Food on the go is nothing new in Japan. Japanese train passengers, for example, have enjoyed delicious bento boxed lunches in trains from the earliest days of the railroad and there are even special trains offering an upscale Japanese dining experience such as the Kaiseki Train on the local Kominato Railway in Chiba Prefecture or, for the well-heeled traveler, even a virtual Japanese inn on rails complete with tatami-matted flooring and low tables in the Shiki-Shima ultra-luxury train suite.

However, for travelers who want to explore the most beautiful destinations of a Japanese city while also enjoying fine Japanese cuisine, there haven't been any options save renting a mobile home and hiring a caterer, not a viable workaround for Japanese travelers, let alone those of us visiting Japan from abroad.

Fortunately for those who wish to visit Kyoto, a new bus tour promises to deliver the refined elegance of a traditional Kyoto style ryotei restaurant with the enjoyment and convenience of a scenic tour of Kyoto.

Bus company Willer, known for offering comfortable and reliable bus service as well as unique bus tours such as a space-themed tour called "Star Fighter" or, more recently, a collaboration bus tour with Ingress, started its regular Restaurant Bus service in Tokyo last year, to much acclaim. Previously only offered as limited-period tours in Niigata Prefecture, Hokkaido and Okinawa, the new Restaurant Bus is now a permanent part of Willer's lineup. An initial version of the Tokyo bus was followed shortly thereafter by a matsuri (holiday) version complete with hanging lanterns on the deck.

For their third offering, Willer teamed up with Kansai area-based Keihan Bus as well as famous tea brand Iyemon's Kyoto cafe lounge Iyemon Salon to create their most sophisticated bus experience to date.

Design

The upper deck, which accommodates up to 25 passengers, is elegantly furnished with eleven tables allowing two passengers to sit facing each other and three passengers to sit alone. The wood surfaces of the table are fitted with holes to contain cups and bottles and ensure comfortable dining free of spills or accidents. On sunny days, the roof automatically retracts for an open air experience. A curtain can be drawn when the sun gets too bright. For safety, each seat is fitted with a two-point seat belt able to withstand up to 4G, making the bus highway-compliant.

Reflecting the tradition-steeped atmosphere of Kyoto, the exterior of the bus is designed in a traditional Japanese theme featuring pine trees and people drawn in the Ukiyoe style enjoying Kyoto cuisine against a cloud background on a golden backdrop.

In a nod to traditional Kyoto-style ryotei restaurants, marble is used in the staircase and other decorative flourishes are added to create the effect.

Course Options

From morning to night, the Restaurant Bus has a variety of courses offering a sampling of the best of Kyoto cuisine.

Iyemon Salon breakfast course: experience the essence of Japanese tea (60-90 mins)

• Price (tax inc.): 3,500 JPY (adults)
• Time: 9:30 am - 11:00 am
• Menu: Two yaki-onigiri grilled rice balls, 3 types of obonzai (traditional Kyoto cuisine): tofu and matcha miso, Kyoto pickled vegetables, boiled and seasoned Kyoto vegetables with mizuna (water greens), miso soup, sencha tea with added matcha.
• Perks: Lecture by Iyemon Salon on the latest ways of enjoying tea, stop-off at Chion-in Temple which is close to popular touristic destinations Yasaka Shrine and the Gion area, free bottle of Iyemon tea to take home.
• Itinerary: Kyoto Sta. -- Toji Temple -- Higashi Honganji Temple -- Kamogawa Riverbank -- Heian Shrine -- Chion-in Temple (stop-off allowed) -- Kyoto Sta.
• Note: A simpler version of this course with bus admission and one soft drink is available for 2,800 JPY

Obonzai course made with tasty water from Kyoto (60-80 mins)

• Price (tax inc.): 3,900 JPY (adults)
• Time: 11:30 am - 12:50 pm
• Menu: Chirimen-gohan (steamed rice mixed with seasoned baby sardines), black rice onigiri, dashimaki seasoned egg, grilled yuba (tofu), yuba roll, namafu dengaku (grilled and seasoned gluten and rice flour), satsuma-age (fried fish cake), etc.
• Perks: Lecture on Kyoto's tasty water and its vital role in Kyoto cuisine, free bottle of Iyemon tea to take home.
• Itinerary: Kyoto Sta. -- Kamogawa riverbank -- Heian Shrine -- Nijo -- Nishiki Market (stop-off allowed) -- Higashi Honganji Temple -- Kyoto Tower -- Kyoto Sta.
• Note: A simpler version of this course with bus admission and one soft drink is available for 2,800 JPY

Iyemon Salon afternoon sweets and tea course: experience the essence of Japanese tea (70 mins)

• Price (tax inc.): 3,500 JPY (adults)
• Time: 2:50 pm - 4:00 pm
• Menu: An assortment of three sweets produced by Iyemon Salon Kyoto in the Sanjo Karasuma neighborhood, sencha tea
• Perks: Lecture by Iyemon Salon on the latest ways of enjoying tea, free bottle of Iyemon tea to take home.
• Itinerary: Kyoto Sta. -- Kamogawa riverside drive-by -- Heian Shrine -- Yasaka Shrine -- Kyoto Sta.
• Note: A simpler version of this course with bus admission and one soft drink is available for 2,800 JPY

Early light dinner with a famous Kyoto liquor (90 mins)

• Price (tax inc.): 3,700 JPY (adults)
• Time: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
• Menu: Kyoto's famous brown sugar shochu Jinmatsu paired with an assortment of three obonzai dishes including dashimaki seasoned egg, namafu gluten and Kyoto pickled vegetables
• Perks: A mini bottle of Jinmatsu made exclusively in the Amami Islands.
• Itinerary: Kyoto Sta. -- Toji Temple -- Nishi Honganji Temple -- Nijo Castle -- Kyoto Tower -- Kyoto Sta.
• Note: A simpler version of this course with bus admission and one soft drink is available for 2,800 JPY

Destinations

Heian Temple

Toji Temple

Higashi Honganji Temple

Kyoto Tower

Kamogawa Riverbank

Schedule

Jan. 26 (Fri) through Jan. 28 (Sun), Feb. 4 (Sun), Feb. 10 (Sat), Feb. 11 (Sun), Feb. 17 (Sat), Feb. 24 (Sat)

Campaign

If you show your American Express card when you board the bus, you and one accompanying traveler will be offered a welcome drink.

Fortunately for international visitors, the bus is installed with the GEONEXT service capable of interpreting between 13 languages (Japanese, English, Mandarin, Taiwanese, Cantonese, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, French, Spanish, Italian, Vietnamese and German).

To make your reservation, please visit the website.