Japan by bus

Traveling by bus in Japan is definitely one of the safest and cheapest ways of traveling while ensuring at the same time that you don't miss out on the beautiful natural landscapes around the country. Thanks to the well connected bus network between Japan cities it is easy to reach the majority of the most popular destinations within the country in a day.

Intercity buses in Japan

In Japan intercity buses are available on more than 245 travel combinations, while traveling with an average speed of 57 km/h. Of course, intercity bus routes via highway have a higher average speed. The majority of the Japan intercity buses are comfortable long distance coaches, but older vehicles might be used on busier travel days.

The timetable for popular intercity bus routes like Kyoto - Tokyo or Tokyo - Kyoto can be found online, but for some shorter intercity bus routes you might have to go to the bus station. Tickets are sold both online and on the spot, but after the COVID-19 pandemic an increasing number of travellers prefer buying their tickets online.

Domestic routes

As mentioned above there are more than 245 domestic intercity bus travel combinations in Japan. Below you will find some of the most popular Japan travel routes with minimal or no stops along the way:

Travel Osaka - Hiroshima

Travel Hiroshima - Osaka

Travel Yokohama - Kyoto

Travel Yokohama - Osaka

Travel FujiQ Highland - Tokyo

Travel Tokyo - Nagano

Travel Kyoto - Fuji

Travel Nagoya - Kyoto

Travel Nagoya - Tokyo

Travel Hiroshima - Fukuoka

Travel Fukuoka - Kyoto

Airport buses in Japan

If you are flying to Japan you will land in one of 28 airports located throughout the country. From the majority of Japan airports you have a bus shuttle to the nearest largest city and in some cases even intercity buses to other cities in the region. Click on the airport name below and read more about getting to and from the airport.

International airports:

Haneda (Airport)

Fukuoka (Airport)

New Chitose (Airport)

Naha (Airport)

Kagoshima (Airport)

Sendai (Airport)

Kumamoto (Airport)

Nagasaki (Airport)

Hiroshima (Airport)

Domestic airports:

Osaka (Airport)

Kobe (Airport)

Oita (Airport)

Matsuyama (Airport)

Miyako (Airport)

Kochi Ryoma (Airport)

Asahikawa (Airport)

Tokushima (Airport)

Izumo (Airport)

Bus companies in Japan

There are over 93 bus companies operating in Japan. 76 companies offer intercity bus lines, 5 companies drive airport shuttles, 0 companies operate regional and local lines, 4 bus companies offer bus rental and 0 companies offer bus tours. The bus companies are located in 19 cities throughout the country. The majority of companies can be found in Tokyo and Nagano.

76 intercity bus companies operating in Japan are very different in size. The largest Japan company Shinkansen JR Central connects more than 28 cities, whereas the smallest intercity bus company Skyliner and Tokyo Subway only has service to 1 cities.

Below we have listed some of the most popular bus companies in Japan. Full list of bus companies in Japan can be found here.

Bus stations in Japan

In most cities there is a dedicated bus station, in smaller cities the bus station might be a parking lot with a shelter or a section on the road marked for multiple buses. In some cities buses also stop at public road bus stops or at gas stations and hotel parking lots. In larger cities you will find bus stations with amenities like toilets, luggage storage, kiosks, fast food restaurants and other useful services for travellers. In Japan there is a total of 154 bus stations, below we have listed 6 of the most popular bus stations, for a full list of bus stations in Japan click here.

Kyoto

Nagoya

Hiroshima

Fukuoka

Yokohama

Kobe

Hire a coach in Japan

Japan bus rental companies offer coaches for any kind of group trip, whether it’s a transfer from the airport to your hotel, or single and multi day excursions to the many sights in Japan. Rest assured you will be able to find a suitable partner. If you are travelling during the high season, it is advisable to book your bus in advance to secure one of the best vehicles for your group.
Here you can see a list of some companies offering bus rental in Japan:

Sugizaki Kanko
Kintetsu Bus
New Prince Highway Bus
Kintetsu Bus ZKN16

Public transportation in Japan

In the majority of larger Japan cities, public transportation is available, in the cities like Tokyo or Himeji you have an extensive network of buses connecting all suburbs to the centre of the town.

Buying tickets for public transportation varies from city to city, sometimes they are bought at dedicated sales points and other times they are bought on the bus for example, so be sure to check which options are available for the city you are travelling in.

Here is a list of some Japan companies operating both local and suburban bus lines.

Shinki Bus
Shimotsui Dentetsu
Seibu Bus
Sugisaki Kanko Bus SS2
Tohoku express bus ZTH5
Kirakira Bus
Sanei Kotsu

FAQ about buses in Japan

Generally speaking, bus travel in Japan is one of the safest forms of transportation. Therefore, you can just sit and relax and enjoy the scenery while the drivers are making sure your bus travel goes as planned.

You have many ways of purchasing the bus ticket for your journey. One of the quickest ways is to book your ticket in advance online. However, if you don’t want to use your credit card for the bus ticket purchase, you can also buy the bus ticket at the bus station or directly on the bus (provided that there are seats left).

In order to check what documents you need to bring with you when traveling throughout Japan, it is best to check the websites of the competent authorities prior to your travel given the fact that different rules apply depending on your citizenship.

Normally, the luggage storage is charged extra, directly on the bus. Before you board the bus, you will get a receipt for each piece of luggage that you put down into the luggage compartment and you will be charged an extra amount that can vary depending on the carrier.

Unfortunately, the general answer is no as the majority of bus companies that operate departures in Japan do not allow pets on board. However, you can always contact the carrier directly prior to your journey or check if there is a PET icon next to their departure on our website which would typically mark the ones that do allow you to carry your pet with you on the journey.

To check the rules that apply to journeys in Japan as far as the COVID-19 restrictions are concerned, we advise you to check the website of the Ministry of Health of Japan. You should find all the necessary information there, and if you are unable to do it on your own, you can always contact them via email address provided on the website.

It is unfortunately not possible to give a specific answer to that question, since it all depends on the carrier you’re traveling with and the bus that will operate the route on the day of your departure. Even though the majority of the bus fleet in Japan is of a newer generation, there are still some vehicles which are not equipped with all the necessary amenities.

Endless ways to travel

Japan by bus

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