Highway express buses can be a cheap option if you are traveling long distances in Japan. For really long journeys there are also night buses. Of course, if you can sleep on the journey, this will save you both time and the cost of one night’s stay at a hotel. However, if you are a light sleeper and find the bus seat uncomfortable, then you won’t be able to sleep and will arrive tired at your destination.
A JR Highway Bus
There are a variety of companies offering highway express bus services from Kyoto Station. Two useful places for in-person enquiries and ticketing are the JR Highway Bus Ticket Center beside the JR bus stops just outside Kyoto Station’s Central/Karasuma exit, and the Keihan Bus Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit Information Center on the 1st floor of Hotel Keihan Kyoto Grande on the south side of the station.
The Bus Ticket Center in front of Kyoto Station’s north exit
JR Bus
You can get information about JR Bus directly from the JR Highway Bus Ticket Center in front of Kyoto Station’s north exit. JR highway bus services from Kyoto cover major long-distance corridors such as Tokyo and Tokyo Disneyland, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kanazawa and Toyama, and Shikoku destinations including Tokushima, Takamatsu, Matsuyama and Kochi. Routes, stopping points and operators vary by date, so use the JR highway bus timetable or Japan Expressway Bus Net for the exact service, fare and boarding stop before you travel. Most JR Buses depart from the north side of Kyoto Station.
Keihan Bus
Keihan Bus handles highway bus enquiries and ticketing at the Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit Information Center on the 1st floor of Hotel Keihan Kyoto Grande, on the south side of Kyoto Station. Keihan Bus and partner services from Kyoto cover routes such as Arima Onsen, Koyasan, Kobe-Sanda, Kansai Airport and Wakayama, Yokkaichi, Hamamatsu and Nagashima Onsen, Tokushima, Takamatsu, Matsuyama and Yawatahama, Yonago, Okayama, Tokyo Disney Resort and Chiba, Fujisawa and Kamakura, and seasonal routes toward Nagano and Niigata-area destinations. Service patterns, seasonal routes and suspensions change, so check the official Keihan Bus route page before planning around a specific destination. Bus prices vary by the date of travel, so to find the best deal you will have to check with both JR Bus and Keihan Bus to see which is more economical at that time. Keihan buses depart from the north and south of Kyoto Station, so it is a good idea to check the departure point in advance.
Keihan Bus ticket office
Willer Express Bus
Of the many companies offering highway express bus services, Willer Travel has an English website for highway bus searches and reservations. It is not the only online option: Japan Expressway Bus Net also has an English interface for JR-affiliated highway bus routes, and individual operators may provide their own booking links. Willer Express are a reputable company and their buses are quite comfortable. They have bus stops on the south side of Kyoto Station, and at other locations in the city. Willer Express bus services from Kyoto can include destinations such as Yokohama, Tokyo and Tokyo Disneyland in eastern Japan, Niigata in the north, Hiroshima in the west, Matsuyama on the island of Shikoku, and Kokura and Hakata on the island of Kyushu. Check your travel date and boarding stop carefully when you book.
A Willer Express bus stop at Kyoto Station
Willer Travel Bus Passes
Willer Travel sometimes lists bus pass or regional pass products on its English site. Pass availability, coverage and prices change, so check the Willer Travel website before planning several journeys around a pass. If a pass is available for your route, read the conditions carefully before buying, including eligible passengers, travel period, seat rules and reservation procedure.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 24-Jun-2026.
