Shinki Bus will launch the new daytime high-speed route “Princess Road,” connecting Himeji and Kobe-Sannomiya with Tokyo, with 2 round trips per week from 5 November. Fares between Kobe-Sannomiya and Shibuya/Shinjuku start at ¥7,000, and journey times are approximately 8–10 hours.
Shinki Bus will launch a new daytime service from Himeji Station’s north exit and Kobe-Sannomiya to Tokyo via Shibuya and Shinjuku. The service is scheduled to begin on 5 November 2026 and will operate 2 round trips per week.
Princess Road has operated as an overnight route for 37 years. The addition of a daytime service will expand travel options during the day, allowing passengers to choose between daytime and overnight departures.
Fares for the daytime service start at ¥7,000 between Kobe-Sannomiya and Shibuya/Shinjuku, and at ¥8,000 between Himeji and Shibuya/Shinjuku. Journey times are approximately 10 to 10.5 hours from Himeji and approximately 8 to 8.5 hours from Kobe-Sannomiya. In Tokyo, services depart from and arrive at Shibuya Mark City and the west exit of Shinjuku Station.
The vehicles have high-grade 3-across independent seats and are equipped with privacy curtains, onboard Wi-Fi, a toilet, and power outlets. Breaks will be provided at service areas en route. Although the daytime service offers less scheduling flexibility than the overnight service, its fares are approximately 40–50% lower than Shinkansen fares.