If you are planning to travel Tokyo to Hiroshima, check out the best way to get there.

Hiroshima is one of top tourist destinations in Japan, attracting numbers of visitors with historical landmarks including Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Peace Memorial.

So, which way is the cheapest and fastest to reach the historical city?

There are 3 recommended options to Hiroshima from Tokyo: Shinkansen (bullet train), airplane and bus. Today, I’d like to compare the time, money and convenience of the three options.

▽Check the latest transportation guide from Tokyo to Hiroshima after 2023!▽

Quick Look at each way

Shinkansen (bullet trains)

Time: 4 hours

Cost: about 18,000–19,000JPY

Airplane

Time: 1.5 hours

Cost: about 10,000–30,000JPY

Bus

Time: 11.5–13 hours

Cost: about 7,700–11,900JPY

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Shinkansen is the easiest and the most useful way. Airplanes are the fastest way but don’t forget that it takes more time to get to Narita or Haneda Airport, to process boarding and to go to the center of Hiroshima after arriving at Hiroshima Airport.

Additionally, Shinkansen must be the first choice if you have Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass). In the case you take a shinkansen to Hiroshima with Japan Rail Pass, HIKARI and KODAMA are available without any extra fee, but NOZOMI requires an extra fee.

<<Check out how to get and use Japan Rail Pass!!>>

If you want to save money on travel, buses can be selected as your option. However, with a tight schedule, other options are recommended; Shinkansen or airplane.

TIPS: You can get a ticket of airplanes and buses cheaper when you reserve them earlier. In the case of buses, recommend to book 10 days before. Cheaper flight tickets require to be booked some months before.

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Shinkansen

There are 3 major shinkansens whose names are Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama to Hiroshima Station. The fare of Nozomi with a reserved seat is JPY19,080 and a non-reserved seat is JPY18,040. It takes less than 4 hours to get to Hiroshima.

For the tickets, vending machines and ticket offices (called “Midori-no-madoguchi”) are available. Some vending machines have English menu. They are located next to ticket gates.

You can book Shinkansen tickets online and pick up at your hotel→

From Tokyo Station to Hiroshima

First train: 6:00

Last train: 19:50

Location of ticket gates: blue areas on this map

Platform: platform №14–19

From Shinagawa Station to Hiroshima

First train: 6:00

Last train: 19:57

Location of ticket gates: blue areas at the bottom of this map

Platform: platform №23&24

Airplane

You can take a flight to Hiroshima Airport at Narita Airport and Haneda Airport in Tokyo. The flight time is about 1.5 hours, but it will be 3 hours or more totally since you need to move from and to the airports and boarding processes will take some time.

The price range is between JPY7,000 to JPY40,000. With LCC or early-bird rates, tickets are available for around JPY10,000.

From Narita Airport

There are 3 airlines from Narita Airport to Hiroshima Airport: ANA, Spring Japan (LCC) and IBEX Airline. Only 3 flights depart a day.

First Flight: 7:00

Last Flight: 17:30

*Flight times above are changed very frequently, so take them just for reference.

Search your ticket with ANA, IBEX, Spring Japan.

From Haneda Airport

2 airlines from Haneda Airport: ANA and JAL. Over 15 flights depart a day.

First Flight: 7:00

Last Flight: 19:30

*Flight times above are changed very frequently, so take them just for reference.

Search your ticket with ANA, JAL.

Bus

Buses depart only at night as a night service. And a few buses a day. The bus fare depends on a class of seats and when you make a reservation. Roughly JPY7,000–12,000.

From Tokyo Station

Tokyo station bus terminal is located in Yaesu Exit (八重洲口.) Long distance bus tickets can be purchased at JR Expressway Bus at the bus terminal in Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit or online via bus company.

Depart: 20:00 (Will arrive at around 7:35AM)/20:30 (Will arrive at around 9:10AM)

From Shinjuku Station

JR Shinjuku Station is connected to BUSTA, the biggest bus terminal in Tokyo. Ticket counters and ticket vending machines are located on the 4th floor, which is the departure floor.

Depart: 20:45 (Will arrive at around 7:35AM)

What Should You Do in Hiroshima??

Most visitors to Hiroshima explore the history of Japan in Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Peace Memorial. Itsukushima Shrine, the shrine on the sea in Miyajima Island is the one and only view in Japan.

You may be addicted to Hiroshima food such as Okonomiyaki and fresh oysters. Okonomiyaki of Hiroshima is different from Osaka’s one. Try them definitely.

Enjoy your historical trip to Hiroshima smoothly!!

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