A radio communication system includes a first radio base station including a terminal communicator which communicates with a radio terminal and a connection timing controller which starts waiting for connection in station-to-station communication when the terminal communicator has established a communication link with the radio terminal, a second radio base station including a connector which, upon detecting the base station waiting for connection in station-to-station communication, establishes connection with the base station in the station-to-station communication and a connection timing controller which, when the connector has detected the base station, starts waiting for connection in station-to-station communication, and a third radio base station including a connector which, upon detecting the base station waiting for connection in station-to-station communication, establishes connection with the second base station in the station-to-station communication. The second base station further includes a relay which relays communication between the first base station and the third base station.