Sushi Bus starts running in Japan, but is it a tourist trap or tourist must-do?

We take a trip on the world’s first conveyor belt sushi bus…and it’s like nothing we’ve ever seen before.

Sushi and sightseeing tend to be at the top of the must-do list for many visitors to Japan, so what if you could combine the two and enjoy them at the same time? Well, now you can, thanks to the arrival of the Sushi Bus , a new two-decker restaurant bus that takes you on a tour around Tokyo while a conveyor belt filled with plates of sushi runs around the tables. ▼ In case you’re wondering, IBS Coach stands for International Business Solutions , not Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Billed as the first bus in the world to have a sushi conveyor belt , there’s been a lot of buzz about the Sushi Bus, but does it live up to the hype? We stepped on board for a ride before tickets went on sale to find out if it was a tourist trap or a tourist must-do.

The first thing you’ll notice about the bus is its eye-catching exterior, with the entire vehicle wrapped in a giant image of two bright red tuna sushi pieces , which are said to be 12 metres (39 feet) long and 4 metres high.

The bus is dubbed “ Maguro-go ” (“ Tuna Vehicle “), with plans to introduce more buses to create a fleet from next year, and it’s a beautiful design that’ll make you feel like you’re entering a new world of sushi when you step on board.

Though the welcome sign is in English, the Sushi Bus caters to locals as well as international tourists – 70-percent of bookings in the first five days were made by Japanese people – and staff speak both English and Japanese. ▼ After making your way up a short flight of stairs, you’ll be surprised by the interior, which is like no other bus on the streets.

Running around the entire bus is a long conveyor belt, with lanterns giving the space a very Japanese vibe.

There are a variety of seating options on board the 20-seater bus, from two premium single seats at the very front … ▼ …through to a table for three… ▼…and tables for four… ▼ … and two. ▼ Every seat comes with seatbelts, which passengers are asked to wear while the bus is in operation.

As for the tables, they’re beautifully designed, at just the right height for eating, and with places in the centre console for holding the soy sauce bottle and your drinks.

Every passenger gets a free drink, with some of the choices being soft drinks, green tea, and beer.

The bus has an open-air rooftop, which gives you a fantastic view of the buildings as you glide through the streets.

In inclement weather, the top closes up but it’s transparent so you can still see the Tokyo skyline.

Each tour lasts approximately 70 minutes, and takes you past some of the top spots around the city, including Tokyo Station … ▼ … Tokyo Tower … ▼ … the Imperial Palace … ▼…and the towering buildings of Ginza .