I’m from Southern California-AKA I drive everywhere. Not particularly because I want to, but out of necessity. Bus and trolleys are expensive, confusing and you have to wait 30 minutes to an HOUR before you can ride. But I do not like driving, so moving to Japan and having to rely on public transportation was actually very exciting!!
My first time on a bus was actually very fun. Before riding I did do my research of course and there is a lovely short, but to the point guide at Japan Guide. Since I’m in the Tokyo area I went in through the front door. I got my ticket and sat down.
Be prepared to be stared at girls. I knew this before going to Japan from hanging out with Japanese living here. So that feeling of everyone staring at you in multiplied by 100 basically. They are not trying to be rude, they are just trying to figure you out. They are generally thinking:
- Are you foreign?
- Is she half? If you have black or brown hair.
- Why do foreigners have such pretty big eyes?
- Do you speak Japanese?
- Should I try out my English skills on her?
What do you do? If you don’t speak Japanese, do not worry. Just smile and say “Wakarimasen.” and you will be fine I promise you. I was asked the usual “Are you half?/ haafu desu ka?” by a young women who looked younger, but was probably older than me. I simply smiled and replied “No, I’m 100% American./ iie, hyaku paasento Amerika-jin desu.” The usual conversation of “Your Japanese is very good. Where did you study? Do you have a Japanese boyfriend?” ensued. People talking to me on the bus or at a bus stop was extremely rare though. That day it I rode the bus 4 times and was only asked that one time.
What to not do? Don’t strike up a conversation when on the bus. I think this is also common practice in America as well when on buses. I never talked to anyone, except the rare elderly lady talking about the weather or something. If you don’t speak Japanese, don’t ignore the person. Just smile like you are sorry and say “wakarimasen”.
I sat down next to a high school girl texting away on her cute orange cell phone. With no real destination in mind, (this was a test day) I rode for about 5 to 10 minutes what looked like a shopping area was coming up so I and the button (the same as here, but I watched a few other people do it before I did) signaling the driver to stop. Paid my fee (200 Yen) and got off.
Unfortunately I saw my weak spot after about 10 steps…CREPES. The first time I had Japanese style crepes was oddly on a trip to Seattle when I was 18 and fell in love. I stopped by that same crepe stand twice before going back home to sunny California. So I got myself a choco-banana crepe and kept on observing the pretty landscape and thankfully nice summer weather.
Happy bus trips ladies~
