Riding Bus (バスの乗り方 - Basu no Norikata)
The system of boarding public buses in Japan. Methods differ by region: 'Front-entry, pre-paid flat fare' or 'Rear-entry, post-paid distance fare using a numbered ticket (Seiriken)'.
Urban inner-city buses tend to use flat fares to speed up boarding, while rural long-distance lines require numbered tickets printed with thermal codes to calculate fares upon exit.
Inquire with the bus driver or guide on where to tap your card or fetch transit change.
When boarding a distance-fare bus using the 'Numbered Ticket (Seiriken) system', what is the first action to take at the entrance?