Odaiba is known as Tokyo's beautiful bay area, featuring landmarks such as Venus Fort and the Fuji TV building. Those popular tourists spots are scattered over the entire area, making exploring the island on foot not impossible but certainly somewhat of a challenge.

The Tokyo Bay Shuttle bus, however, visits Odaiba's many attractions entirely for free! Even on weekends and holidays, this loop bus operates every day between 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., leaving in intervals of about 20 minutes. With barely any waiting time in between the buses, this is one of our favorite ways to explore Odaiba!

Operates: Daily
Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Frequency: Every 20 minutes

Main Stops

Naturally, Tokyo Station is one of the Japanese capital's major traffic hubs where many train lines cross - local, express, and even Shinkansen. Because of that, the area around the station is not only filled with hotels and restaurants but also with a whole variety of all kinds of different landmarks and sightseeing spots.

The Marunouchi Shuttle is a sightseeing loop bus that covers the entire area, a wonderful choice for both shoppers and sightseers alike. Added to which, it's a rare opportunity to gaze upon Tokyo's hustle and bustle from a relaxed bus ride.

In general, the Marunouchi Shuttle buses' route takes about 40 minutes, but on weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., a special "Otemachi Route" is in place, particularly made for the business people of the morning rush hour, skipping Yurakucho Station - make sure to keep that in mind!

Operates: daily
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. on weekdays
10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
Frequency: Every 12 to 15 minutes

Main Stops

Just recently, the two massive shopping facilities COREDO Muromachi 2 and COREDO Muromachi 3 have opened in an area called Nihonbashi. In the Edo period, the area flourished and prospered as a castle town directly next to Edo Castle - even today, the historic glory of this era is still both palpable and visible. Many a long-established restaurant offer the delicious, authentic tastes of old cuisines, while the latest technology and trends can be found at shops and cinemas just next door.

Metrolink Nihonbashi is a free sightseeing bus that departs from the busy Tokyo Station, making its way to Shin-Nihonbashi over five stops. Buses depart every 10 minutes, and each and every stop has unique spots of interest and sightseeing attractions to offer within walking distance.

The Metrolink Nihonbashi is also a great choice for shoppers as its main route is the Chuo-Dori, where shops and stores of all genres can be found. Hop on!

Operates: Daily
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Frequency: Every 10 minutes

Main Stops

The famous sightseeing area of Asakusa does of course have its very own free sightseeing bus - and it's an unmistakably adorable one! The Panda Bus is just that - a bus in the cute shape of a panda that takes eager sightseers around Asakusa's most famous places and hot spots. It operates on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, and it's a wonderfully convenient way to stop by all of Asakusa's must-visits in one day, such as Kaminarimon or Senso-ji Temple.

The Panda Bus also crosses the Sumida River, taking you straight to Tokyo Skytree(R) on the other side. Since this famous landmark is a fair distance away from Asakusa Station, people commonly use either the subway or a taxi to reach Tokyo Skytree(R), but why not just make use of the Panda Bus for free?

Operates: Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (no service between 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
Frequency: Every 40 minutes

Main Stops

Top image credit: Vassamon Anansukkasem / Shutterstock.com