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 there,
We are travelling to japan in two months.
We are staying at Kyoto for one night and plan to stay in Hiroshima for one night. We will spend one day exploring Hiroshima then check-out and go back to Kyoto the next morning.
Which trains (bullet) are suitable to take?
Jon Loo.
Hi Jon Loo,
It depends on which ticket or pass you will use.
If you just want to have the deal to cover Kyoto and Hiroshimal Kanasai Hiroshima Pass is the best choice.
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 you cannot take Shinkansen between Kyoto and Shin-Osaka by this pass, and only local train is covered by this pass on this segment. You have to take local train to get Shin-Osaka from Kyoto and then transfer to Shinkansen at Shin-Osaka. You can take any Shinkansen trains to Hiroshima. But this pass does not cover reserved seat only. It’s the first come first serve. If all seats are occupied, you have to stand up or take next train. But it’s very rare case that you cannot find any seats. Especially if you pick the train that depart from Shin-Osaka, it’s much easier to get a seat because train is empty when it comes to Shin-Osaka.
The following link show you the timetable of Shinkansen. You can find the trains that you want to take.
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/eastbound.pdf
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/westbound.pdf
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
We would like to visit Hiroshima as a day trip. We will be staying in Kyoto. As seniors we need to return in the afternoon , we need time to relax in Kyoto in the evening. Any information about trains would be very welcome.
Hi Gwyneth,
The following links shows you Shinkansen timetable. You can pick up the train whatever you like.
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/eastbound.pdf
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/westbound.pdf
But if you want to visit both Hiroshima and Miyajima, it’s hard to take a train in the afternoon. Trip time from Kyoto to Hiroshima is 2 hours. You will spend at least 3 hours to see Miyajima. And you will spend another few hours to see Hiroshima.
Actually day trip to Hiroshima/Miyajima is not very recommended for senior traveller. If you have a time, I recommend you to stay in Hiroshima one night. That will be much easier.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello – if I am planning a 1-day trip from Osaka to Hiroshima which train line should I take? If I have a JR Pass can I use that?
Many thanks
Hi Kali,
You can follow sample itinerary in the post above. Of course you can take earlier or later Shinkansen. Those are covered by JR Pass. But Nozomi and Mizuho are not covered by JR Pass. You can find Shinkansen timetable at the link below.
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/eastbound.pdf
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/westbound.pdf
Local train runs very often and you don’t need to know the timetable. Just hop on the train.
Cheers.
Takeshi / JPRail.com
To visit Hakone, near Mt. Fuji from Tokyo, what is the best way to get there and is there a train/bus timetable you can send me?
Hi Lisa,
Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
I like to know if I’m visiting Tokyo for 10 days, I plan on sighting areas like Ginza, Shibuya, Roppongi, Tokyo Dome, Daiba, Akasaka. Shinjuku. Is there a train weekly pass for purchase that travels to these area? what is the cost? If it’s not available, what is the easiest way to take the train daily?
Hi Lisa,
Weekly pass is not available. Your choice is subway pass, Tokunai pass or single fare.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/compare-many-discount-tickets-and-passes-for-sightseeing-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-right-tickets.html
You may use Suica too.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/suica.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you for the sample itinerary from Osaka to Hiroshima, the return journey you describe is later in the evening, are there any trains returning to Osaka (using the Japan Rail Pass0 say around 5pm?
Hi Jayne,
Of course, many trains run around 5:00 pm.
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/eastbound.pdf
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Mr. Takeshi-san
Thanks for your feedback and congratulations to your website.
Regards, Márcia
We did a day trip from Kyoto to Hiroshima and Miyajima earlier this week and it was a very easy day trip. Lots of walking. We also used the boat from Hiroshima to Miyajima which was most enjoyable. JR trains are super efficient and easy – well, once you work out you can put 3-4 tickets into the gate slot all in one go and it will decide what to take and what to give back for later! Too clever.
HI GT,
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Can anyone explain what does GT mean regarding the 4 tickets into the machine comment?
Mr. Takeshi-san, I wonder if tickets to the Museum’s Peace Memorial Park, are sold only locally or can be bought over the Internet.
As we are going the week of the 70th anniversary of the fall of the bomb at Hiroshima, I’m afraid I can not buy tickets at the Museum.
Thank you
Márcia from Brazil
Hi Marcia san,
Thanks for visiting my website.
As far as I know, ticket can be purchased on the spot only. But I think you can enter anyway even if it’s busy.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Dear Mr. Takeshi,
I really enjoyed your blog!
I go with my family to Hiroshima in August, making a day trip from Osaka and now I’m excited to go to Miyajima, too.
Thanks for the information, photos and tips.
Márcia from Brazil
Hi Takeshi-san,
Does the Kansai-Hiroshima Pass covers Sakura Shinkansen from Osaka to Horoshima?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Hi Hyacinth san,
Yes. You can take non reserved seat on any trains between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail