Japanese Overnight Buses

Express buses in Kyushu

Part2: Discontinued bus models in Kyushu

Here are discontinued special designed buses of both daytime and overnight services on Kyushu Island.

[Fukuoka Prefecture] [Saga Prefecture] [Nagasaki Prefecture] [Kumamoto Prefecture] [Oita Prefecture] [Miyazaki Prefecture] [Kagoshima Prefecture] [JR Kyushu Bus]

Fukuoka Prefecture

Nishi Nippon Railroad (The Nishitetsu Group)
Overnight services
Past "Hakata" design
The "Hakata" or the color white design buses used for the Fukuoka ‹–› Tokyo "Hakata" service, but after 2003, the used the same "Hakata" design, on all their overnight routes.
The "Hakata" service
The "Hakata" executive vehicles were used at the beginning and were equipped with 23 passenger seats and a salon room in the rear.
The Fukuoka ‹–› Nagoya "Zondag" service
This design was same as the "Hakata" service.
Past "Moon Light" design
The "Moon Light" design was commonly used on their coaches for most overnight operations, but after 2003, the used the same "Hakata" design, on many their routes.
The Fukuoka ‹–› Nara "Yamato" service (Withdrawn)
They withdrew this route in March 2000.
The Fukuoka ‹–› Kochi "Harimaya" service (Withdrawn)
This bus was specially designed for this route. However, it was replaced by the "Moon Light" design and finally Nishitetsu withdrew this route in June 1999.
Daytime services
The company also used different designs on their coaches for each route, but after 1997, the used the same bird of fire design, on all routes.
Past Super High-decker buses
The Fukuoka ‹–› Hiroshima "Million" service (Withdrawn)
This design was similar to the "Moon Light". The route was withdrawn in June 1993. However, it was revived by JR Bus in May 2002.
The Fukuoka ‹–› Miyazaki "Phoenix" service
These buses were used at the beginning of the route operation. And the special "Phoenix" design was commonly used for four operators, the Nishi Nippon Railroad company (see the photo), Kyushu Industrial Transport (now: Kyushu Sanko Bus), Miyazaki Kotsu, and JR Kyushu Bus until recently.
New models were also repainted with the bird of fire design.
The Fukuoka ‹–› Kagoshima "Sakurajima" service
These vehicles were used at the beginning of the route operation. However, they were replaced by new models in 1995.
Past High-decker buses
The Fukuoka ‹–› Oita "Toyonokuni" service
The special "Toyonokuni" design was commonly used for five operators, the Nishi Nippon Railroad company (see the photo), Oita Bus, Oita Kotsu, Kamenoi Bus, and Hita Bus until recently.
The Fukuoka ‹–› Kumamoto "Hinokuni" service
The service has been operating since 1973 and is a model of Japanese express buses today. The special "Hinokuni" design was commonly used with their co-operator the Kyushu Industrial Transport company (now: Kyushu Sanko Bus) until recently.
The Kitakyushu ‹–› Kumamoto "Ginnan" service (Withdrawn)
The special "Ginnan" design was commonly used with their co-operator the Kyushu Industrial Transport company (now: Kyushu Sanko Bus) at the beginning of route operation. However, it was replaced by the "bird of fire" design and finally Nishitetsu withdrew this route in March 2010.
The Fukuoka ‹–› Huis Ten Bosch "Huis Ten Bosch" service (Withdrawn)
This bus was specially designed for this route and symbolized Huis Ten Bosch. The route was withdrawn in March 2002.
The "Fukuhoku Line" design was used on the Fukuoka ‹–› Kitakyushu route until recently.

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Kyushu Kyuko Bus

These buses were replaced by new models and some of them were taken on by the Nagasaki Kenei Bus company, Saihi Bus, Oita Bus, Kamenoi Bus, and Hita Bus.

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Saga Prefecture

Showa Bus
Overnight services (Withdrawn)
The Showa Bus company operated two Osaka routes, from Saga, Karatsu and Fukuoka. However, these routes were withdrawn in 1993 and 1992 respectively.
Daytime services
The Fukuoka ‹–› Imari "Imari" service
The special "Imari" design was commonly used with their co-operator the Nishi Nippon Railroad company until recently. Presently, the Showa Bus company is solely operated this service.

Yutoku Bus
This company had completely withdrawn from all routes by September 2002.

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Nagasaki Prefecture

Nagasaki Bus
Overnight services
These models were replaced by new models.
The Nagasaki ‹–› Osaka "Holland" service
The special "Holland" design was commonly used with their co-operator the Kinki Nippon Railway company (now: Kintetsu Bus).
Daytime service
The Nagasaki ‹–› Oita "Sun Light" service
This vehicle was used at the beginning of the route operation. However, it was replaced by a new model in 2002.

Nagasaki Kenei Bus (Nagasaki Prefecture Transportation Bureau)
Overnight services
The Nishi Nippon Shatai Kogyo Industries (NSK) manufactured vehicles were used on overnight routes until recently.
These vehicles were used at the beginning of the route operations. Afterwards new models were introduced in 1994, then they were used as pinch hitters for overnight operations, but it has been scrapped.
Daytime services
The Nagasaki ‹–› Kumamoto "Rindo" service
The special "Rindo" design was commonly used with their co-operator the Kyushu Industrial Transport company (now: Kyushu Sanko Bus).
The Nagasaki ‹–› Kitakyushu "Dejima" service
These vehicles were used at the beginning of the route operation. However, they were replaced by new models in 1997.

Past Kyushu Kyuko Bus vehicles
These vehicles were taken on by the Kyushu Kyuko Bus company, but they had been scrapped.

Saihi Bus
Overnight services
The NSK manufactured vehicles were used on the Osaka route at the beginning of the route operation.
These vehicles were used on the Nagoya route at the beginning of the route operation. Afterwards new models were introduced in 1995, then they were used as pinch hitters for overnight operations, but they had been scrapped.
Daytime services
The old models were replaced by new models.

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Kumamoto Prefecture

*Kyushu Sanko Bus

*Note: Kyushu Sanko Bus was established by Kyushu Industrial Transport in April 2006.
Overnight services
The "Sunrise" design used on their coaches for each overnight routes, but after 1994, the used the same "Sunrise" design, on many their routes.
The Kumamoto ‹–› Kyoto "Kyoto" service (Withdrawn)
These vehicles were used on the "Kyoto" service at the beginning of the route operation. Afterwards new models were introduced in 1996, then they were taken on the "Phoenix" service, but they had been scrapped.
The Kumamoto ‹–› Nagoya "Shiranui" service
The Nishi-Nippon Shatai Kogyo Industries (NSK) manufactured vehicles were used at the beginning of the route operation and equipped with 26 passenger seats. However, they were replaced by new models in 1995.
Daytime services
The company also used different designs on their coaches for each route, but after 1994, the used the same Sunrise design, on many their routes.
Super high-decker buses
The "Rindo" service
The special "Rindo" design was commonly used with their co-operator the Nagasaki Kenei Bus company.
High-decker buses
The "Hinokuni" service
The service has been operating since 1973 and is a model of Japanese express buses today. The special "Hinokuni" design was commonly used with their co-operator the Nishi Nippon Railroad company until recently. Recently, these buses were taken on the Kumamoto ‹–› Oita "Yamabiko" service.
The Kumamoto ‹–› Sasebo "Saikai" service
These vehicles were used on the "Saikai" service and the "Yamabiko" service at the beginning of the route operations.
The Kumamoto ‹–› Miyazaki "Nanpu" service
The "Nanpu" service is jointly operated by the Kyushu Sanko Bus company and Miyazaki Kotsu. Both designs were the same, but the names on the side of the buses are different. For Kyushu Sanko Bus (see the photo), the name "Nanpu" was in Roman characters. While the name for Miyazaki Kotsu, the name "Nanpu" was written in Hiragana.

Kumamoto Electric Railway
The Kumamoto ‹–› Kobe "Yuhzuru" service (Withdrawn)
The Kumamoto Electric Railway was operated the "Yuhzuru" overnight route to Kobe. However, it was withdrawn in March 1998.

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Oita Prefecture

Oita Bus
The company also used different designs on their coaches for each route, but after 2000, the used the same "Express Oita" design, on many their routes.
Overnight services
The Oita ‹–› Nagoya "Bungo" service
The Hino and Fuji Heavy Industries manufactured vehicle was used at the beginning of the route operation and the design is the same as the Osaka "Emerald" service. Afterwards a new model was introduced in 2002, then it was used as a pinch hitter for this service, but it has been scrapped.
The Oita ‹–› Osaka "Emerald" service (Withdrawn)
These vehicles were used on the "Emerald" service at the beginning of the route operation. After the "Emerald" service was withdrawn, then they were taken on the Fukuoka "Toyonokuni" service, but they had been scrapped.
The Oita ‹–› Kagoshima "Tropical" service
This vehicle was used at the beginning of the route operation and designed seven different colors. Afterwards a new model was introduced in 2001, then it was used as a pinch hitter for this service, but it has been scrapped.
Daytime services
The "Toyonokuni" service
The special "Toyonokuni" design was commonly used for five operators, the Nishi Nippon Railroad company, Oita Bus (see the photo), Oita Kotsu, Kamenoi Bus, and Hita Bus until recently. But they were repainted with the Express Oita design.
The "Yamabiko" service
The special "Yamabiko" design was commonly used with their co-operator the Kyushu Industrial Transport company (now: Kyushu Sanko Bus) until recently.

Oita Kotsu
Overnight services
The "Bungo" service and the Oita ‹–› Osaka "Yunokuni" (Withdrawn) service
These vehicles were used at the beginning of the route operations.
Daytime services
The "Toyonokuni" service
The special "Toyonokuni" design was commonly used for five operators, the Nishi Nippon Railroad company, Oita Bus, Oita Kotsu (see the photo), Kamenoi Bus, and Hita Bus until recently. But they were repainted with the "Yunokuni" design.

Kamenoi Bus
Overnight services
The "Bungo" service and the "Yunokuni" (Withdrawn) service
These vehicles were used at the beginning of the route operations.
Daytime services
The "Toyonokuni" service
The special "Toyonokuni" design was commonly used for five operators, the Nishi Nippon Railroad company, Oita Bus, Oita Kotsu, Kamenoi Bus (see the photo), and Hita Bus until recently. But they were repainted with the "Melhen" design.
The Beppu, Yufuin ‹–› Fukuoka "Yufuin" service
These vehicles were taken on by the Kyushu Kyuko Bus company, and they were repainted with the "Melhen" design, but they had been scrapped.

Hita Bus
These vehicles were taken on by the Kyushu Kyuko Bus company, but they had been scrapped.

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Miyazaki Prefecture

Miyazaki Kotsu
The company also used different designs on their coaches for each route, but after 2000, the used the same design, on all their routes.
Overnight services (Withdrawn)
The Miyazaki ‹–› Osaka "Aoshima" service
These vehicles were used on the "Aoshima" service at the beginning of the route operation. After the "Aoshima" route was withdrawn, then they were repainted with a common design and were taken on the Nobeoka ‹–› Oita "Wakaayu" service, but they had been scrapped.
The Phoenix service
This vehicle was used on an overnight service. After an overnight service was stopped, then it was used as a pinch hitter for daytime services.
Daytime services
The Phoenix service
The special "Phoenix" design was commonly used for four operators, the Nishi Nippon Railroad company, Kyushu Industrial Transport (now: Kyushu Sanko Bus), Miyazaki Kotsu and JR Kyushu Bus until recently.
The NSK manufactured vehicles were used on the "Phoenix" service (top photo directly above) at the beginning of the route operation. Afterwards new models were introduced in 1996, then they were taken on the "Nanpu" service (bottom photo), but they had been scrapped.
New models were also repainted with a common design.
The "Gokase" service
The special "Gokase" design was used for this route at the beginning of the route operation. Afterwards new models were introduced in 2000, then they were used as pinch hitters for additional buses, but they had been scrapped.
The "Nanpu" service
The "Nanpu" service is jointly operated by the Kyushu Sanko Bus company and Miyazaki Kotsu. Both designs were the same, but the names on the side of the buses are different. For Kyushu Sanko Bus, the name "Nanpu" was in Roman characters. While the name for Miyazaki Kotsu (see the photo), the name "Nanpu" was written in Hiragana.

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Kagoshima Prefecture

The Iwasaki Group

*Minami Kyushu Bus Network

*Note: The Iwasaki Corporation established this company in April 2004 and took over the operation from the Kagoshima Kotsu company. However, the Fukuoka "Sakurajima" service was taken back by Kagoshima Kotsu Kanko in September 2006 and Minami Kyushu Bus Network withdrew other services in August of the same year.

The first "palm tree" design between 1990 and 1996
The "palm tree" design was commonly used for their coaches.

The second "Green Triangle" design after 1996~
The triangulation of the 3 holiday resorts of Tanega and Yaku Islands and Ibusuki.

Hayashida Bus (Now: Iwasaki Bus Network)
These vehicles were used on overnight routes at the beginning of the route operation and the name "Southern Cross" was borrowed from their co-operator the Nankai Electric Railway company (now: Nankai Bus). However, they were replaced by new models.

Minami Kyushu Kosoku Bus

This company was withdrawn in March 2004.

*The Kagoshima ‹–› Kumamoto "Hibiscus" service

* Note: The Kagoshima ‹–› Kumamoto route was withdrawn in March 2004. However, it was revived in April 2009 by the Iwasaki Bus Network and Nangoku Kotsu companies.
The "Hibiscus" special design was commonly used with their co-operator the Kyushu Industrial Transport company (now: Kyushu Sanko Bus) at the beginning of the route operation (top photo directly above). Afterwards it was repainted with a common design (bottom photo).
The Kagoshima ‹–› Miyazaki "Hamayu" service (Withdrawal)
Minami Kyushu Kosoku Bus withdrew this route in March 2004.

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Nangoku Kotsu

These models were used on overnight operations. However, they were replaced by new models.

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JR Kyushu Bus

Overnight services (Withdrawn)
These vehicles were used on two overnight operations to Osaka and Nagoya at the beginning of the route operations. After overnight routes were wthdrawn, they were taken on the "Phoenix" service, but they had been scrapped.
Daytime services
The "Phoenix" service
The special "Phoenix" design was commonly used for four operators, the Nishi Nippon Railroad company, Kyushu Industrial Transport (now: Kyushu Sanko Bus), Miyazaki Kotsu and JR Kyushu Bus (see the photo) until recently.

Go to Part1 (Current Models for daytime services)

Go to "Discontinued bus models"

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