Tokyo to Kusatsu Onsen by bus: times, fares and booking
Checked against 3 official sources. 6 minute read.
Edited by Yamanaka, the site's owner-editor based in Japan.
What to know first
JR Bus Kanto's Joshu Yumeguri / Tokyo Yumeguri highway bus runs from Tokyo Station and Busta Shinjuku to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal without a change; its timetable lists 9 buses. Every seat is reserved, and tickets go on sale at 10:00 one month and one day before you travel. From 1 December 2026 an adult one-way ticket is ¥3,700 to ¥4,300 depending on the bus, or ¥4,500 if you pay on board. If you come by train to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi, the local bus to Kusatsu cannot be booked, costs ¥780 and accepts Suica and PASMO.
For travellers going from central Tokyo to Kusatsu Onsen who want one bus with a reserved seat, or who arrive by train at Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi.
On this page
The direct bus from Tokyo and Shinjuku
JR Bus Kanto runs the Joshu Yumeguri / Tokyo Yumeguri highway bus between Tokyo, Shinjuku, Ikaho Onsen and Kusatsu Onsen. Its timetable, revised on 15 December 2025, lists 9 buses to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal.
From Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit, buses leave at 8:00, 9:10 and 10:20; the 10:20 also calls at Busta Shinjuku at 11:05. The 8:00 starts from Ueno Station Iriya Exit at 7:25, the only departure from Ueno, and reaches Kusatsu at 12:02. From Busta Shinjuku (Shinjuku Station New South Exit), buses leave at 8:05, 9:05, 10:05, 11:05, 12:05, 16:05 and 18:05.
Buses reach Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal at 12:02, 12:08, 13:10, 13:12, 14:13, 15:10, 16:10, 20:10 and 21:58. The last bus, the 18:05 from Shinjuku, arrives at 21:58. Check the arrival time of your own bus when you book.
For the return, buses leave Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal at 6:00, 10:00, 11:30, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 16:00 and 17:30; 17:30 is the last. In this direction the Tokyo Station stop is the Nihombashi Exit, not the Yaesu South Exit, so plan your onward connection from there.
Sources for this section: JR Bus Kanto: Tokyo/Shinjuku–Ikaho/Kusatsu Onsen highway bus timetable and fares
Every seat is reserved: when and how to buy
All seats are reserved, so buy a ticket before you travel. Tickets go on sale at 10:00 one month and one day before your travel date: for a bus on 10 January, sales open at 10:00 Japan time on 9 December.
You can buy on Kousoku Bus Net by credit card; at ticket counters, including Busta Shinjuku, JR Bus Kanto's Tokyo Station counter and its Naganohara branch; at Lawson and Ministop convenience stores; or by phone on 0570-048905 (10:00–17:00). Kousoku Bus Net has its own, lower fares, shown in brackets in the fare table below.
If you only ride between Ikaho Onsen and Kusatsu Onsen, you cannot reserve. You pay on board, and only if there are free seats on the day.
Cancelling a standard or Toku-wari ticket costs ¥110 up to 2 days before travel. From the day before travel until departure, the fee is 20% of the amount on the ticket.
Sources for this section: JR Bus Kanto: Tokyo/Shinjuku–Ikaho/Kusatsu Onsen highway bus timetable and fares
Fares up to 30 November and from 1 December 2026
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| Fare | 1 October to 30 November 2026 | From 1 December 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Band C | ¥3,700 (¥3,520 on Kousoku Bus Net) | ¥3,700 (¥3,520 on Kousoku Bus Net) |
| Band B | ¥3,800 (¥3,610) | ¥3,800 (¥3,610) |
| Band A | ¥4,000 (¥3,800) | ¥4,000 (¥3,800) |
| Band S | Not offered | ¥4,300 (¥4,090) |
| On-board fare | ¥4,100 | ¥4,500 |
| Toku-wari | ¥2,720–¥3,500 | ¥2,800–¥3,900 |
Sources for this section: JR Bus Kanto: Tokyo/Shinjuku–Ikaho/Kusatsu Onsen highway bus timetable and fares
What two people pay in January 2027
Two adults booking Busta Shinjuku to Kusatsu Onsen on Kousoku Bus Net for a bus in January 2027 pay 2 × ¥3,520 = ¥7,040 if the bus is in band C, or 2 × ¥4,090 = ¥8,180 if it is in band S. Paying on board instead costs ¥4,500 each, or ¥9,000 for two; up to 30 November it was ¥4,100 each. Cancelling a ¥3,520 ticket the day before costs 20%, which is ¥704. If you come by train instead, the local bus from Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi is ¥780 each, or ¥1,560 for two.
Sources for this section: JR Bus Kanto: Tokyo/Shinjuku–Ikaho/Kusatsu Onsen highway bus timetable and fares · JR Bus Kanto: Kusatsu Onsen–Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi route bus timetable · JR Bus Kanto: Naganohara area fare table from 1 April 2025
Arriving by train: the bus from Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi
If you come by JR train to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station, the bus to Kusatsu Onsen is run by JR Bus Kanto alone. Its timetable for travel from 22 December 2025 has buses from Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi from 7:54 (arriving at 8:19) to 20:48 (arriving at 21:13), a ride of about 22 to 28 minutes. From Kusatsu Onsen, the first bus is at 6:20 and the last at 19:50, arriving at 20:15.
Buses marked ● run only from 19 December to 31 March, and buses marked ★ run to match special trains. From 29 December to 3 January the weekend and holiday timetable applies. The buses connect with trains at Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi, except some trains.
You cannot book this bus. Passengers board in the order they queue at the stop on the day, and once every seat is taken you cannot board. Pay as you get off: Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal is ¥780. IC cards such as Suica and PASMO are accepted, except on some special buses.
Sources for this section: JR Bus Kanto: Kusatsu Onsen–Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi route bus timetable · JR Bus Kanto: Naganohara area fare table from 1 April 2025
Which bus fits your trip
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| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You want a reserved seat from central Tokyo | Book the highway bus from Tokyo Station or Busta Shinjuku when sales open, at 10:00 one month and one day before travel. |
| You are starting from Ueno | Take the 7:25 from Ueno Station Iriya Exit, the only Ueno departure; it reaches Kusatsu at 12:02. |
| You leave Tokyo late in the day | The 18:05 from Busta Shinjuku is the last bus and reaches Kusatsu at 21:58. |
| You want the lowest fare | Look for Toku-wari seats or pay on Kousoku Bus Net; Toku-wari cannot be bought on board. |
| You arrive by train at Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi | Queue for the local bus; it cannot be booked. Pay ¥780 as you get off, by Suica or PASMO if you like. |
| You are going back to Tokyo the same day | The last highway bus leaves Kusatsu at 17:30; the last local bus to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi leaves at 19:50. |
Sources for this section: JR Bus Kanto: Tokyo/Shinjuku–Ikaho/Kusatsu Onsen highway bus timetable and fares · JR Bus Kanto: Kusatsu Onsen–Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi route bus timetable · JR Bus Kanto: Naganohara area fare table from 1 April 2025
Questions before you book
Do I need to book the bus from Tokyo to Kusatsu? Yes. All seats are reserved, and tickets go on sale at 10:00 one month and one day before your travel date.
How much is the bus from 1 December 2026? Bands C, B and A stay at ¥3,700, ¥3,800 and ¥4,000, and the new band S is ¥4,300. The on-board fare rises from ¥4,100 to ¥4,500, and Toku-wari fares from ¥2,720–¥3,500 to ¥2,800–¥3,900. The monthly fare calendar sets the band for your bus.
Can I book the bus from Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi? No. Queue at the stop on the day; if the bus is full, you cannot board. The fare to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal is ¥780, and you can pay with Suica or PASMO.
Where does the bus back to Tokyo stop at Tokyo Station? At the Nihombashi Exit, not the Yaesu South Exit used by buses leaving Tokyo.
Can I ride only between Ikaho Onsen and Kusatsu? Yes, but you cannot reserve that ride. Pay on board, if there are free seats on the day.
Sources for this section: JR Bus Kanto: Tokyo/Shinjuku–Ikaho/Kusatsu Onsen highway bus timetable and fares · JR Bus Kanto: Kusatsu Onsen–Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi route bus timetable · JR Bus Kanto: Naganohara area fare table from 1 April 2025
Before you leave
Work out the sale date for your travel day, one month and one day before, and book at 10:00 that day. Check the fare calendar to see which band your bus is in, and note that the bus back arrives at Tokyo Station Nihombashi Exit. Before you bathe, read our guide to onsen rules and tattoos.
Sources for this section: JR Bus Kanto: Tokyo/Shinjuku–Ikaho/Kusatsu Onsen highway bus timetable and fares
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Sources & review
Official pages for this guide
The rules in this guide come from the official pages below. Japan, Booked. does not book or submit requests on your behalf.
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Official sources
These official sources explain the rules and conditions used in this guide. Live availability and your own booking, admission or service outcome still need to be confirmed for your trip.
- JR Bus Kanto: Tokyo/Shinjuku–Ikaho/Kusatsu Onsen highway bus timetable and fares
What this confirms: Timetable revised 15 December 2025 with 9 buses to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal; departure and arrival times; Tokyo Station Nihombashi Exit for the return; all seats reserved; sales from 10:00 one month and one day before travel; ways to buy; fares from 1 October and from 1 December 2026 by band; on-board and Toku-wari conditions; Ikaho–Kusatsu rides; refund fees.
Last checked - JR Bus Kanto: Kusatsu Onsen–Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi route bus timetable
What this confirms: Timetable for travel from 22 December 2025; JR Bus Kanto only; first and last buses; ● and ★ services; weekend and holiday timetable from 29 December to 3 January; train connections; no reservations; boarding in queue order; pay on exit; IC cards.
Last checked - JR Bus Kanto: Naganohara area fare table from 1 April 2025
What this confirms: ¥780 from Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal.
Last checked
About this guide
Direct reserved-seat buses from Tokyo and Shinjuku to Kusatsu Onsen: times, fares before and from 1 December 2026, ticket sale dates and the Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi bus.
Times are from JR Bus Kanto's highway bus timetable revised on 15 December 2025 and its Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi timetable for travel from 22 December 2025. Your fare depends on the bus, set by a monthly fare calendar. JR train times and fares are not covered here.
Guide updates Reviewed
When this guide was checked and what changed
- First published
- Last checked
- Check again by
- What we checked
- JR Bus Kanto highway bus timetable and fares; JR Bus Kanto Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi route bus timetable and fare table.
- Latest update
- : Added a guide to the direct highway bus from Tokyo and Shinjuku to Kusatsu Onsen, with fares before and from 1 December 2026, and the local bus from Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi.
The date above reflects when these checks were last run. If an individual source was rechecked later, you’ll see that date next to it below. Other copy edits are listed in the update history.
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Japan, Booked. is run and edited from Japan. The same editor checks the Japanese and English sources, writes the traveller-facing guidance and keeps the correction history up to date.
What changed
Update history
- First published
Added a guide to the direct highway bus from Tokyo and Shinjuku to Kusatsu Onsen, with fares before and from 1 December 2026, and the local bus from Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi.
If an operator, organiser or product changes in a way that affects the guide, we check it again sooner. Reader reports help us spot what to investigate, and we verify them against current official information before publishing. Read our update and corrections policy. See every guide's review schedule. Suggest an improvement to this guide.