An unusual tourist attraction is being developed in Japan — a double-decker bus equipped with a real conveyor belt for sushi. The project, called SUSHI BUS, is expected to start operating in Tokyo this fall. Kursiv LifeStyle takes a look at how this unusual sushi restaurant on wheels works — and how Almaty once beat Tokyo to the concept.
The idea behind SUSHI BUS is straightforward: passengers climb to the upper deck and sit at tables with a sushi conveyor belt running alongside them as the bus drives through Tokyo, passing some of the city’s popular sights.
SUSHI BUS operates much like a typical restaurant. Sushi is prepared in the kitchen on the lower deck, then a special elevator delivers the dishes to the upper deck. There, a staff member places them on the moving conveyor belt, where passengers can pick the sushi they like.
🍣 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱'𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶 𝗕𝘂𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗧𝗼𝗸𝘆𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬
— Gen AI Spotlight (@GenAISpotlight) August 21, 2026
Kitchen downstairs, elevator up, belt glides nigiri past 20 seats on an open-air top deck.
70 minutes, all-you-can-eat, circling… pic.twitter.com/4qOkexlV1a
A ride will last around 70 minutes, with unlimited sushi served throughout. The bus will depart from the Kajibashi Parking Lot near Tokyo Station. The route will not have a specific final destination, as the creators consider the ride itself part of the entertainment.
The project is primarily aimed at foreign tourists. The idea is to combine two experiences in one: exploring the city and enjoying Japanese cuisine.
The team spent around two and a half years developing SUSHI BUS. One of the main challenges was the conveyor belt itself. No one had previously attempted to install a working sushi conveyor belt inside a moving bus.
The company plans to launch the service with a single 20-seat bus. In the future, SUSHI BUS is expected to expand to other tourist destinations in Japan, including Kyoto and Osaka.
Almaty once had a similar attraction. The city hosted an experimental «restaurant on wheels» — a tram café. Launched in 2012, it took passengers through Almaty in the evening while waiters served food and drinks on board. The café had room for around 25 people, making the ride itself part of the evening experience. Almaty Tram Café operated for about three and a half years before closing in late 2015, after the city’s tram service was discontinued.
Previously, Kursiv LifeStyle reported that Kazakhstan’s first water-filled restaurant, featuring «floating» tables, opened in Shymkent.
