Shinki Bus will introduce a daytime service for the first time in 37 years. The “Princess Road” route connecting Himeji and Kobe-Sannomiya with Tokyo will begin daytime operations on 5 November, covering approximately 600 km in up to 10 hours.
A daytime service will be added to the Himeji-based high-speed bus route “Princess Road,” which has operated as an overnight route for many years. The service is scheduled to begin on 5 November 2026, with 2 round trips departing Himeji on Thursdays and Saturdays and Shinjuku on Fridays and Sundays.
The route is approximately 600 km long. Services departing Himeji will leave at around 6:30 and arrive in Shinjuku at around 17:00. In the opposite direction, services will depart Shinjuku at around 8:00 and arrive in Himeji at around 18:00, with a journey time of approximately 10 hours at most. The timetable is currently being finalized.
The vehicles will have high-grade 3-across independent seats. Fares between Himeji and Tokyo will be ¥8,000–¥10,000, while fares between Kobe and Tokyo will be set lower from the Kobe side. In Tokyo, the service will stop at Shinjuku Station West Exit Stop No. 28 rather than Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal, and will also pass through Shibuya Mark City.
Further details on the stops and timetable are expected to be provided in future announcements. The introduction of the daytime service is expected to broaden the ways in which the route can be used for travelers’ lifestyles, business, and tourism.