Buses
These are major bus company in Sapporo.
- JR Hokkaido Bus (not JR train, only buses)
- Chuo Bus
- Jotetsu Bus
How to Use IC Card
Using IC card is the best, while you travel in Japan.
First of all, you have to get a IC Card such as Suica or Kitaca. Don’t get a SAPICA because you CAN NOT use it in other cities. This Card is available for Sapporo City Transportation only. This is not useful for travelers.
- When you get on a bus, you will see the blue colored IC card reader at the right side of the middle-door of bus, and you must touch it by your IC card and you will hear the sound like ‘Pi’. It’s work correct!
- When you get out of a bus at the front door, you must touch the IC card reader by yours again and you will hear the sound of ‘Pi’ again. It’s work correct! That’s easy to use!
- The same usage for getting a street car.
In Cash
You can get on a bus or streetcar in cash of course. When you get on a bus, you will see a small box right side which is a small ticket vender machine, its ticket indicates the right location you ride on. Before getting off a bus, you put it in the fare box before you pay in cash. Small changes is better, but you can change a bill such as 1000 yen. Ask a driver how you operate. Maybe he/she do it instead of you.
Your fare is different from distance, so that you keep your small ticket called ‘Seiri-ken'(整理券) which shows your right fare. Ask a bus driver if you can’t understand it or other people. They show you how.
One-time Ticket
When you got a one-time ticket as getting on a subway and then you want to transfer a bus, you have to get a small ticket called ‘Seiri-ken’ from small vender machine in the entrance of the bus. In the same manner as ‘In Cash’, the ticket shows your right place you ride on. Keep it until you get off and put it in the fare box before One-time ticket. If your One-time ticket is enough fare-rate, you can pay extra-fare. Ask a bus driver how much it is. It is better that you have enough small changes.
Every driver is so kind that you won’t get yelled like a London bus driver even if you take your time.
