Overview

This article discusses how a customer can use Tobu bus via Whim. In this article you can find information on the following: 

• Tobu Bus coverage
• How to buy the Tobu Bus East ticket in Whim? 
• Question and Answers
  • What type of tickets can I purchase via Whim?
  • Can I cancel the ticket after I buy it?
  • Can I schedule my ticket to be activated later?
  • Is there a night fair price?
  • Can I buy more than one ticket on my phone?
  • What information does the ticket show?
  • Where can I find my purchased ticket in the App?
  • Can I use the ticket on different buses?
  • What do I do if my tickets expire during the bus ride? 
  • What do I do if I go beyond the ticket coverage area?
  • Do I have to take a numbered ticket when getting on the bus?  

Tobu Bus East coverage

You can ride the bus operated by Tobu bus East at the dedicated bus route in the Kashiwanoha area with Whim. All Tobu Bus routes to/from Kashiwanoha Campus stations (East gate and West gate), excluding Nishi-Kashiwa 11 system, highway bus, or community bus, will be covered by Whim.

How to buy the Tobu Bus East ticket:

1. Choose Public Transport from the Whim Home view(Fig.1). The App will show you the ticket options.

Fig.1 Home view

2. Alternatively, you can also buy tickets with Whim using the “Where to?” button (Fig.2), which opens up the Journey Planner.* Here, you can plan your trip according to your schedule: simply enter your departure and destination locations and choose from the journey options presented to you (Fig.3)(Fig.4). 

Note: In Japan, the function of ticket purchase from Journey Planner is still under development. 

Fig. 2 “Where to?” button view

Fig.3. Plan journey view     

Fig. 4. Journey suggestions view

3. Tap on the Tobu Bus “300 yen Ticket”. See the price and ticket validity (valid for 3 hours from the time of purchase). Also, see the bus lines on which your ticket is valid (Fig.5). 

Fig. 5. Tobu Bus ticket type

4. Confirm the purchase. By doing this, you accept the terms and conditions of Tobu Bus (Fig.6)(Fig.7). 

• You can only purchase one adult ticket per smartphone.
• You need an internet connection to purchase and use the ticket.
• The ticket validity is 3 hours. The ticket is issued and activated immediately upon purchase and will be invalid after 3 hours.

Fig. 6 Continue to pay   

Fig. 7 Confirm the purchase

5. Scroll the issued ticket to see more information on how to ride the bus, ticket details, customer care information, available routes, and Tobu Bus terms and conditions (Fig.8). 

Fig. 8. Ticket details

6. You can find all your active tickets and check their validity in the Whim Home View Active Tickets menu (Fig.9). By tapping an active ticket on the Active Tickets menu, you can get into the ticket view (Fig.10). 

Fig 9. Active tickets menu 

Fig. 10.  ticket view                       

Question and Answers

• What type of tickets can I purchase via Whim?
• Can I cancel the ticket after I buy it?
• Can I schedule my ticket to be activated later?
• Is there a night fair price?
• Can I buy more than one ticket on my phone?
• What information does the ticket show?
• Where can I find my purchased ticket in the App?
• Can I use the ticket on different buses?
• What do I do if my tickets expire during the bus ride? 
• What do I do if I go beyond the ticket coverage area?
• Do I have to take a numbered ticket when getting on the bus?  

What type of tickets can I purchase via Whim?

With Whim, you can buy a 3-hour ticket costing 300 yen. The ticket is valid for 3 hours from the time of purchase.

Can I cancel the ticket after I buy it?

Unfortunately, you cannot cancel the ticket once you have bought it nor can the ticket be refunded. In addition, please note that refunds cannot be made for delays due to traffic congestion. 

Only in exceptional scenarios, it may be refunded when the service is canceled due to e.g., a natural disaster.

Can I schedule my ticket to be activated later?

Unfortunately no. The ticket is issued and activated immediately upon purchase.

Is there a night fair price?

Yes. From around 23:15 a late night fare applies. Please pay 50% of the regular late-night fare price, payable in cash/IC card on the bus, in addition to the 300 yen ticket in Whim.

What information does the ticket show?

On the Tobu bus ticket, you will be able to see the following:

• Main view
  • The price
  • Expiration date and time
• Instruction section:
  • How to use the ticket
• Detailed information section:
  • Date & time of issue
  • Ticket number and type

Can I buy more than one ticket on my phone?

No. You can only purchase one adult ticket per smartphone.

Where can I find my purchased ticket in the App?

You will be able to find the bought ticket in the Active Tickets menu on Whim Home View. From there, you can use it from the time of purchase until the specified expiration time. 

Even if you board the bus within a valid period, the ticket cannot be used if it has expired by the time you get off the bus. Please pay the fare from the boarding station with cash, IC card or buy another ticket in Whim.

Can I use the ticket on different buses?

Yes, you can. You can get on and off the bus as often as you like within the ticket's 3 hour-validity. Remember to always get a new boarding location ticket when entering a new bus.

When you’re ready to continue the journey, get on a bus, get another boarding location ticket and keep it until exiting the bus.

What do I do if my tickets expire during the bus ride? 

In this case, you will need to buy a new ticket with Whim, or alternatively, you can pay in cash or with Suica/Pasmo. 

What do I do if I go beyond the ticket coverage area?

If you ride beyond the coverage area, please pay the one-way fare from the last stop in the area to the final stop outside the section. 

Do I have to take a numbered ticket when getting on the bus?  

Yes, please take a numbered ticket when you get on the bus. However, the bus doesn’t issue a numbered ticket at the starting station.

For more guidance on how to use the buses, kindly read directly from Tobu bus Q&A Here