Shinjuku's Bus Terminal - How Traveling From Tokyo Got Easier

Tokyo's Shinjuku station is a very important station for travelers because of its large-scale long distance bus terminal. However, the increase in the number of buses was a headache as the traffic jams around the station were incredible.

In order to relieve the traffic around Shinjuku, Busta Shinjuku (abbreviation from "Bus Terminal Shinjuku") was established in April 2016. The bus stops that used to be scattered around have been collected in one place. The terminal is also connected to the railway system, becoming much more convenient for travelers.

Today we'll be introducing the traffic-clearing traveler-convenient Busta Shinjuku.

Busta Shinjuku's Location

Busta Shinjuku is located above the JR Shinjuku station New South Gate, the Kōshū-kaidō Gate, and the Miraina Tower Gate.

It's also not that far from the South Exit, just across one large street.

The newly built terminal is very beautiful. The interior is bright thanks to the external light coming in.

Introduction of Each Floor

Busta Shinjuku has escalators and elevators on each of the floors from the 1st to the 4th, making the access to different floors easy for people with large bags or strollers. It makes the transfer from a bus to a train, or from a taxi to an express bus, or any situation, very smooth.

1F: JR Shinjuku Station Narita Express Platform

The Narita Express connects Narita Airport and Shinjuku station. The 1st floor of Busta Shinjuku is the platform where the Narita Express arrives.

Narita Express users can get on an elevator at the station and arrive right away at the express bus terminal. For people headed for other prefectures or cities for sightseeing, this is extremely convenient. The train station is inside the same building so you won't need to worry about walking outside with a ton of luggage in the rain for a transfer either.

2F: JR Shinjuku Station New South Gate, Kōshū-kaidō Gate, Miraina Tower Gate

On the 2nd floor are the gates to enter Shinjuku station. The entrances are very easy to find so you won't need to worry about not being able to locate them.

Other than the gates, there are also restaurants on the 2nd floor. The large space is connected with a resting terrace space where you can admire the night view as well as visit the newly established SHINJUKU signboard.

This is the Kōshū-kaidō Gate.

The New South Gate can be seen in the back.

The structure of the building is a little complicated, but the signs are easy to read and you probably won't have too much trouble.

The vivid SHINJUKU signboard is already a popular photo spot for visitors.

3F: Taxi Platform, Bus Arrival

The 3rd floor is the arrival platform for express buses as well as the platform for taxis. You can easily arrive here by taxi and transfer to a train or bus, or get off an express bus and get on a taxi to head toward your hotel.

4F: Bus Ticket Booths, Service Center, Bus Departure, Coin Lockers

The express bus ticket booths are located on the 4th floor, so you can purchase tickets at the booths or ticket vending machines on the day of your trip, even if you don't have any reservations. However if you're on a tight schedule we recommend you reserve your tickets online beforehand. This is because you might not be able to buy tickets on the day of your trip if you're traveling during a holiday season or on other busy days.

The bus platforms are divided into 4 sections: A, B, C, and D. Each sign has the departure time and stopping stations written on them. At Busta Shinjuku, there are buses that head to destinations all over Japan, from Fukuoka in the Kyushu region in the south, to Aomori in the Tōhoku region in the north.

If you don't want to wait outside for your bus, you can wait in the lobby inside after you buy your ticket.

You can buy tickets at the ticket vending machines, but there are also staff who can speak other languages at the ticket booths.

If you want to leave your bags for a while, you can use the coin lockers located by the lobby.

In Conclusion

Because so many means of transportation leave on so many different schedules from Shinjuku station, it used to be a station that was a confusing nightmare for many tourists. But if you prepare beforehand and are able to use the various means of transportation, it's a hugely useful station. And with the establishment of Busta Shinjuku, traveling from Shinjuku to destinations around Japan has become much easier. The next time you're in Tokyo, we recommend you try using one of the express buses to visit a new unique destination.

Information

Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal (Busta Shinjuku)

Address: Shibuya-ku Sendagaya 5-24-55
Hours: Information 07:00-23:00
Closed: -
Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi Available
Credit Cards: JCB、VISA、MASTER、AMEX、DINERS
Languages: Japanese, English
Nearest Station: JR Shinjuku station (JR新宿駅)
Access: Right by Shinjuku station
Price range: -
Religion: -
Website: Busta Shinjuku (Japanese)