help me find japanese bus schedules in english!!
 

I am trying to figure out how to get from Kumamoto City to Kurokawa onsen by using a bus - then head out towards Hiroshima - would love to use the JR bus but everything is in Japanese! I have a JR pass so am trying to find a bus-train combo - any suggestions? Cannot find an english schedule!

Check out japan-guide.com - they have a forum where people often ask similar questions and someone usually will translate the place names. Use the search function first as this may have been done already....

Also if this is a JR bus, you might try emailing the JR people as they are very helpful with answers as well. I think emd posted the address this morning on this forum.

I am at work and don't have all my links but try these to start

http://www.jrbuskanto.co.jp/mn/ceindex.cfm

http://tinyurl.com/2lmjuh

Aloha!

If you are in Kumamoto you'll probably have to use the Nishitetsu bus

http://www.nishitetsu.co.jp/bus/highway/gb/

Use your JR pass on the train direct from Kumamoto to JR Aso where you connect to a bus to Kurakawa Onsen (JR pass not valid).

Use this webpage for train schedule: http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi

For destination (or departure on return trip) enter: ASO(Kumamoto)

Here's what it says from the Sanga Ryokan page of the Japanese Guest House site:

"Directions: From JR Aso train station, it is a 40 minute taxi ride (around 7,000 yen) to Sanga Ryokan. There is also the "Kyushu Odan Kanko Bus" which leaves JR Aso train station at 10:05, 11:15, 15:55 and it is about a 1 hour bus ride. The one way fare is 960 yen. Get off the bus at Kurokawa Onsen (we recommend the taxi - it is quicker and less confusing). Sanga Ryokan offers a pick up service from Kurokawa Onsen Bus stop. If you wish to be picked up please let us know and then call them at 44-0906 when you arrive at the bus stop. From Kurokawa Onsen Bus Stop to JR Aso train station, the buses leave at 10:35 and 16:45."

You can also take a bus from Kurokawa to Beppu and connect there to a train for Hiroshima.

I learned all this because I had planned to travel through Kyushu and stay at Sanga Ryokan. But now saving it for a future trip.

We stayed at Sanga Ryokan in spring 2007 and hired a car to get there - but I did look at public transport too before we chose to get a car.

This link is in French (I kept it in my favourites as its hard to get this info)
http://www.secret-japan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=128
but go down to just below first map
"Acces" and click links below - these are in Japanese (its not easy!) but if you check you can make up places to Japanese characters and work on the timetable - you can use this link to find an updated timetable.

I hope this might be of some help - someone on this forum may be able to help you further from this link.

Sorry - when I said
" make up places to Japanese characters and work on the timetable" - I mean look at something where you have place names like Beppu written in Japanese and then see which column this is on timetable.

Thanks all for your help!!!