Bus Terminals in Tokyo Explained!

Bus terminals in Tokyo are large and the directions are confusing and difficult to understand. It’s easy to get lost and end up arriving just in time for the bus…it happens a lot.

But don’t worry! In this article, we’ll give you the lowdown on four of Tokyo’s most popular bus terminals, how to get there and their facilities!

For those of you who don’t use the bus terminals often, we’ll be explaining them in detail so you can get the most out of your trip!

Shinjuku Bus Terminal

Shinjuku Bus Terminal, one of the most popular bus terminals in Tokyo, is directly connected to Shinjuku Station from the new south ticket gate, or directly in front of the station if you take the south exit.

Getting There (from the new south ticket gate)

③Follow the direction of the arrow to the escalator and ascend the escalator to reach Shinjuku Bus Terminal.

Next, we will show you the facilities at Shinjuku Bus Terminal!

Shinjuku Bus Terminal is divided between floors 2-4, with the 4th floor being the main area for bus stops, ticket purchases, and waiting rooms.

The main area on the 4th floor

On the fourth floor:

　　①Convenience Store

　　②Souvenir Shop

　　③ATM

　　④Ticket Machine, Ticket Office

　　⑤Information Desk

　　⑥Coin Lockers

　　⑦Nursing Room, Multi-functional Toilet

　　⑧Bus Stops

*Taken from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal

Let’s take a look at them one by one.　

【Coin Locker Price List】 Payment Method: Cash, IC Card

The Express Bus stops are divided into sections A to D, and from there they are further divided into “A1”, “A2” etc.

It is very easy to make a mistake, so please be careful. We recommend that you check the screen above the ticket office, which shows you which stop number to get on at for each bus destination.

If you have any further questions, please ask at the information desk.

On the third floor, there is a bus drop-off point, a taxi rank, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Tourist Information Centre.

The Tokyo Tourist Information Centre is a place where tourists visiting Tokyo from home and abroad can receive information about the city’s tourist attractions and get their hands on travel magazines.

The Tokyo Tourist Information Centre also has a Sagawa Express baggage storage centre, so you can make same-day deliveries to hotels and airports, or leave your baggage at the centre and tour Tokyo luggage-free. They also offer foreign currency exchange and ticket sales services.

On the second floor, there are cafes such as the DEAN & DELUCA CAFÉ and the TORAYA CAFÉ-AN STAND, as well as the Shinjuku Station New South Exit ticket gate, which can be used to transfer to the JR Line.

There are also coin lockers in front of the ticket gates, which are very convenient.

The 2nd floor is also directly connected to Shinjuku Takashimaya department store and Shinjuku Milliner Tower, in addition to Shinjuku Bus Terminal.

Official website: http://shinjuku-busterminal.co.jp/en/

Ikebukuro Sunshine Bus Terminal

Ikebukuro Sunshine Bus Terminal is located near Ikebukuro Sunshine City. Please note that it is a 15-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station, which is a little further away.

It is only a 5-minute walk from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station on the Yurakucho Subway Line, so we recommend taking this route.

Getting There (from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station)

Next, we would like to introduce you to the facilities at the Ikebukuro Sunshine Bus Terminal!

Ikebukuro Sunshine Bus Terminal is located on the bridge of Sunshine City. If you are coming directly from Sunshine City, please enter using the “Bunka Kaikan Building”.

There are no souvenir shops, convenience stores, or restaurants in the bus terminal, so it is better to finish your shopping in Sunshine City before coming.

Inside the bus terminal is:

①Waiting Room

②Toilet, Priority Toilet

③Coin Lockers

④Vending Machines

⑤Parking Reception

⑥Disaster Prevention Centre

Let’s look at these one by one.

*Coin lockers are cash only

Official website: https://sunshinecity.jp/en/information/access.html#anc_06

Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit Bus Terminal

The Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit Bus Terminal is located just outside the Yaesu South Exit ticket gate.

Just walk straight out of the ticket gate and you’ll find it.

The bus terminal looks like this.

Conveniently, there is a waiting room with a convenience store and coin lockers right next to the boarding area.

There is a convenience store, coin lockers, toilets, ticket office, and information counter.

There is a McDonald’s and Starbucks near the bus station, as well as a food court called Tokyo Ramen Street where you can eat ramen from all over Japan.

Official website: http://www.jrbuskanto.co.jp.e.wn.hp.transer.com/

Tokyo Station Kajibashi Parking Lot

The Yaesu South Exit Bus Terminal is mainly used as a stop for express buses, but the Tokyo Station Kajibashi parking lot is also used by a variety of bus companies for their services.

Kajibashi is a 3 minute walk from the Yaesu South Exit Bus Terminal.

Getting There (from Yaesu South Exit Bus Terminal)

Inside the bus terminal there is a waiting room with toilets and coin lockers. There’s also free Wi-Fi access so you can work on your computer!

【Coin Locker Price List】*Cash only

Address: 3-8 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan

Conclusion

What did you think? 

We have gone through the main bus terminals in Tokyo! Some of you may be surprised to find those bus terminals are not only that but also include various other facilities. This time, we went through some of the most popular bus terminals, but there are many more bus terminals in Tokyo. If you are interested in finding out more, please check them out too.

Why don’t you take this opportunity to travel by bus?

If you are looking to book an express bus, night bus or bus tour: