Photo collections of withdrawn routes (part1)
(Between Kanto and Chubu areas)
[Kanto area] [Hokkaido area] [Tohoku area] [Chubu area]
Presently, overnight buses in Japan have stopped many routes due to companies partly withdrawing and joining with other routes. Below are several photos of withdrawn routes.
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| Originally, the "Dream Fukufuku" service, between Tokyo and Yamaguchi-Shimonoseki was jointly operated by the JR Bus Kanto company (top photo above) and Sanden Kotsu (second photo down). The route was commonly used for double-decker buses both JR Bus Kanto (third photo down) and Sanden Kotsu (bottom photo) at the beginning of the route operation. Afterwards they were replaced by super highdecker buses in 1996, and the JR Bus Kanto service was taken over by Chugoku JR Bus in September 2000. But the service was withdrawn in November 2006. |
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| Originally, the "New Breeze" service, between Tokyo and Hiroshima was jointly operated by the JR Bus Kanto company (top photo directly above), Odakyu City Bus, Chugoku JR Bus and Hiroshima Electric Railway, otherwise known as Hiroden (bottom photo). In 2003, all the operators increased their services to twice a day and one service was rerouted to the Sanyo Expressway because the traveling time is shorter. However, high oil prices have hit the world economy, and as a result, JR Bus Kanto and Hiroden withdrew from this route in June 2008. |
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| Originally, the "La Forêt" service, between Tokyo and Aomori was jointly operated by the JR Bus Kanto company (top photo directly above), Haneda Keikyu Bus (bottom photo), JR Bus Tohoku and Konan Bus. In 2003, all the operators increased their services to twice a day. However, the cheapest overnight buses (called tour buses in Japanese) have reduced their basic fares in recent years, and as a result, JR Bus Kanto and Haneda Keikyu Bus withdrew from this route in July 2009 and February 2010 respectively. |
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| The "Milky Way" bus service (Tokyu Bus): This company had completely withdrawn from all routes by September 1998. |
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| The Keio Group (Keio Electric Railway, *Keio Bus, and Nishi Tokyo (Tama) Bus). *Note: Keio Bus was established by Keio Electric Railway in October 2002. Top photo directly above: The Keio Electric Railway company operated the "Hakata" service between Tokyo Shinjuku and Fukuoka. At the time, it was the longest overnight service in Japan, taking about 14 hours. However, they withdrew this service in January 1999. This route is now solely operated by the Nishi Nippon Railroad company. Bottom photo: The Nishi Tokyo (Tama) Bus company operated the "Casual Twinkle", the cheapest Tokyo Shinjuku to Osaka service. They withdrew this service in April 2008. This route is now solely operated by the Kintetsu Bus company. |
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| The "Hagi Express" between Tokyo Shinagawa and Hagi (Keihin Electric Express Railway, *Keihin Kyuko Bus): *Note: Keihin Kyuko Bus was established by Keihin Electric Express Railway in October 2003, whereon it inherited the service until withdrawing it in May 2007. This route is now solely operated by the Bocho Kotsu company. |
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| The "Charme" service between Tachikawa, Western Tokyo and Kobe (Tachikawa Bus, see the photo, and their co-operator Sanyo Electric Railway has a bus called "Let's"), and the "Southern Cross" service between Tachikawa and Kyoto, Osaka (Nankai Bus). These routes merged into the Tachikawa-Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe service (Nankai Bus and Sanyo Electric Railway) in May 2009. |
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| The Omiya-Tokorozawa-Nagoya service (Seibu Bus): This service connected the Eastern district of Saitama Prefecture to Nagoya. It was withdrawn in June 2008. However, the route was revived by Nippon Chuo Bus in January 2009. |
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| The "Wing Liner" between Kumagaya, Kawagoe and Kyoto, Osaka (Kokusai Juo Kotsu): They withdrew this service in March 2010. This route is now solely operated by the Kintetsu Bus company. |
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| Sagami Railway: This company had completely withdrawn from all routes by August 2008. |
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Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu: This company had completely withdrawn from all routes by May 2009. Top photo directly above: The Nara "Yamato" service was taken over by Keisei Bus in October 2008. Bottom photo: They withdrew the Kyoto, Osaka "Harbor Light" service in May 2009. This route is now solely operated by the Nishinihon JR Bus company. |
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| The "New Epoch" service between Hachioji, Western Tokyo and Sendai (Miyagi Kotsu): This service connected the Western district of Tokyo to Sendai. However, it was withdrawn in August 1996. |
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| The "Muscat" service between Tokyo Shinjuku and Okayama, Kurashiki (Chutetsu Bus): The Chutetsu Bus service was taken over by Ryobi Bus in March 2008. |
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| The "Saunki Express Yokohama" service between Yokohama and Takamatsu (Shikoku Kosoku Bus and Kotohira Sangu Electric Railway, *Kotosan Bus, see the photo) and the "Hello Bridge" service between Tokyo Shinjuku and Takamatsu (Nishi Tokyo Bus and Shikoku Kosoku Bus): These routes merged into the "Hello Bridge" service in December 2008. *Note: Kotosan Bus was established by Kotohira Sangu Electric Railway in April 2009. |
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| The Chugoku Bus company operated the "Yajikita Liner" service between Yokohama and Hiroshima, the longest daytime service in Japan, taking about 13 hours. However, it only operated from October 2005 to May 2006, when it was withdrawn. |
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Routes within Hokkaido
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| Between Sapporo and Hakodate, there existed two services, the "Ocean Dream" service (Hokkaido Chuo Bus, top photo directly above and Donan Bus, second photo down) and the "Aurora" service (Hokuto Kotsu, bottom photo), but these routes merged and was renamed the "Hakodate" service in April 2003. |
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Routes within Tohoku area
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| The "Dream Senshu" overnight service between Sendai and Akita was operated by the JR Bus Tohoku company. Now, there is no overnight service, just daytime services. |
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Routes from Chubu area
Periodically, many Kyushu routes have been stopped and withdrawn. |
| The "Tivoli" service between Nagoya and Okayama, Kurashiki (JR Tokai Bus): They withdrew this service in November 2001. This route is now solely operated by the Ryobi Bus company. |
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The Meitetsu Group (Nagoya Railroad, *Meitetsu Bus, and Meitetsu Kanko Bus). *Note: Meitetsu Bus was established by Nagoya Railroad in October 2004. Top photo directly above: The Nagoya Railroad company operated the "Genkai" service between Nagoya and Kitakyushu, Arao. They withdrew this service in June 1997. This route is now operated by the Fukuoka "Zondag" service, stopping at Kitakyushu. Bottom photo: The Meitetsu Kanko Bus company took over operation of the Nagasaki Glover service and the Kumamoto Shiranui service from the Nagoya Railroad, otherwise known as Meitetsu, in March 1999. However, these services were taken over by their subsidiary, Meitetsu Bus, in February 2009. |
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| The "Kaga" service between Kanazawa and Fukuoka was jointly operated by the Hokuriku Railroad (top photo directly above) and Nishi Nippon Railroad companies (bottom photo). The service, only connected Kyushu to Hokuriku area. However, it was withdrawn in June 1999. |