Palermo from Bratislava (slightly more expensive from Prague too) on many dates
28 €
Getting to Hiroshima
Hiroshima is easily accessible by air and by high-speed trains on the San’yo Shinkansen line.
The high-speed rail service is complemented by significantly cheaper long-distance buses.
By air
The international airport is located approximately 50 km from the city centre Hiroshima HIJ.
Just under 45 km south of Hiroshima, you’ll also find a small domestic airport Iwakuni IWK
International flights
Several international flights operate directly to Hiroshima from cities such as:
- Seoul –Jeju Air
- Beijing –Air China
- Shanghai –China Eastern Airlines
- Hong Kong –HK Express
- Taipei –China Airlines
There are no direct international flights to Iwakuni Airport.
If you’re travelling to Hiroshima from abroad, China Eastern Airlines usually offers the cheapest connection with a stopover in Shanghai, particularly from Europe, Australia or South-East Asia.
Conversely, the most frequent international connections are operated by ANA and JAL, with a stopover in Tokyo.
Search for flights to Hiroshima
Domestic flights
Over 80% of flights from Hiroshima are bound for Tokyo, withANA and JAL operating flights there several times an hour.
The average price of a one-way ticket is around 85 usd.
There are also direct flights to Sapporo and Sendai.
OnlyANAflights from Tokyo and Okinawa serve Iwakuni Airport.
By train
Hiroshima lies on the San’yo Shinkansen high-speed line connecting Fukuoka and Osaka. Direct Shinkansen high-speed trains run from Hiroshima to the following cities:
- Tokyo
- Osaka (Shin-Osaka station)
- Kyoto
- Okayama
- Kobe
- Nagoya
- Fukuoka (Hakata Station)
- Kitakyushu (Kokura Station)
- Himeji
- Fukuyama
- Hamamatsu
- Shizuoka
- Yokohama
Regular conventional trains also run from here to towns such as Kure, Iwakuni, Takehara, Mihara, Miyoshi, Yanai and many others.
All trains running to Hiroshima, including high-speed trains, are operated by JR West.
You can look up timetables online and, if required, purchase tickets online via the user-friendly official websitewestjr.co.jp. Tickets cost the same even if purchased just before departure at the station.
Detailed information on purchasing tickets, JR Passes and trains in general is provided in the chapter on Transport in Japan.
Where can you collect your JR Pass?
If you have purchased your JR Pass online atwestjr.co.jp, you can collect it in Hiroshima at the main railway station at the “Foreign Tourist Counter”, which is open from 5.30 am to 10.00 pm.
Alternatively, you can collect your JR Pass from the green ticket machine at the station.
Where are the railway stations in Hiroshima?
Hiroshima has one main station, where all Shinkansen high-speed trains and regular conventional trains stop.
- Hiroshima Station– located on the eastern edge of the city centre
- You can reach the city centre via tram lines 1, 2 and 6
- Tram number 5 runs to Hiroshima Harbour
- Tram number 2 runs to the ferry terminal at Miyajima
- Location on the map
You’ll find luggage lockers at many stations in Hiroshima; the fee depends on the size of your luggage 400 jpy to 600 jpy. You can pay in cash or using transport cards (Suica, Icoca and others).
You will only need to use the next station for local services towards Miyajimaguchi (the JR ferry terminal for Miyajima Island) or Iwakuni.
- Nishi-Hiroshima – towards the city centre: tram lines 2 and 3
- Yokogawa – towards the city centre: trams 7 and 8
- Hakushima – towards the city centre: Astram metro
By bus
Long-distance buses in Japan are known as ‘Highway Buses’ and are significantly cheaper than trains. However, the journey time is usually 3–4 times longer than on the Shinkansen high-speed trains.
The most user-friendly booking system in English is operated by the largest coach company, Willer Travel, through which you can also purchase tickets for other operators.
Book your tickets via the websitewiller-travel.com.
There are two main bus stations in Hiroshima:
- Bus Centre in the city centre (see map)
- Hiroshima Station, next to the railway station at the north-east “Shinkansen Exit” (see map)
Transport from Hiroshima to Osaka
What is the best way to get from Hiroshima to Osaka, one of Japan’s main tourist centres?
| Price | Journey time | Frequency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shinkansen | from 9 890 jpy | 80–90 minutes | every 10 minutes |
| Highwaybus | from 3 870 jpy | 3.5–4 hours | 4–5 times a day |
By train
The most frequent and fastest service is provided by the Shinkansen high-speed trains. Trains run on average every 10 minutes and the journey takes 80–90 minutes, depending on the number of stops.
Conventional trains (Limited Express, Rapid Express, Local) do not operate on this route.
When selecting a ticket or searching for timetables on thewestjr.co.jpwebsite, enterShin-Osaka as your destination station, as this is the only station in Osaka where Shinkansen high-speed trains stop. From there, you can easily reach the city centre by metro or a local JR train.
Ticket prices are the same whether purchased online or at the station for all types of high-speed trains (Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama).
The price always consists of two parts. When buying from a ticket machine, you must first select the small ‘Shinkansen Base Fare’ option and, after payment, purchase a seat, even if travelling in a ‘Non-Reserved Car’.
Detailed information on purchasing tickets, JR Passes and trains in general is provided in the chapter on Transport in Japan.
- Basic fare – 5 720 jpy
- Seat reservation Reserved seating – 5 430 jpy
- Non-reserved seating (you may have to stand on the train) – 4 170 jpy
Some trains in Hiroshima start their journey there. On these services, if you buy a “Non-reserved” ticket, you have a good chance of finding a free seat.
However, if you buy a “Non-reserved” ticket for a train arriving from Hakata station, the chances of finding a free seat are significantly lower. You can check whether a train starts in Hiroshima by searching the timetables on thewestjr.co.jp website. In such cases, the train will be marked with the note ‘"Train originating from this Station" ’.
By bus
A journey by long-distance coach is roughly three times cheaper than by train, but coaches run only 4–5 times a day and the journey takes more than 3.5 hours.
You can find tickets and timetables on the website of the largest operator,willer-travel.com.
Prices vary depending on the type of bus and range from 3 870 jpy to 4 500 jpy.
Transport from Hiroshima to Tokyo
What is the best way to get from Hiroshima to Tokyo, the capital of Japan?
| Price | Journey time | Frequency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shinkansen | from 18 380 jpy | 4 hours | every 15 minutes |
| Plane | from 11 500 jpy | 75 minutes (approx. 4 hours from city centre to city centre) |
2–4 times an hour |
| Bus | from 7 600 jpy | 3.00 pm | twice a day |
By train
The most frequent service is provided by Shinkansen high-speed trains. Direct trains run on average every 15 minutes and the journey takes around 4 hours.
Conventional trains (Limited Express, Rapid Express, Local) do not run on this route.
When selecting a ticket or searching for timetables on thewestjr.co.jpwebsite, enterTokyo(city centre) or Shinagawa (on the western edge of the city centre, for journeys to Haneda Airport ( HND ) or Shibuya Crossing).
Ticket prices are the same whether purchased online or at the station for all types of high-speed trains (Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama).
The price always consists of two parts. When buying from a ticket machine, you must first select the small ‘Shinkansen Base Fare’ option and, after payment, purchase a seat, even if travelling in a ‘Non-Reserved Car’.
Detailed information on purchasing tickets, JR Passes and trains in general is provided in the chapter on Transport in Japan.
- Basic fare – 11 880 jpy
- Seat reservation Reserved seating – 7 800 jpy
- Non-reserved seating (you may have to stand on the train) – 6 500 jpy
Some trains in Hiroshima start their journey there. On these services, if you buy a “Non-reserved” ticket, you have a good chance of finding a free seat.
However, if you buy a “Non-reserved” ticket for a train arriving from Hakata Station, the chances of finding a free seat are significantly lower. You can check whether a train starts in Hiroshima by searching the timetables on thewestjr.co.jp website. In such cases, the train will be marked with the note ‘"Train originating from this Station" ’.
By plane
Although travelling by plane is seemingly the quickest option, you must factor in a 60-minute journey from the city centre to Hiroshima Airport (HIJ) for a flight lasting around 75 minutes, plus at least 75 minutes before departure.
The vast majority of flights land at TokyoHaneda Airport (HND), from where it takes roughly 40 minutes to reach the city centre.
Flight tickets are cheapest when booked around 3 months in advance and start at around 11 500 jpy. Prices always include checked-in luggage.
ANA and JALoperate flights on this route, and you can compare their prices on skyscanner.com, for example.
By coach
A journey by long-distance coach is roughly three times cheaper than by train, but coaches only run twice a day and the journey takes more than 14 hours.
You can find tickets and timetables on the website of the largest operator,willer-travel.com.
Prices vary depending on the type of coach and range from 7 600 jpy to 11 000 jpy.
This article may contain affiliate links from which our editorial team may earn commissions if you click on the link. See our Advertising Policy page.
Any questions left?
If you have any questions or comments about the article...
