Hiroshima and Miyajima are very popular and obviously these are “Big Name”s in Japan. Some of you want to visit these place but you may be hesitating to visit there because of tight schedule.
If you stay in Osaka or Kyoto, Hiroshima and Miyajima can be visited as day trip. If you can stay there for even one night, that is much better. But you may prefer to have “Baggage Free” day trip.
In this post, I show you sample itinerary to visit Hiroshima and Miyajima as day trip.
From Osaka / Kyoto to Hiroshima
If you stay in Osaka, get Shin-Osaka station to catch the Shinkansen. If you stay in Kyoto, you can catch the Shinkansen at Kyoto station.
If you use JR Pass, as probably you know, you cannot take Nozomi and Mizuho. Only Hikari, Sakura and Kodama are covered by JR Pass. But there are a few Hikari that take you to Hiroshima from Kyoto directly. Please check the Shinkansen timetable in JR Central official site:
JR Central official site – The Tokaido and the Sanyo Shinkansen timetable
As of September 2019, only these following Shinkansen trains which are covered by JR Pass go directly to Hiroshima from Kyoto.
Hikari 481
Kyoto 07:20 – Shin-Osaka 07:35 – Hiroshima 09:06
Hikari 493
Kyoto 08:00 – Shin-Osaka 08:14 – Hiroshima 09:56
Hikari 495
Kyoto 08:23 – Shin-Osaka 08:39 – Hiroshima 10:35
If you miss these trains, you have to transfer trains at Shin-Osaka in most cases.
If you do not use JR Pass, Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass is recommended.
This pass is sold at 13,000 yen. This is cheaper than round trip fare to Hiroshima from Shin-Osaka. But this pass does not cover the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to the east. You cannot take the Shinkansen from Kyoto. If you stay in Kyoto and intend to use this pass, you have to take other trains on the conventional lines to get Shin-Osaka from Kyoto. Special Rapid train runs every 15 minutes and connects Kyoto and Shin-Osaka in less than 30 minutes.
Trip to Miyajima
If you go to Miyajima first, you need to transfer to a local train at Hiroshima station. If you have 10 minutes, you can transfer. Local trains run every 10 to 15 minutes to Miyajimaguchi that is the nearest station to the ferry to Miyajima. And it takes about 30 minutes to get Miyajimaguchi. I have visited Miyajima and wrote about access there from Hiroshima before. Please find more information at the link below:
Most of you spend half day in Miyajima and half day in city of Hiroshima. You can visit either Miyajima or Hiroshima at first. But if you want to walk down floating Torii gate at Itsukushima shrine in Miyajima, you visit there at low tide. You can find updated tide table of Miyajima at this fishing site.
You will spend 45 minutes for each way from Hiroshima to Miyajima. I suggest you to have 4 hours, 2 hours transfer and 2 hours sightseeing, for Miyajima.
Sightseeing in Hiroshima
Most of sites are very accessible from Hiroshima station by street car. And also JR tourist bus “Meipuru-pu” takes you to most places in Hiroshima.
Hisoshima Sightseeing Loop Bus, “Meipuru-pu”
This bus is covered by JR Pass, Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass, Sanyo Sanin Area Pass, Hiroshima Yamaguchi Area Pass.
If you want to see more places that is not covered by this loop bus, you can take Hiroshima Railway’s street car, a.k.a. “Hiro-den”. One day pass is 600 yen.
Hiroshima Electric Railway economical ticket
If you spend 4 hours for Miyajima, you still have 7 hours for Hiroshima until the last Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka. You may add some more time for Miyajima. It depends on how many places you want to see in Hiroshima.
From Hiroshima to Kyoto / Shin-Osaka
There is no direct Shinkansen trains from Hiroshima to Kyoto. If you take the last Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka, there is no Shinkansen trains to Kyoto. Even if you have JR Pass, you have to take local train to Kyoto. Please see Shinkansen timetable below:
JR Central official site – The Tokaido and the Sanyo Shinkansen timetable
As of September 2019, these Shinkansen trains will be your last departure to Shin-Osaka.
Hikari 444
Hiroshima 21:58 – Shin-Osaka 23:32
Mizuho 612 (Sanyo San’in Area Pass, Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass user only)
Hiroshima 22:12 – Shin-Osaka 23:37
If you have to take the subway to get Namba or other subway stations, it is no problem. The last subway departs from Shin-Osaka is 0:02. Usually you can transfer from Shinkansen to subway in 10 minutes.
If you have to go back to Kyoto, the last train is Special Rapid 00:30 departure to Kyoto. But if you take this train, you can get Kyoto but you cannot get any other places in Kyoto by the public transportation. If you do not stay around Kyoto station, take earlier Shinkansen train.
Sample itinerary
My suggested itinerary is as follows:
From Shin-Osaka
08:04 Shin-Osaka
Sakura 547
09:34 Hiroshima
10:00 Hiroshima
Local train
10:27 Miyajimaguchi
10:40 Miyajimaguchi
Ferry
10:50 Miyajima
From Kyoto
08:00 Kyoto
Hikari 493
09:56 Hiroshima
10:15 Hiroshima
Local train
10:41 Miyajimaguchi
10:50 Miyajimaguchi
Ferry
11:00 Miyajima
Sightseeing and easy lunch at Miyajima.
Same itinerary for Osaka and Kyoto departure after visiting Miyajima.
13:30 Miyajima
Ferry
13:40 Miyajimaguchi
13:58 Miyajimaguchi
Local train
14:25 Hiroshima
Sightseeing and dinner at Hiroshima. Enjoy Hiroshima Okonomiyaki (savory pancake Hiroshima style) for your dinner!
20:52 Hiroshima
Sakura 570
22:21 Shin-Osaka
If you take Sakura 570, you can get back to any places in Osaka and Kyoto by public transportation.
At last, I recommend you to take Sakura (or Mizuho) than Hikari (or Nozomi) if you take a seat in the reserved car. Because the reserved seat accommodation is much better. Sakura and Mizuho has 2+2 layout. Hikari and Nozomi have 2+3 layout. Sakura and Mizuho’s reserved seat is much wider. You find many photo of seat and interior at the link below:
If you have extra day in Osaka or Kyoto, you may consider to add Hiroshima and Miyajima day trip.
Comments
Hi Takeshi, our itinerary is as follows:
Day1 -4 Tokyo
Day 5 – Lake Kawaguchiko
Day 6-10 – Kyoto (including Nara)
Day 11 – Hiroshima and Mijayima
Day 12-14 – Sapporo (flying)
What train tickets would you suggest?
Hi Justyna,
I would like to make sure a few things:
1. Are you going to Lake Kawaguchi as day trip from Tokyo or drop by there on the way to Kyoto?
2. Are you going to take a flight from Hirsohima to Sapporo?
3. Are you going to leave Japan from Sapporo?
Please let me know these above things.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
I have a JR pass and I’m in Osaka. I want to go to Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nara and possibly Miyajima island if time permits. I’m in Osaka only until 3/9
Hi Andrea,
You can visit Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day as I explained in the post above. Kyoto and Nara are closed to Osaka and very easy to make day trip. You can use JR pass to get Nara and Kyoto. Please see the links below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/how-to-transfer-among-kyoto-osaka-and-kobe-compare-japan-railway-and-private-lines.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-kyoto-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi, I am arrriving in KIX on 23 Mar 7am. Planned trip as follows: From KIX take a bus journey to Hiroshima. Stay 3 nights in Hiroshima and Miyajima. Then travel from Hiroshima to Osaka by Shinkansen. Stay the remainder days at Osaka. Fly out on 31 Mar. 2 adults and 1 child.
I want to have rail and walking options. Please advise if I should get a JR Pass before arriving in Japan. If yes, how much will it be of help throughout my stay. Intend to use public transport as much as possible.
From Malaysia
Hi Deva,
JR pass is too expensive.
If you take trains on arrival day to Hiroshima, Kansai Hiroshima area pass is recommended.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/kansai-hiroshima-area-pass-perfect-deal-for-the-traveller-who-wants-travel-both-kansai-and-hiroshima.html
But if you want to take a bus to Hiroshima, single ticket is your choice. You can find the info about sigle ticket in the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/for-non-jr-pass-travellers-guide-to-use-jr-single-ticket-basic-rules-validity-and-stopover.html
In Osaka, you can find the info about local deals in the links below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-osaka.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/how-to-choose-discount-railway-ticket-and-pass-in-kansai-area.html
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
There are so many deals available. I recommend you to build the detailed plan before choosing the deals.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
could you recommend an itinerary for 3 weeks in Japan? I will be arriving and flying back at Tokyo, Haneda. I would like to travel Hokkaido, Osaka, Tokyo and Hiroshima.
Would you recommend to buy the JR Pass and will it be the most affordable route?
Hi Megan,
Sorry but I do not customize an itinerary because once I do it, everybody may ask me and it’s too much for me. Please understand.
But you can find some resources in the link below. I have many 7 days and 14 days sample itinerary. It may help you to build your plan.
https://jprail.com/category/sample-itineraries
JR pass may be the best deal but you have to build your plan and make sure where you go and how long you stay in each place. You cannot find the best deal before you complete this job.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Megan,
I can share my itinerary with you that I followed. I had 10 days in Japan and have covered all these areas with JR pass (7 days) and the Kansai Area pass for 3 days. Feel free to drop me an email or you can see a rough sketch in the blog below that I shared with Takeshi. The places I covered were Osaka, Kyoto, Himeji, Hiroshima, Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Regards
Andy
Hi! my journey:
Day 1 (17.03) – Arrive to KIX at 18hrs.
Day 2 (18.03)- Sightseeing in Osaka.
Day 3 (19.03) – Day trip to Hiroshima + Train to Kyoto
Day 4,5,6 (20/21/22.03) – Sightseeing in Kyoto
Day 7, 8, 9 (23/24/25) – Sightseeing in Tokyo.
Day 10 – (26.03) – departure from Tokyo NRT
Any recommendation/important thing that I should know? or do?
Thanks!
Hi Pedro,
Your itinerary is feasible. You may use JR pass 7 days for the first 7 days.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html
After arriving Tokyo, you can use subway pass for sightseeing. And there is no deal to get Narita. Budget bus from Tokyo station is most affordable.
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/narita/the-list-of-deals-for-access-to-downtown-tokyo-from-narita-airport.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
I am interested in buying a 7 day JR Pass if it would be of value to me.
I will be arriving at the Yokohama port on a Saturday morning and traveling into Tokyo Station. If I have a pass, can I use it to get to the Tokyo Station? And if so, where would I activate my pass before boarding?
After 2 days in Tokyo, I will be taking 2 trips.
My itinerary:
Early Monday morning – Tokyo Station to Kyoto
Late Tuesday afternoon – Kyoto to Hiroshima/Miyajima
Late Wed afternoon – Hiroshima to Tokyo Station
Early Thursday morning – Tokyo Station to Narita Terminal 2
I would appreciate your knowledge and input. I am interested
in taking the Shinkansen trains.
Thank you.
Hi Teresa,
Actually you can exchange it at Yokohama station too. Of course you can do it at Tokyo station. But if you exchange it at Yokohama station, you can take JR train to get Tokyo. Please see the list of exchange place in the link below:
http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/exchange.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/station-information/odawara-station-guide-how-to-transfer-to-the-train-to-hakone.html
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/stations/e1638.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
We are traveling from Kobe to Hiroshima and Miyajima for a day. How do we use our JR Pass for the local train from Hiroshima and ferry from Miyajimaguchi? Can we obtain tickets in Kobe or must they be obtained in Hiroshima?
Hi Brett,
When you take a local train and ferry, all you have to do is just showing your JR pass. You don’t need to get any tickets.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hye Takeshi,
The info were so helpful and it does help me a lot in planning for my itinerary. However I’m still pretty much confuse with the transportations. I hope you could help me out.
My itinerary:
Day 1 (30/4) Arrive in Osaka (KIX), head over to my hotel
Day 2-Day 4 (1/5-3/5) will be sight-seeing in osaka
Day 5 (4/5) travel to kyoto
Day6- Day 7 ( 5/5-6/5) sightseeing in kyoto
Day 8 (7/5) travel to amanohashidate
Day 9 (8/5) travel to nara
Day 10 – Day 11 ( 9/5-10/5) travel to hiroshima and miyaji
Day 12 (11/5) travel back to osaka
Day 13 Day 14 ( 12/5-13/5) flightback from KIX.
This is just a rough planned itinerary, but it would be helpful if you could suggest the best subway pass i should get to travel around or is there any changes in my itinerary to make the trip more convenient?
Thanks in advance.
Hi tilly,
You can use Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass for day 8 to day 12. It covers Amanohashidate, Hiroshima, Miyajima and Nara.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/kansai-hiroshima-area-pass-perfect-deal-for-the-traveller-who-wants-travel-both-kansai-and-hiroshima.html
This pass does not cover Amanohashidate now. But it will cover Kyoto Tango railway from Fukuchiyama to Amanohashidate after April. So when you travel, you can get Amanohashidate without extra charge by this pass.
You may choose one of the deals for KIX-Osaka in the link below:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
Single ticket is okay for Osaka to Kyoto and find some deals in Osaka and Kyoto at the links below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-osaka.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-kyoto.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thanks Takeshi for those valuable info. and prompt response.
No worries, tilly.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you so much for the information on the Sample itinerary trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima from Osaka/Kyoto. As my knowledge of Japanese is very limited, your suggestions and various links are very precious time saving. I read about all the different types of discounts for short term tourist in Japan. However, i would like to ask if there are any types of discounts on trains for those how are staying a year in Japan? I am in Japan for one year and so cannot use normal tourist deals. Is there an English website that would help me to find discounts for people in my situation? Thank you in advance.
Hi Agnieszka,
Actually I have never seen the site which provide info about local deals in English. And also as far as I know, the deal for local residents to cover Hiroshima and Miyajiama is very limited. Most affordable one is Kodama Ofuku Kippu (round trip ticket by Kodama). You cannot take the fastest train, Nozomi and Mizuho. This ticket allows you to take the slowest train, Kodama or a few of Hikari. Unfortunately there is no info in English. I put the link in Japanese.
http://tickets.jr-odekake.net/shohindb/view/consumer/tokutoku/detail.html?shnId=116000094
I think it’s very very hard to find the deal for locals without Japanese unfortunately.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you for this information. I was going to skip Miyajima [spending a few days in Osaka]. I have added it as a day trip along with Kyoto.
No worries, LaKeisha.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com