Honest Hop On Hop Off Tokyo Bus Reviews and Insights

Tokyo – Huge, super cool, crowded, rushed, yet charming – that’s what I call it! While planning my three-week trip to Japan, I quickly realised I’d need at least a week in Japan capital city. With nearly 70 things on my list, Tokyo sightseeing felt endless!

To make it more challenging, the must-see places are scattered across this massive city.

I wondered, “Is it even worth seeing them all? And how do I do it?” That’s when I came across the Hop On Hop Off Tokyo bus online.

Plus, I had to stick to a budget — Japan isn’t cheap, and Tokyo is especially expensive.

I’m usually not a fan of these buses. I prefer local public transport to these touristy buses. But Tokyo’s Sky Hop Bus seemed like an essential. Breaking my rule, I booked it.

In this post, I’ll give you an honest review of the Tokyo Sky Hop Bus, covering the routes, where to buy tickets, the time table, and even include a hop on hop off tokyo map to help you plan your trip better!

This particular trip was sponsored by Rakuten Travel Experience. However the views and opinions expressed remains our very own

What is Sky hop bus Tokyo?

The Sky Hop Bus is a hop-on-hop-off sightseeing service in Tokyo, letting you hop on and off at all the stops mentioned along its routes.

The Hop on Hop off Tokyo bus is most suitable for those have just a day or two in Tokyo. And also people like us spending 7 Days in Tokyo but are confused what all to see in this huge city.

Buses run from 9 AM to 5 PM year-round, except during heavy rain from June to September or snow from mid-December to early March.

But don’t worry – Announcements are made 15 days in advance, and you’ll get a full refund for any last-minute cancellations.

We took Hop On Hop Off Tokyo bus ride in early December, just in time to catch the bus on its last two operating days!

Types of Tickets

There are one-day and two-day passes, with options for a single line or a combo pass that covers all routes in a day.

Should you go for one day or two-day pass?

It depends on what you want to do in Tokyo and how long you are in Tokyo. If you are in town for three days, buy a two-day pass. So that you can get off at your place of interest, explore, wander and get back to the next bus.

Suppose you are in Tokyo for a week like us and buy a one-day Sky Hop bus pass. Do not get off anywhere. Sit back and relax. Click pictures. Observe/listen so you can pick suitable places to explore in the coming days.

How to Buy Hop on Hop off Tokyo bus ticket?

You can purchase Sky Hop Bus Tokyo tickets online, at the Marunouchi Mitsubishi Building Ticket Center, or directly on the bus.

But I always recommend buying tickets online – it saves you the hassle of needing exact change or worrying whether your international card will work.

I recommend buying tickets online through Rakuten Travel Experience; it’s easy to use with international cards, and the site has an English option.

How to use the Tokyo Sky Hop Bus Tickets?

When you purchase your ticket online, you’ll receive a PDF with a QR code . Make sure to take a screenshot of the ticket or keep access to the PDF file. When you board, just show the QR code to the organiser, and they’ll scan it. You’re good to go!

Plus the tickets come with tokyo hop-on hop-off bus timetable and a detailed illustrated map that includes what all you will see on each route. So you can plan accordingly

Every time you hop off and get back on, just display your ticket to the organiser again, and continue your journey.

We used our screenshot of the our single day combo pass ticket every time and it worked without a trouble.

If you purchase a physical ticket, it will come with a QR code. Make sure to keep the paper ticket safe and intact, as you’ll need it throughout the day to board the bus without any issues.

Where does the Tokyo hop-on hop-off bus go?

The Tokyo hop-on-hop-off bus runs on three routes: the Blue Line offers bay views, the Red Line covers historical attractions, and the Green Line mixes modern and traditional Tokyo.

Red Line (Asakusa, SKYTREE)

The Red Line dives into Tokyo’s history with stops at Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, the bustling heart of old Tokyo, and Tokyo SKYTREE .

They do stop at Ryogoku Edo-Tokyo Museum and Ueno Park and end it at Akihabara for electronics and anime fun.

Blue Line (Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Teleport, Tsukiji & Ginza)

The Blue Line blends modern and tradition with stops at Tokyo Tower Tsukiji Outer Market known for fish and Ginza the luxury shopping street.

You also pass by the futuristic attractions of Odaiba from Tokyo Teleport Station.

Green Line (Shinjuku, Shibuya)

The Green Line captures Tokyo’s vibrant spirit and happening places , starting at Shibuya Crossing, the busiest in the world.

Then moving to quirky Harajuku for famous for unique fashion, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and Yoyogi Park, a local favourite for outdoor fun.

Is Tokyo hop on hop off bus worth it?

Yes, the Tokyo hop on hop off bus is worth it! Tokyo is huge – the most populated city in the world and the third largest by area. It’s impossible to see everything even if you stay for a week.

Subways and Metros of Tokyo are great – But they run underground mostly. You can’t see the city through them actually.

The bus gives you a quick overview, so you can easily decide which places to explore more and which ones are good for a quick look.

Here are some reasons why it is worth it :

Analysing Tokyo’s hyped spots with the Sky Hop Bus ride.

Tokyo Skytree, Asakusa, and Shibuya Crossing are among Tokyo’s most hyped spots. While Shibuya Crossing lives up to the buzz, the others can feel crowded and overrated.

The Tokyo hop on hop off bus ride covers these spots, giving you a quick look so you can decide if they’re worth your time.

We skipped Tokyo Tower and Skytree after seeing how crowded they were while sitting comfortably on the Tokyo Sky Hop sightseeing bus.

Without the bus tour, we might have wasted time and money on these uninteresting spots.

Getting Glimpse of Tokyo as a Whole

Tokyo has so many sides! You’ve got the Imperial Palace with its moats and stone walls reminding you of Edo Period, Tokyo Station with its European vibe like Amsterdam Central.

In northern Tokyo’s man-made islands, you’ll be surprised to find a “Statue of Liberty” in Odaiba waterfront.

The hop-on hop-off bus also takes you through Asakusa’s temples, Ueno Park’s colourful leaves, and Shinjuku’s lively markets, giving you a bit of everything in one ride.

Finding new things on routes of Tokyo Hop on Hop Off bus

We thought the only way to get an aerial view of Tokyo was by paying the high entrance fees at Skytree or Tokyo Tower.

But along Kokyo Gaien National Garden, we were surprised to find buskers and street artists jamming with guitars and drums in public—quite unusual for Japan! And hundreds of on pre-wedding photoshoot.

But on our blue route, we found the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, which has two observatories on the 45th floor—completely free!

While the Japanese are known for their social etiquette and keeping quiet, even on the metros, we assumed everything in Japan would be calm and quiet, with no street performers.

We didn’t know there is a Godiva Cafe in Tokyo. Until we sat on this bus!

The Audio Description in the bus

You can also stay on the bus, which I recommend, and enjoy the views. You’ll get an audio guide in 7 languages that uses built-in GPS to give you explanations in your language about the attractions you pass by.

So, you won’t just see the sights, but also learn a bit about Tokyo’s past and present with the hop-on hop-off bus ride!

I found it super helpful to learn that Tokyo was once like Amsterdam, filled with canals!

Semi Open bus for cool visibility

The Tokyo Sky Hop Bus has a few different types of buses to keep the ride fun. What they use

Cabriolet: These buses have a hood that can be closed in case of sudden rain – perfect for unpredictable weather from June to August.

Crystal: The “Crystal” bus, with its glass roof, is great for any weather and has air conditioning to keep you comfy, whether it’s hot, cold, or rainy. They use these if it’s rainy or snowy but not too extreme.

Full-Open: The classic open-top double-decker bus with all seats on the upper deck – mostly used in spring and summer, giving you perfect Sakura views!

Half-Open: These buses have wheelchair access on the lower deck and a covered, air-conditioned area up top to keep you cool or dry. They’re mostly used in winter. When I was in Tokyo in December, this was the one running.

Easy and Laid Back

On our first day, we realised just how intense Tokyo’s pace is—much busier than Vienna! The Tokyo Sky Hop bus made it easy to enjoy the city without stressing about catching trains- Tokyo Transit is a maze yet efficient and overwhelming at times

We took the earliest bus, had a leisurely lunch at a nearby mall, and wandered around the Marunouchi Mitsubishi building.

We even tried delicious Daifuku Mochi with strawberry near at Tokyo Station and got hooked on “Gacha-Gacha” toy machines while we waited for our next bus.

Did the Tokyo Sky Hop made our Tokyo experience easier?

Absolutely! We wouldn’t have seen so much of Tokyo otherwise. The bus helped us plan the next six days, adding and skipping things as needed.

Tokyo is massive, with endless distractions like pretty manhole covers and metro stations that double as mini-malls. It’s impossible to see it all in a week.

You might come across some negative reviews online, but I’m glad I took the ride. The Tokyo hop on hop off bus helped us skip the pricey, touristy spots and gave us a glimpse of all sides of Tokyo.

Downsides of Sky Hop Bus in Tokyo

Stops are hard to find: Hop on hop off Tokyo map has their bus stops are marked. But they are tricky to locate on google maps. We really struggled to find the stop near Akihabara.

Routes stop early – They could run bus rides much later. Tokyo is much alive even dark

Schedules overlap: All routes start and end at the same point, but the schedules overlap, leaving no time to switch routes.

Midday crowd: Early morning rides were empty, but by noon, they got crowded, even in December.

Tokyo Beyond the Bus Route : There are many beautiful places in Tokyo beyond those listed on the Tokyo hop-on hop-off bus map.

Tips for Using the Tokyo Sky Hop Bus

Stay on the bus: I’d suggest staying on the whole route and checking out your favourite spots later. It’s the easiest way to see the city!

Seasonal schedule: Tours run at different times depending on the season, so make sure to prebook online and check the schedule beforehand.

Stay Connected with Data : You really need good Data to use maps to get to Sky hop bus stops, which aren’t easy to find. The free public wifi in Tokyo doesn’t exist everywhere. So buy a local Japanese Mobile SIM with Data+Voice calls

Boarding points: All routes start and end at the Marunouchi Mitsubishi Building near Tokyo Main Station. Find your boarding points on the map to avoid getting lost!

Plan to switch: Switching routes is simple, but plan to take breaks, stretch, use mall bathrooms, and grab a bite before hopping back on.

Dress for the weather: Wear warm clothes for Tokyo’s winter and buy heat pads . For summer, stick with lighter clothes.

Friendly crew: The staff are super helpful, explain every stop, and even hand out heat packs on cold evenings. The English audio guide is also easy to follow!

What are your thoughts on Hop on Hop off Tokyo sightseeing bus? Let us know in the comment section below.