Domestic Travel by Bus
Traveling by highway (高速) bus is by far and away the cheapest way to travel Japan. There are several buses that leave from Matsuyama, Imabari, Ozu, Yawatahama, and Uwajima.
There is no online booking for bus tickets. The best way is to purchase them from your local travel agency or local bus ticketing station. JR bus tickets can also be purchased directly from any JR station.
Please note: Highway bus tickets can be purchased only up to ONE MONTH in advance (no earlier).
From Matsuyama
Iyotestu Bus (いよてつ高速バス)
http://www.iyotetsu.co.jp/bus/kousoku/
Iyotestu Bus tickets can be purchased from the bus ticketing station at Matsuyama Shieki. Payment must be made the same day as the reservation.
Iyotestu operates express buses from Matsuyama Shieki to the following cities:
- Fukuoka // overnight 10hrs || 8000 yen one-way, 14,400 roundtrip || Timetable
- Tokushima // same-day 3hrs || 4,300 yen one-way, 7,800 roundtrip || Timetable
- Takamatsu // same-day 2hrs 30mins || 3,900 yen one-way, 7,200 roundtrip || Timetable
- Okayama // same-day 3hrs || 4300 yen one-way, 7,800 roundtrip || Timetable
- Tokyo // overnight 13hrs || 12,000 yen one-way, 21,400 roundtrip || Timetable
- Osaka // same-day & overnight 5-7hrs || 6,700 yen one-way, 12,000 roundtrip || Timetable
- Kyoto // same-day 5hrs 30mins || 7,000 yen one-way, 12,500 roundtrip || Timetable
- Kobe // same-day 4hrs 15mins || 6,200 yen one-way, 11,000 roundtrip || Timetable
- Nagoya // overnight 9hrs 30mins || 10,000 yen one-way, 18,000 roundtrip || Timetable
- Kochi // same-day 2hrs 45mins || 3500 yen one-way, 6,300 roundtrip || Timetable
- Hiroshima // same-day 2hrs 30mins || 3,800 yen one-way, 6,400 roundtrip || Timetable
From Imabari
Setouchi Bus (せとうちバス)
http://www.setouchibus.co.jp/
For time tables, click the 高速バス tab (3rd tab)
Setouchi operates express buses from Imabari to the following cities:
- Tokyo (Pairestu Bus) // overnight 12hrs || 11,200 yen one-way || Also stops at Toyo, Saijo, Niihama, Mishima
- Osaka (Ishizuchi Liner) // same-day 5hrs || 5,000 yen one-way || Also stops at Saijo, Niihama, Mishima
- Kobe (Ishizuchi Liner) // same-day 4hrs 20mins || 4,700 yen one-way || Also stops at Saijo, Niihama, Mishima
- Hiroshima (Shimanami Liner) // same-day 2hrs 30mins || 3,600 yen one-way || Also stops at Oshima and Hakata
- Okayama (Shimanami Liner) // same-day 1hr 30mins || 2,400 yen one-way || Also stops at Omishima, Oshima, Hakata
From Yawatahama, Ozu, Uchiko
Iyotestu Bus (いよてつ高速バス)
http://www.iyotetsu.co.jp/bus/kousoku/
Iyotestu operates express buses from Yawatahama to the following cites (also stops in Ozu, Uchiko, Matsuyama):
- Osaka // overnight 9hrs 30mins || 7,700 yen one-way, 13,800 roundtrip || Timetable
- Nagoya // overnight 8hrs 30mins || 11,000 yen one-way, 19,800 roundtrip || Timetable
- Tokyo // overnight 13hrs 30mins || 13,000 yen one-way, 23,200 roundtrip || Timetable
From Uwajima
Uwajima Bus (宇和島高速バス)
http://www.uwajima-bus.co.jp/02highway/index.htm
Uwajima Bus operates express buses from Uwajima to the following cites (also stops in Ozu):