According to one embodiment, there is provided a memory system including a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a bus, and a controller. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a first chip and a second chip. The bus is connected to the first chip and the second chip in common. The controller issues a first command to the first chip via the bus. The controller queues a second command whose access destination is identified to be the first chip at a first timing while the first chip is executing the first command. The controller issues to the second chip a third command whose access destination is identified to be the second chip after the first timing, via the bus in priority over the second command, while the first chip is executing the first command or after the execution of the first command finishes.