How to ride buses in Japan

Learn the two common bus boarding and fare systems in Japan, including numbered tickets, flat fares, cash and IC card payments, timetable reading and paying when you get off.

Last checked:

  • Before you go
  • Buses
  • IC cards

This page summarises the bus-related sections of JNTO’s official guide. For the Nishitetsu Bus day pass in Fukuoka, see Comparing Fukuoka transport passes.

Key points

  • Japan has two types of bus service: rear-door boarding and front-door exit with a numbered-ticket system (distance-based fares), and front-door boarding with a flat fare.
  • Not all buses accept IC cards; look for the IC symbol.
  • When paying cash on a numbered-ticket bus, take a numbered ticket when boarding and pay the exact fare when getting off.
  • Timetables are available at bus terminals or stops, or through route-search apps.

Two bus systems

Numbered-ticket system (distance-based fare) Flat-fare system
Boarding Board through the rear door and take a numbered ticket Board through the front door and pay on boarding
Getting off Leave through the front door and pay at the front Get off through the front door
Fare Based on boarding and alighting locations Flat fare

Cash payment

According to JNTO:

  1. On numbered-ticket buses, take a ticket with a number from the machine when boarding.
  2. As you approach your stop, check the fare for your ticket number on the screen at the front of the bus.
  3. When getting off, put the exact fare into the machine at the front; overpayments are not refunded as change.
  4. Most buses have a simple change machine.
  5. On flat-fare buses, pay when boarding; change is generally given if you pay too much.

Paying with an IC card

  • Look for the IC symbol at the bus stop or door; if there is no symbol, pay cash.
  • With an IC card, tap once when boarding and again when getting off, according to JNTO.
  • Some services, including certain highway buses, do not accept IC cards.
  • For details, see Transport IC cards.

Checking timetables

  • Use a route-search app or check the timetable at the bus stop.
  • Timetables distinguish weekdays from weekends and holidays and use the 24-hour clock: hours are shown on the left and minutes on the right.
  • For planning tools, see Route planning and timetable tools.

Frequently asked questions

What if you have no coins?

JNTO states that most buses have change machines, but you should change money before reaching your stop and prepare the exact fare.

Can you make phone calls on a bus?

JNTO’s etiquette guidance advises avoiding phone calls; see Manners and etiquette.

Further reading

Sources