Joining a tour was far cheaper and easier than going on my own.
You can go without a bus tour. It’s usually not crowded, so same-day booking after arriving at Changi Airport should be fine.
There’s a nearby bus stop. It’s the yellow-green bus.
I said I was with a Singaporean family, so I used the bus tour. It was comfortable with seats both ways.
There were about 30 participants this time.
Every bus tour I’ve joined so far has only had Singaporeans besides me. No other foreigners.
Participation Fee (Includes Bus Fare)
Foreign nationals: $6 per person Singaporeans & Permanent Residents: $2 per person
I visited the Japanese Naval Academy (Officer Candidate School Building, formerly the Naval Academy Cadet Hall) in 2023 (located on Etajima Island in Hiroshima. Overnight stay recommended. See the article below).
My family, who served in the Singapore Army, and I visited the Singapore Naval Museum this time.
SG-man
I’m a Singaporean man, so I completed my military service starting at age 18. I was in the Army. I don’t know anyone in the Navy or Air Force. By the way, I graduated from NUS. All my NUS friends were in the Army too. I remember seeing a Singaporean interviewed in Japanese media saying, “The smart ones go into the Air Force,” but we never heard that story. Maybe that’s true for people who did their service recently.
【Bus Tour Schedule】 8:45 AM Assemble (Check-in & guide arrived at 8:44) 8:50 AM Bus departs. Guide speaks English & Chinese conversationally 9:30 AM Arrive at Singapore Naval Museum 9:45 AM Group photo, then free time begins… Supposed to be free time, but several times staff in their 60s called us to “gather for an explanation” 11:00 AM: Supposed to meet outside, but the bus hasn’t arrived 11:30 AM: Bus arrives. Guide calls out to everyone 12:00 PM: Free time at Changi Village 1:00 PM: Supposed to meet at the bus, but it’s not there. Guide gestures that the meeting spot has changed suddenly. Followed other participants walking in a different direction. Best to remember what the other participants look like. 1:10 PM: Bus departs. Return journey
This isn’t a monthly bus tour. It’s irregular. I happened to sign up because there was an opening this week.
Participants included kindergarteners, parents with babies, and groups of seniors.
The bus is one used by the Japanese school.
The bus had weak air conditioning, and throughout the hour-long round trip, a mysterious “beep-beep” alert sound kept going off.
Unlike Japanese buses, the curtains were thin and didn’t block much sunlight.
Do Japanese elementary school kids really ride buses like this every day…?
【Personality】 Born in the island nation of Japan. living in Singapore.
【Master's Degree】 Intellectual Property
【Qualifications】 Intellectual Property Analyst (Contents), Intellectual Property Management Skills Test Level 2, etc.
【Research interests】 Student conducting fieldwork in folklore in Japan and abroad.
SG-man
