How to Travel to Hiroshima From Tokyo: A Thorough Comparison

Hiroshima prefecture is famous for the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

Other famous attractions in Hiroshima prefecture are Hiroshima Castle, the island of Miyajima where you will find Itsukushima Shrine and its great torii gate floating in the sea and Shukkei-en, a historic Japanese garden.

In addition, there are famous local dishes such as Hiroshima style okonomiyaki and momiji manjū, a Japanese sweet steamed bun shaped like a maple leaf.

As Hiroshima offers a lot of different experiences to its visitors, today we would like to introduce the best ways to travel from Tokyo to Hiroshima.

The Most Common Method: Shinkansen

The most common way to travel between Tokyo and Hiroshima is via the shinkansen or the bullet trains in Japan. One-way travel takes about four hours and costs 19,760 yen for an assigned seat. If you buy a discounted round-trip ticket, a one-way ticket will cost you 18,570 yen. There are trains running approximately every 15-20 minutes.

A four hour train ride is quite a lengthy trip, but you will be able to enjoy some stunning views from the train windows, something you cannot experience if you travel by airplane. In addition, you can get to try some ekiben, which are special boxed lunches sold at major train stations, often made with local specialties or locally-produced items).

The Fastest Way: Flights

Both airports, Narita International Airport and Haneda Airport operate flights between Tokyo and Hiroshima.

There are several airline companies which operate these flights: ANA, JAL, and Spring Japan.

So if you decide to travel by air, it is better to go with ANA or JAL as they offer flights from Haneda Airport (which is easier to reach from the center of Tokyo), while Spring Japan only offers flights from Narita International Airport. 

Prices will change depending on the season travelled, but tickets can be quite affordable ranging from 7,000 yen to 20,000 yen during busier seasons.

The flight itself takes only 90 minutes, but if you include the boarding time and traveling time to the airport, it will take longer. So please consider this when you compare which method is the best for your schedule.

Arrive in Hiroshima in the Early Morning: Overnight Buses

One of the cheapest ways to travel to Hiroshima is by taking an overnight bus. The cheapest one-way ticket fare starts from 6000 yen (reserve early for cheaper fares).

The bus from the Tokyo area to Hiroshima is about a 13 hour ride. It is a good way to save both time and money if you don't mind sleeping on a bus for a night.

Enjoy the Journey with Your Friends: Renting a Car

If you are planning to stay in Japan for a longer time, it might be worth renting a car to drive down to Hiroshima.

There are many major cities which offer lots of exciting attractions on your way from Tokyo to Hiroshima such as Shizuoka, Nagoya, Osaka and Kyoto. If you drive straight from Tokyo all the way down to Hiroshima, it will take you about nine and a half hours without stopping at any other places.

All the people, local foods and culture you discover at random on your way will make for some incredible memories of your time in Japan. On average, it will cost you about 70,000 yen if you want to rent a car in Tokyo and return it in Hiroshima; you also have to take fuel and highway tolls into account when budgeting for a road trip like this. But, if you have friends to do it with you or have the time and budget to do it, why not try driving to Hiroshima from Tokyo?

Exploring Kansai and Hiroshima Together: JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass

If your travel plans include visiting Osaka and the other areas in the Kansai region while heading to Hiroshima, consider getting the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass.

This pass covers a wide of western Japan including Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Himeji, Wakayama, Okayama, Kagawa, Tottori, Hiroshima, and etc.

You'll be able to ride trains, buses, and ferries run by JR in these areas, and this pass will also give you reserved seating on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line (the shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima), making it a great deal if you're already headed towards the Kansai area.

The 5-day JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass costs 17,000 yen (as of Oct. 2023)

By matching your needs to the information provided above, we are certain that you will be able to thoroughly enjoy making the trip from Tokyo to Hiroshima. Enjoy!

All pictures from PIXTA