochigi and as far west as Nagasaki, with some routes even offering the fastest travel times for less money — for example, reaching Tokushima takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes by bus, compared to three and a half hours by train.
At JR Osaka Highway Bus Terminal, travelers reveal the diverse reasons behind their journeys. One young woman, who moved from Gunma to Osaka a year ago, was on her way to Nagoya to visit an aquarium with an old classmate. “I could have taken the shinkansen, but it’s expensive. The bus only costs about 3,000 yen and gives me time to relax,” she explained. Others, like a woman carrying her dog Pono, rely on buses for pet-friendly travel. “I use JR’s daytime buses because they let me bring my dog in a carrier for free,” she said. Since adopting Pono last year — the same breed as Shohei Ohtani’s dog — she has made regular trips together, calling him “more than family.”
Further conversations uncover a variety of travel motives. Two friends from Okayama shared that their trip highlight was the breakfast at the recently opened Hankyu Grand Spire Osaka hotel, featuring a rich eggs Benedict with avocado sauce. Another pair had spent five hours traveling from Hiroshima just to try a pastry shop’s new “Napoleon” mille-feuille at Grand Front Osaka, which can be eaten on the go — a novelty in Japan.
Among the most dedicated travelers is singer-songwriter Asagiri, who debuted in 2015 and is celebrating her 10th anniversary. She tours Japan entirely by bus, performing live shows and hosting fan events. “My mother loved music and inspired me. After she passed away, I wrote a song for her — that’s how I got my first record deal,” she said. Though making a living solely through music is difficult, she continues to perform and stay close to her audience.
Not all journeys are about comfort. Hako, a university student from Matsue in Shimane Prefecture, decided to cycle roughly 330 kilometers back to his hometown of Wakayama — nearly twice the distance of an Ironman triathlon bike leg. It took him two days through scorching heat and mountain roads. “I wanted a challenge and thought cycling would be a fun way home,” he said. His mother admitted to worrying about accidents but chose to support his adventurous spirit. “He’s always been the type to finish what he starts,” she said. The trip not only tested Hako’s endurance but also deepened his appreciation for family.
Source: KTV NEWS
