Bus Japán
Traveling by bus in Japán 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 Japán cities it is easy to reach the majority of the most popular destinations within the country in a day.Table Of Contents
Intercity buses in Japán
In Japán intercity buses are available on more than 287 travel combinations, while traveling with an average speed of 59 km/h. Of course, intercity bus routes via highway have a higher average speed. The majority of the Japán 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 Tokió - Kyoto or Kyoto - Tokió 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 287 domestic intercity bus travel combinations in Japán. Below you will find some of the most popular Japán travel routes with minimal or no stops along the way:
Airport buses in Japán
If you are flying to Japán you will land in one of 28 airports located throughout the country. From the majority of Japán 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 (Repülőtér)
Fukuoka (Repülőtér)
New Chitose (Repülőtér)
Naha (Repülőtér)
Kagoshima (Repülőtér)
Sendai (Repülőtér)
Kumamoto (Repülőtér)
Nagasaki (Repülőtér)
Hiroshima (Repülőtér)
Domestic airports:
Osaka (Repülőtér)
Kobe (Repülőtér)
Oita (Repülőtér)
Matsuyama (Repülőtér)
Miyako (Repülőtér)
Kochi Ryoma (Repülőtér)
Asahikawa (Repülőtér)
Tokushima (Repülőtér)
Izumo (Repülőtér)
Bus companies in Japán
There are over 89 bus companies operating in Japán. 72 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 Nagano and Tokió.72 intercity bus companies operating in Japán are very different in size. The largest Japán company Shinkansen JR Central connects more than 30 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 Japán. Full list of bus companies in Japán can be found here.
Bus stations in Japán
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 Japán there is a total of 153 bus stations, below we have listed 6 of the most popular bus stations, for a full list of bus stations in Japán click here.
Hire a coach in Japán
Japán 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 Japán. 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 Japán:
Sugizaki Kanko
Kintetsu Bus
New Prince Highway Bus
Kintetsu Bus ZKN16
Public transportation in Japán
In the majority of larger Japán cities, public transportation is available, in the cities like Tokió 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 Japán 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