It’s just you and me here having this discussion, so please don’t feel offended by the directness of it. Are you rich? Are you a tightwad? Are you truly of lesser means, or at least genuinely interested in portraying yourself as so? Let’s dive in and figure out the value of your time. It will only take a few minutes.
Let’s speak in numbers before we get to feelings. Sendai to Morioka, to take a nice pair of cities 117 miles (188 km) apart, takes close to two and a half hours by bus, and 39 minutes by shinkansen (bullet train). The bus costs 2,980 JPY (24 USD), and the shinkansen costs 6,600 JPY (54 USD). Thus, the bus takes 3.67 times longer than the shinkansen, and costs 45.2% the price. WIth numbers like this, it’s high time we compare the two modes of transportation.
Goodbye Sendai, hello bus ride to Morioka!
Your chariot is pulling up, so best gather your bags and be ready! Be sure to make your pee pee first, because the bus isn’t equipped with a toilet, and will only be making one, five minute rest stop along the way. The drivers are very safe, which you may also translate into meaning that most other highway traffic will speed by you like you are standing still. For some this is reassuring, for others maddening, and for still others it is simply emasculating. A good thing about the bus is that no reservations are needed, and buses leave hourly during the day, so this is a great option for those wishing to play it by ear.
Less than spacious on the legroom
For this price, no one promised you a rose garden, so just sit down and settle in. It’s standard two-and-two seating, with moderately comfortable cloth seats. There’s a tray that folds down off the seat back in front of you, but it is only deep enough to hold a beverage and maybe a rice ball. The clientele clearly look more idle than you most likely believe yourself to be, which may make you feel sad.
Now this is an entrance!
When the shinkansen rolls into the station, a spectacle of majesty and technology unfolds before your eyes. She comes to a graceful stop, and hermetically sealed interior opens at doors located on both ends of each car. The fast shinkansens (and, since a reserved seat costs the same price on the slower ones, you’ll want to be sure to ride a fast one) come at least hourly, but more often during busy times of the day.
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
Inside is, well, just another cattle car
If you are well moneyed, you may be riding in first class (the “Green Car”), but then you wouldn’t be reading this article. Regular cars feature interiors as pictured above. Leg room is noticeably improved over the bus, and trays are large enough to bust out a laptop and get things done. Seat width is about the same as the bus, but recline is better. Get a window seat so you can see the world flying by at up to 320 km/h. Look the other direction, and see lots of well dressed, important - or at least busy - looking people riding the train with you. Feel empowered.
It’s time to call a spade a spade
What will it be? The plebeian bus, or the more elite shinkansen? While each has its benefits, the only real benefit on the bus side boils down to saving cash. “Savoring the scenery” (which is indeed mildly pretty in parts), is certainly the way to explain to snooty shinkansen riding friends the reason behind your riding the bus. But just between you and me, what’s the real reason?
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to