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[Bus Rec] No boredom on the bus! Fun activities and games to liven things up
There are times when you might charter a bus for a company event or enjoy a day trip by chartered bus for a neighborhood event or bus tour.
For those looking for something fun to do while traveling on the bus, this article introduces games and activities you can enjoy right on the bus.
These days, many buses are well-equipped so you can have fun without preparing anything, but we’ll also introduce options that require just a little preparation or no equipment at all.
Most of the activities are suitable for a wide range of ages, so everyone from children to seniors can enjoy them!
[Bus Rec] Never Get Bored on the Bus! Fun Games and Activities (1–10)
Personality test
You may not know whether they’re true or not, but they’re a lot of fun—how about livening things up with some personality tests? The content can vary depending on the bus trip group and age range.
Romance-themed quizzes or ones that ask what you prioritize in life also tend to get people excited.
Unlike fortune-telling, personality tests are a way to check your subconscious and discover sides of yourself you didn’t know.
The surprising results can be great conversation starters and will surely energize the atmosphere on the bus.
Who am I? game
It’s a simple game where various hints are given, and you think from there about what the answer might be.
Since the game progresses using only words, you can enjoy it even in a small space without any problems.
If the questioner prepares the answer and hints in advance, it should run smoothly.
It also seems like it would be exciting to rotate the role of questioner so everyone present can participate.
In that case, it might be fun to have people around ask questions, and the questioner provides hints by responding to them.
restricted shiritori
Shiritori is a classic bus trip activity—a game that kids and adults can both enjoy.
It’s perfect for killing time and easy to play since you don’t need any tools, but people often get bored quickly or lose steam partway through.
If you raise the difficulty a bit and add some variety, though, the game suddenly becomes much more fun and turns into a lively group activity.
Instead of regular shiritori, add constraints.
For example: shiritori using only animal names, only food names, or song titles.
You can also limit word length, like a three-letter-only shiritori.
It’s a small tweak, but it turns the game into a brain workout.
Balloon Bomb Game
Let me introduce a “Balloon Bomb Game” using balloons.
Inflate a balloon and stick lots of pieces of cellophane tape all over its surface—some short, some long, placed at random.
Then pass the balloon around, and each person takes turns peeling off one piece of tape.
When the balloon pops, the game ends right there.
If you prepare a fun penalty for the person who pops it, the excitement ramps up.
All you need are balloons and cellophane tape, so it’s easy to bring along on a bus without taking up space—another plus.
Intro Quiz
When it comes to classic bus-ride games that are sure to liven things up, you can’t go wrong with “Intro Quiz.” It takes a bit of preparation, but you play just the intro of a song and have everyone guess the title.
It’s most exciting if you pick songs everyone knows, but on trips with mixed age groups you can also enjoy the generation gap—like younger people recognizing old hits or older folks nailing the latest tracks.
Have people raise their hands and answer as soon as they know it!
Bingo game
Isn’t bingo a classic for bus activities? Many tour buses these days have monitors with built-in bingo functions, making it easy to enjoy.
Even if it’s not the latest model, you can use smartphone apps as a substitute for a bingo machine.
Bingo cards are also sold at 100-yen shops.
The best part of bingo is, of course, the prizes.
Items related to the trip work well, and it would also be appreciated to hand them out after the bus returns, at the end of the journey.
Karaoke Contest
When it comes to bus activities, karaoke is a must for many people of a certain generation.
You can picture the classic scenes unique to bus trips: some people singing their favorite songs, others listening, some too busy chatting to pay much attention, and others snacking away.
There are all kinds of ways to enjoy it—clapping along, singing with a handheld karaoke mic, and more.
These days, many tour buses even come equipped with karaoke systems.
Handheld karaoke devices have also evolved, becoming smaller and more affordable, so give them a try.