If planning your trip to Japan, the last thing you have in mind is the bus. But, the Japanese company Isetan Mitsukoshi Travel is trying to change your mind by offering luxury bus rides from Tokyo to all over Japan in upscale buses that offer a business-class experience on the highways. The buses are said to be modeled after the business class section of airplanes, and it definitely shows. As only 10 seats are installed on each bus that have a standard capacity of at least 45, passengers can comfortably recline and stretch their feet.
Each vehicle costs between 120 million yen ($978,000) and 130 million yen, approximately three times the price of a standard tour bus of the same size.
The tours are round trip and depart from Tokyo. Packages range from two-day trips to five-day excursions utilizing the Shinkansen as well.
Two-day plans are priced around 150,000 yen (US$1,211) and include destinations such as the Izu area of Shizuoka Prefecture, the Nikko area of Tochigi Prefecture and other resorts just outside the greater Tokyo area.
The company currently operates two luxury buses, but announced that it plans to have more than four in its fleet before next spring.