Access To/From Tokyo

There are multiple ways to travel to and from Tokyo on public transportation! Below are some information and useful links. For information about driving your own car, consult the Driving page.

Yamagata Shinkansen

 * Goes to/from Tokyo all the way to Shinjo.
 * Cost: 11,340 Yen (One Way)
 * Duration: ~3.5 hours (Shinjo - Tokyo)
 * Can buy tickets at the JR Ticket Counters or ticket vending machines. Additionally, often there are stalls nearby the station that may sell discount tickets (or buy tickets).
 * Timetable (From Tokyo)
 * Timetable (To Tokyo)

Willer Express

 * Popular highway bus service that you can take all over Japan.
 * Goes to/from Shinjuku Bus Station ~ Yamagata/Tendo OR Ikebukuro Station ~ Sakata/Tsuruoka
 * Cost: 4,500~8,000 Yen (One Way), cheaper the earlier you buy it!
 * Duration: ~8 hours
 * Can book up to three months in advance online
 * Most of them are overnight buses
 * Can be cramped, can't really recline your seats, may be uncomfortable for taller/bigger folk

JR Bus Tohoku Dream Sakuranbo

 * SITE IN JAPANESE ONLY
 * Overnight bus from Shinjuku Bus Station ~ Yamagata Station
 * Cost: 4,500 yen (for the first 3 people to buy tickets), 6,000 yen (everyone else)
 * Duration: ~6 hours (overnight)
 * Can book one month in advance online
 * 3 single-file rows with privacy curtains and reclining chairs, more comfortable than Willer Express buses

Tohoku Express Bus Yamagata Line (Rainbow)

 * SITE IN JAPANESE ONLY
 * Overnight bus from Yamagata Station ~ Tokyo Station
 * Cost: 4,600~6,700 yen (Depending on early bird pricing and where you're going)
 * Duration: 7 hours 15 minutes (overnight)
 * Can book one month in advance online, by phone, and at convenience stores
 * 3 single-file rows with privacy curtains and reclining chairs

Tohoku Express Bus Shinjo Line (Tokyo Sunrise)

 * SITE IN JAPANESE ONLY
 * Overnight bus from Shinjo Station ~ Tokyo Station
 * Cost: 5,500~7,700 yen (Depending on early bird pricing and where you're going)
 * Duration: 8 hours 40 minutes (overnight)
 * Can book one month in advance online, by phone, and at convenience stores
 * 3 single-file rows with privacy curtains and reclining chairs

Joetsu Shinkansen (Niigata Prefecture)

 * From Shonai it may be better to take a local train to Niigata City and then take the Joetsu Shinkansen from there.
 * Cost: about 14,000 yen one way.
 * Duration: about 4 hours
 * Timetable (From Tokyo)
 * Timetable (To Tokyo)