Sample itinerary of day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima from Osaka/Kyoto

1 to 3 days
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is one of Must-See in Hiroshima. ©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO
One of well known places in Japan, World Heritage Site, Miyajima Itsukushima shrine.  ©Hiroshima Prefecture / ©JNTO
One of well known places in Japan, World Heritage Site, Miyajima Itsukushima shrine. ©Hiroshima Prefecture / ©JNTO

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

Kyushu Shinkansen Sakura and Mizuho give you direct trainsfer to Shin-Osaka from Kyusyu.
N700 series Shinkansen fleet is used for Mizuho and Sakura.

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

You have to visit at low tide if you want to walk around Torii.  	©Hiroshima Prefecture / ©JNTO
You have to visit at low tide if you want to walk around Torii. (C) Hiroshima Prefecture / ©JNTO

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

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is one of Must-See in Hiroshima. ©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is one of Must-See in Hiroshima. ©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO

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.

JR tourist loop bus Meipuru-pu

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.

Street car is most popular transportation in city of Hiroshima. ©Hiroshima Convention & Visitors Bureau

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!

Hiroshima has one of the best Okonomiyaki in Japan! ©Hiroshima Convention & Visitors Bureau

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

  1. gebd says:

    Hi Takeshi-san, I’m going to Japan by the end of this month and I was wondering if you think I should buy a JR Pass for 21 days or just the Kansai Area pass?

    My itinerary is as follows:

    Dec 30: Arrival at Narita
    Dec: 31: Tokyo
    Jan: 1 Tokyo
    Jan 2: Tokyo
    Jan 3: Tokyo
    Jan 4: Tokyo (maybe Yokohama day trip)
    Jan 5: Tokyo
    Jan 6: Tokyo
    Jan 7: Tokyo
    Jan 8: Tokyo to Nagoya
    Jan: 9: Nagoya (Inuyama side trip)
    Jan 10: Nagoya
    Jan 11: Nagoya
    Jan 12: Nagoya
    Jan 13: Nagoya
    Jan 14: Nagoya
    Jan 15: Nagoya to Kyoto
    Jan 16: Kyoto (Nara side trip)
    Jan 17: Kyoto to Osaka (Kobe side trip)
    Jan 18: Osaka (Hiroshima side trip)
    Jan: 19: Osaka
    Jan 20: Osaka
    Jan 21: Tokyo

    Thanks in advance!

  2. Willy says:

    Hi Takeshi-san, I’m planning a trip to Japan in February 2018 visiting Kansai and Hiroshima. The whole trip will be 7 days and 6 nights.

    For the Hiroshima leg, do you think three days (w/ 2 night stay in Hiroshima) will be enough to visit key places in Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Matsuyama (for Dogo Onsen)?

    I will fly out of Japan from Hiroshima so do you think I would need to get the JR PASS?

    Thank you!

  3. Chris says:

    Hello Takeshi-san,

    Thank you for your quick respond.

    In one of your article, you recommended about getting the Rapi:t Tokudane Return-trip ticket (between Namba and Kansai airport) at 980 yen. I haven’t been able to get more information on this online, I presume I can purchase this in the airport? Can I trouble you to show me the link? I guess this is better than getting the Osaka Amazing Pass (Nankai expansion version) ?

    As I will be staying near Kyoto station, I have been told to take Keihan Bus from Namba (OCAT) on a Saturday, using Kansai thru pass. Is it necessary to make reservation?

    Many thanks.
    C

    • Hi Chris san,

      Unfortunately that deal is no longer available.

      Do you mean Keihan bus to Kansai airport by Kansai thru pass? If so, Kansai thru pass does not cover the bus to KIX. Please see the link below to find “Caution!! The KANSAI THRU PASS cannot be used in the following zones and areas.” at the bottom.
      http://www.surutto.com/images/ticket/kansai_thru_pass/english/en_map.pdf

      It says
      “KEIHAN BUS
      Hirakata City 100yen Bus, Regular Tour Bus,
      Express Bus, Airport Limousine Bus”

      Reservation is not required to take airport limousine bus.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Chris says:

        Hi Takeshi-san

        What pass would you recommend for the round trip between Namba and Kansai airport then? If there is none at the moment, I believe I should purchase the Osaka Amazing Pass (Nankai expansion version) instead and purchase another ticket in advance at the airport for trip from Namba to Kansai airport ?

        The Keihan bus was meant for trip to Kyoto station from Namba station using the Kansi thru pass. As we we will be travelling with our luggages, I thought it will be easier without all the transfer between lines. No reservation is required for this route, is that right?

        I am also looking at the trip from Kyoto station back to Namba station. There is an option by taking the regular JR Tokaido line, does it go directly to JR Namba station? Is this recommended?

        Thank you!
        Chris

  4. Indrani Vidyarthi says:

    Dear Takeshi-san,
    Hullo from India!
    We are a group of 8 persons visiting Kyoto, Hiroshima, and and then either Osaka (some of us) or Tokyo (the others), total 7 days, in December. Two of us are over 70 years with restricted mobility (ie, slow walking but without aid). We will be buying the 7 day Japan rail pass covering Kansai-Kyoto-Hiroshima (one way or return ) – Osaka/Tokyo – Kansai/Narita My questions are:
    1. Would you advise us to do a day trip to Hiroshima/Miyajima from Kyoto or is an overnight visit better ?
    2. Is there adequate place for luggage on the trains (we are international travellers with at least a suitcase and small backpack each) ?
    3. How easy or difficult would it be to access the trains with luggage (eg are there lifts at stations or only escalators) and how much in advance should we arrive at the stations?
    Thank you,
    Kind regards,
    Indrani

  5. Tan Redzuan says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,
    We arrive at Hiroshima airport on 18 Nov 2017, 09:30 hr and depart from Hiroshima airport on 25 Nov 2017, 10:25 hr.
    I read about 5 days Kansai-Hiroshima Area pass, for 13000 yen.
    Our itinerary is as follows:
    Hiroshima, Miyajima, Okayama, Tsuyama, Himeji, Amanohashidate, Ine, Kinosaki Onsen, Tottori Sand Dune, Kyoto, Kobe night scene.

    Would appreciate your advice on the 5 days Kansai-Hiroshima Area pass.
    1. For online booking of Pass, is the activation date already fix during booking? Can the activation date of the pass change to for example, 2nd day or 3rd day of arrival?
    2. With the Kansai- Hiroshima Pass, what is the better route from Okayama / Himeji to Amanohashidate?
    Does the pass include Kyoto Tango railway with no extra cost?

    Thank you.
    Redzuan

    • Hi Redzuan san,

      1. Yes. You have to decide the date to start using the pass. If you are not sure, you should purchase it after arrival at Hiroshima station. You can purchase it there but you need to pay 1000 yen extra.

      2. You should go to Osaka or Amagasaki to catch the limited express, Kounotori. You can take Kyoto Tango railway from Fukuchiyama without any extra.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  6. Amy says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    I will be traveling around the West region (Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, Himeji, Okayama, Miyajima and Shin-Yamaguchi) for about 13 days. I was thinking of purchasing the Regional Passes JR West Pass – JR Sanyo San’in Area Pass. I noticed I can only purchase a 7 days pass and not like JR pass 7, 14 etc.

    Is there a restriction on how many JR west pass I can use in my 13 days travel? I was planning on buy x2 JR west pass. I will probably activate one at the Kansai airport and travel to Shin Osaka via Kansai airport express Haruka. Then activate the 2nd JR West pass in Hiroshima.

    Thank you.
    Cheers
    Amy

  7. Bryan says:

    Hello, my girlfriend and I are going to Japan in January. My itinerary is as follows:
    13TH JANUARY 2018 TOKYO
    14th JANUARY 2018 KYOTO
    15th JANUARY 2018 KYOTO
    16th JANUARY 2018 HIROSHIMA
    17th JANUARY 2018 HIROSHIMA
    18th JANUARY 2018 FUKUOKA
    19th JANUARY 2018 BEPPU
    20th JANUARY 2018 BEPPU
    21st JANUARY 2018 KOBE
    22nd JANUARY 2018 KOBE
    23rd JANUARY 2018 OSAKA
    24th JANUARY 2018 OSAKA
    25th JANUARY 2018 OSAKA
    26th JANUARY 2018 TOKYO
    27th JANUARY 2018 TOKYO
    28th JANUARY 2018 TOKYO
    29th JANUARY 2018 TOKYO
    30th JANUARY 2018 TOKYO
    31st JANUARY 2018 HOME D:
    We need some advice if our trip is too rushed, we mostly want to visit each cities for food and a bit of sightseeing. Also advice on JR pass. If you have any recommendations, it would really help us a lot. Thank you.

  8. Christina L says:

    Hello Takeshi-san,

    I will be travelling to Osaka and Kyoto from 15th Nov (early morning) and leaving Japan on 23rd Nov.

    15/11 – arrive in Kansai Airport at 5.40am (probably staying in Namba). Osaka Castle, Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, Dontonbori Shopping, Ebisu Bridge
    16/11 – Universal Studio Japan, Dontonbori Shopping at night if not too tired
    17/11 – Himeji Castle (AM), Kobe (PM)
    18/11 – Nara (half day) probably squeeze in Uji (would that be possible?)
    19/11 – Kyoto
    20/11 – Kyoto
    21/11 – Kyoto
    22/11 – Kyoto
    23/11 – Departing at Kansai Airport

    Which is the best pass to use? Would it better or does it make a difference if we stay last night in Osaka before heading to the airport on 23rd? Could you kindly give some suggestions to my itinerary.

    Many thanks!

    CL

  9. Sheena says:

    Takeshi-san,

    Thank you for quick reply!

    I understand that the pass can only be used on specific trains only so I was wondering if it will be difficult to identify the train that we can board using this 5 Day Kansai Hiroshima pass?

    On the route map from the website, there listed a few specific rail lines, and there is “Conventional lines”, do you know what this means?

    For example, if I am at Nippombashi (Midosuji line) and would like to travel to Kyoto or Hiroshima, can this pass be used or would I need to take normal ticket to a connecting station to be able to use this pass?

    Thank you,
    Sheena

  10. Sheena says:

    Takeshi-san,

    If I buy Kansai Hiroshima 5 day pass, and travel from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima with Nozomi Shinkansen, even with non-reserved seat, do I have to pay any fee?

    Thank you,
    Sheena

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