You can just pay ¥5000 for a one-way fare between Tokyo and Nagoya, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Kobe (or ¥4800 for the "Casual Twinkle" service between Tokyo Shinjuku and Osaka, and the "Flying Sneaker" service between Tokyo Station and Kyoto, Osaka).

Do you know the cheapest buses in Japan to getting around?

Yes, the lowest overnight bus operates between Tokyo and Toyama, Kanazawa, Nagoya, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe, and between Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima since December 2001.

The JR bus company "Seishun Dream" services offer you a one-way fare it is just ¥5000 (a round-trip discount fare is not available due to a discount service).

In addition, three discount services operate by private companies.

The Kintetsu Bus company operates three Tokyo services, the "Casual Twinkle" service since March 2002, the "Flying Sneaker Osaka" service from March 2004 and the "Flying Sneaker Kyoto Ibaraki" service from March 2005. The one-way fare is ¥4800 (a round-trip discount fare is not available due to a discount service).

The Chiba Chuo Bus company operates the "Kyoto" bus service since Jaunary 2006. The one-way fare is ¥5500 and the round-trip fare is ¥10000 from Chiba Chuo Station to Nishi Funabashi Station, and the one-way fare is ¥5000 and the round-trip fare is ¥9500 from Keisei Ueno Station.

The Tohoku Express Bus company operates the Sendai "New Star" service from December 2006. The one-way fare is ¥3900 (a round-trip discount fare is not available due to a discount service).

These buses are 10 rows of 2+2 pair seats with separated by an aisle (38 ~ 42 seats) or
use double-decker buses (52~56 seats) for some services of the "Seishun Dream" between Tokyo, Shinjuku and Kansai and the "Casual Twinkle" service, a blanket and a toilet and is also available.

Reservations are usually fully booked. Why are these buses so popular? Because you'll be able to travel to these cities only ¥5000 one-way (the Kintetsu Bus operated routes are ¥4800). Besides, you'll be able to make a return-trip to these cities within ¥10000 (the Kintetsu Bus operated routes are ¥9600). You can't return under ¥10000 by any other kind of transport.

The cost for a round-trip bus ticket is almost the same as a discount fare of domestic flights (depending on seasonal rates.) By the way, the usual one-way fare of normal services from Tokyo to Sendai is ¥6210, to Nagoya is ¥6420, to Toyama is ¥7340, to Kanazawa is ¥7840, to Kyoto is ¥8180, to Nara is ¥8400, to Osaka is ¥8610 and to Kobe is ¥8690.

Try them once!

Note: You should reserve these buses a month before your departure.
You can buy tickets from the following places:

For the "Seishun Dream" services at major JR Station's "Midori no madoguchi" or ticket windows, JR Bus ticket centers are located at Tokyo Station, Shinjuku Station, Nagoya Station, Kyoto Station, Osaka Station and Sannomiya Station, Nanba OCAT Bus Terminal in Osaka; some convenience stores at Family Mart, Lawson and Circle K Sunkus have ticket machines installed.

For the "Casual Twinkle" service at Shinjuku Express Bus Terminal in Tokyo, Nanba OCAT Bus Terminal in Osaka, travel information centers are located at major Kintetsu stations; some convenience stores at Family Mart, Lawson and Circle K Sunkus have ticket machines installed.

For the "Flying Sneaker" services at Nanba OCAT Bus Terminal in Osaka, travel information centers are located at major Kintetsu stations; some convenience stores at Family Mart, Lawson and Circle K Sunkus have ticket machines installed.

For the "Kyoto" service at Keisei Travel Service, Keihan Bus info offices are located at Hotel Keihan Kyoto (in front of Kyoto Station Hachijo Shinkansen Entrance) and Keihan Sanjo Station, some convenience stores at Family Mart, Lawson and Circle K Sunkus have ticket machines installed.

For the "New Star" service at Tohoku Express Bus Sendai office is located near Sendai Station, some convenience stores at Family Mart, Lawson and Circle K Sunkus have ticket machines installed.

In addition, reservations are accepted by telephone.

for the "Seishun Dream" services between Tokyo, Shinjuku and Toyama, Kanazawa, Kansai, call the JR Bus Kanto company 03-3844-0495 open 10am to 6pm, and Nishinihon JR Bus 076-234-0111 for the "Seishun Dream Kanzawa" service, and 06-6371-0555 for the Tokyo, Shinjuku and Kansai services open 8am to 9pm,

for the "Seishun Dream Nagoya" service, call the JR Tokai Bus company 052-563-0489 open 9am to 7pm,
for the "Casual Twinkle" service, call the Keio Bus company 03-5376-2222 open 9am to 8pm, and Kintetsu Bus 06-6772-1631 open 9am to 7pm,
for the "Flying Sneaker" services, call the Tohoku Express Bus company 03-3529-0321 open 9:30am to 7pm, and Kintetsu Bus 06-6772-1631 open 9am to 7pm,

for the "Kyoto" service, call the Chiba Chuo Bus company 047-432-1891 open 9am to 7pm (until 6pm on Sundays and Public Holidays), and Keihan Bus 075-661-8200 open 9am to 7pm and

For the "New Star" service, call the Tohoku Express Bus company 03-3529-0321 open 9:30am to 7pm.

For the "Seishun Dream Hiroshima" service, call the Nishinihon JR Bus company 06-6371-0111 open 8am to 9pm, and Chugoku JR Bus 082-261-5489 open 9:30am to 6pm.