Tokyo Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

As an advocate of budget and DIY travel, I mostly rely on public transportation whenever I travel. However, I also love a chill and relaxing trip every now and then. So when I was planning my trip to Tokyo, I found out about Tokyo Sky Hop Bus Day Pass while casually browsing KKday. I’ve never tried Tokyo hop-on-hop-off tours before so I never knew how simple and convenient these tours could be. I never imagined this could be so much fun, especially that I was able to visit so many places in one day at my own pace.

Table of Contents

What is a Tokyo Sky Hop Bus Day Pass?
Red Course Must See Attractions

What is a Tokyo Sky Hop Bus Day Pass?

The Tokyo Sky Hop Bus Day Pass, which can be purchased online at KKday, is 24-hour hop-on-hop-off bus that takes you to Tokyo’s major tourist attractions. Aboard an open-top Sky Hop bus, you can also enjoy free WiFi for your social media updates and an audio guide about each bus stop (available in English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese).

Cost: 3,434 yen or 1,585 pesos
Validity: 24 hours from the time of redemption (for example, my tour started at 1:00 PM, then I can still use the bus pass until the next day at 12:00 PM)

The are two courses that you can tackle on this bus tour – the Red Course and the Blue Course.

Red Course (Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree Line): Ueno, Tokyo Skytree, Asakusa , Akihabara , Shin-Nihombashi, and Marunouchi

Blue Course (Tokyo Tower Line): Tokyo Tower, Tsukiji, Ginza, and Marunouchi

Red Course Must See Attractions

Ueno

One of the stops on the Red Course is Ueno, a well-known sightseeing district located in Northern Tokyo. This area is home to Ueno Park, Ueno Zoo, Hanazonoinari Shrine, Ueno Toshogu, Tokyo National Museum, Ameyoko, Takeya Shopping Mall, Kurand Sake Market, Yamashiroya, and Ueno Sakuragi Atari.

Tokyo Skytree

The Tokyo Skytree is not just the tallest building in Japan, it is actually part of Tokyo Skytree Town home to a large shopping complex and aquarium. Its two main attractions are the two observation decks which offer stunning panoramic views of Tokyo and beyond. On a clear day, you may also get a glimpse of Mt. Fuji.

Get your Tokyo Skytree Observatory Ticket here.
Get your Tokyo Skytree Tembo Deck (350m) & Sumida Aquarium Tickets here.

Asakusa

Asakusa is the historical capital of Tokyo and is full of interesting things to see and experience. This area is home to Sensoji Temple,Nakamise Dori, Asakusa Shrine,Asakusa Underground Shopping Center, and Asahi Super Dry Hall.

Akihabara

Akihabara is known as the center of Japan’s Otaku culture. It is home to many shops and establishments devoted to manga and anime. You’ll also find many electronics shops in this area like Yodobashi, maid cafes, manga cafes, among others.

Shin-Nihombashi

Shin-Nihombashi, another stop on the Red Course, is known as the home of Nihonbashi, which means “Japan bridge.” This historic, old part of Tokyo may not be included in every foreign tourists list of must-sees, but trust me, there are plenty of things to see here. It home to the oldest surviving department store in Japan dating back to 17th century, Mitsukoshi. Here, you will also find the historic Edo alleyways of Ningyocho, Edo Nihonbashi Art Aquarium, Tokyo Stock Exchange, and Kite Museum.

Marunouchi

Marunouchi is a prestigious business district located between Tokyo Station and Tokyo Imperial Palace. Although shopping malls dominate this district, there are various attractions you can see as a tourist. Here you’ll find the Tokyo Imperial Palace, the official residence of Japanese Imperial Family, and the Imperial East Gardens. You can also visit Tokyo International Forum, Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum and Nakadori Shopping Street.

this is where I claimed my bus pass at the Sky Dock Tokyo Skytree

a handy dandy map to help you navigate Tokyo once you get off the bus

Blue Course’s must see attractions

Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower is probably one of Japan’s most iconic structures. Aside from the fantastic panoramic views of the bustling city that you will see in its observatory decks (main deck at 145 meters and the top deck at 250 meters), there are plenty of other things to do/see here.

Get your Tokyo Tower Observatory Ticket here.
Get your Tokyo One Piece Tower Ticket here.

Tsukiji

Another stop at the Blue Course is the historic Tsukiji Market. Since the inner market or the area that sells raw/fresh seafood and fish has moved to a new location, visitors can only shop or dine at the outer market. Although the famous tuna auction no longer takes place here, Tsukiji is still one of Tokyo’s most popular foodie destination.

Ginza

Ginza is a bustling district lined with high-end boutiques, upscale department stores, exclusive restaurants and sushi bars. It may be intimidating to some but there are plenty of attractions worth checking out in this area. Here you will find a kabuki theater called Kabuki-za, Japan National Tourism Organization Information Center, Ginza Mitsukoshi, Yurakucho Gado-shita, and Ginza Six.

Marunouchi
The last stop of the Blue Course is also the historic Marunouchi.

How to purchase Tokyo Sky Hop Bus Day Pass?
Step 1 – Go to KKday’s website or simply click this link for Tokyo Sky Hop Bus Day Pass
Step 2 – Scroll down to package options and select your intended travel date
Step 3 – Indicate the number of buss pass you want to buy
Step 4 – Click the blue ‘Book’ button located on the right hand side of KKday website
Step 5 – Log in using Facebook, Google or Email address
Step 6 – Update your information (buyer and traveler)
Step 7 – Input promo code (if there’s any) and payment details
Currently, KKday accepts payments via Credit card (VISA, JCB, Master Card), Debit card and PayPal.
Step 8 – Once payment is confirmed, you will receive a voucher in your email

cute Japanese masks at Nakamise Dori in Asakusa

How to redeem your Tokyo Sky Hop Bus Day Pass?

Once you purchase your bus pass at KKday’s website, you will receive a voucher in your email. Print and show your voucher at one of the following designated locations to redeem Tokyo Sky Hop Bus Day Pass:

Tokyo Skytree Station SKY DUCK TOKYO Service Desk
Address: 1-17-6 Narihira, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0002
Hours: 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM every Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays

Marunouchi Mitsubishi Building 1F SKY BUS TOKYO Ticket Center
Address: 2-5-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-0005
Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day

Do I recommend Tokyo Sky Hop Bus Day Pass?

If you are currently planning a trip to Japan, specifically Tokyo, then I’d highly recommend getting a Tokyo Sky Hop Bus Day Pass from KKday. On this hop-on-hop-off tour, you have the freedom to hop-on and hop-off as many times as you like at any of Tokyo Sky Hop Bus designated stops. With several stops covering Tokyo’s main attractions, this tour provides the best introduction to the city. While everyone can certainly benefit from this bus pass, I’d recommend this to families with small children and seniors.

How about you? Have you tried a hop-on-hop-off tour before? How was your experience? Let’s chat down below!