Bus travel: Slow — but cheap! You can buy bus tickets online via Willer Express or Kosoku Bus. Highway buses in Japan are an affordable way to travel. While they can be less comfortable than a Shinkansen, they have their own advantages. Firstly, you're guaranteed a seat at no extra cost.

The cheapest alternative to the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) in Japan is the Highway Bus (kousoku bus). Companies like Willer Express offer "Night Buses" that can take you from Tokyo to Osaka for as little as 3,500 to 5,000 yen (approx. $25–$35), whereas the Shinkansen typically costs over 14,000 yen. Not only is the fare much lower, but taking a night bus also saves you the cost of one night's hotel stay. Another excellent budget option is the Seishun 18 Ticket, which allows for five days of unlimited travel on local and rapid JR trains across Japan for roughly 12,050 yen (about 2,410 yen per day). While this is much slower—a trip from Tokyo to Kyoto would take 9 hours instead of 2.5—it is the ultimate "slow travel" bargain. For long distances (like Tokyo to Fukuoka), low-cost carriers (LCCs) like Peach or Jetstar Japan are often cheaper than the Shinkansen if booked in advance, sometimes offering one-way flights for under 6,000 yen.