By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 27th May 2024 | Updated: 1st November 2024
Getting from Kyoto to Hiroshima couldn’t be easier. People often visit both the historical old capital of Japan and the rebuilt cityscape of Hiroshima, and rightly so, they are both incredible destinations. So what is the best way to get from Kyoto to Hiroshima?
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Travel Insurance: World Nomads
Kyoto to Hiroshima by Car
It takes anywhere from 4.5 hours up to 6 hours, depending on the route you take, to drive between Kyoto and Hiroshima. You can also expect to pay around 8,000 yen on the tolls, (one-way), on top of any fuel costs.
Kyoto to Hiroshima by Bus
A one-way trip on the highway bus between Kyoto and Hiroshima takes between 7 and 9 hours depending on the time of day, (both day and night buses are available), plus any traffic. A one-way fare costs anywhere between 3,000 and 8,000 yen depending on the date and if you choose a discount or premium bus. You can check what is the best option for you at Japan Bus Online.
Kyoto to Hiroshima by Local Train
Getting from Kyoto to Hiroshima by local trains is a similar task to getting between Tokyo and Kyoto, with trains taking anywhere from 6 to 7 hours, and with at least two or three transfers. It costs from 6,600 yen for a regular fare, but there are discounted options if you have a Seishun 18 Kippu, (a ‘youthful’ train ticket that can be used by anyone, tourist or resident in Japan), which can be as little as 2,400 yen.
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Kyoto to Hiroshima by Shinkansen
You can easily get from Kyoto to Hiroshima via Shinkansen, as the Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen line connects the two, which has trains multiple times a day. The first and last Nozomi Shinkansen departures between Kyoto and Hiroshima are at around 10:00 and 21:50,
🚅 How long does it take from Kyoto to Hiroshima by Shinkansen? 🚅
The direct Nozomi trains, which are the quickest on this Shinkansen route, take around 1.5 hours to get from Kyoto to Hiroshima, whilst the Hikari or Kodama trains, which require a transfer in Osaka to the Sakura trains, take around 2 hours.
🚅 How much is the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Hiroshima? 🚅
A regular non-reserved seat fare is from 10,770 yen and around 12,000 yen for a reserved seat.
🚅 What rail passes cover the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Hiroshima? 🚅
The JR Pass covers the Hikari, Kodama and Sakura trains between Kyoto to Osaka then the transfer train on to Hiroshima, whilst the direct Nozomi trains require an extra fee.
How To Get From Kyoto To Hiroshima FAQs
Can you do a Hiroshima day trip from Kyoto?
Although it takes around 1.5 hours to get to Hiroshima from Kyoto, we wouldn’t suggest it as a day trip. There is a lot to see in Hiroshima, and if you are going that way you should definitely make the short ferry crossing to Miyajima too, which deserves a few days as well.
Is it better to go to Hiroshima from Osaka or Kyoto?
You can easily get to Hiroshima from both Osaka and Kyoto, but the train from Kyoto actually goes through Osaka, so it saves you 15 minutes if you leave from Osaka. This is assuming you take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen.
How far is it from Kyoto to Hiroshima?
Kyoto is located approximately 315 km / 196 miles north east of Hiroshima.
Should I buy a JR Pass to get from Kyoto to Hiroshima?
Although it is quite a long journey, no we wouldn’t suggest buying a JR Pass to get from Kyoto to Hiroshima.
Conclusion: How To Get From Kyoto To Hiroshima
There are a number of ways to get from Kyoto to Hiroshima, with the quickest route taking 1.5 hours and the longest route taking up to 9 hours. So we would suggest taking the Shinkansen, for a quicker route, albeit a little more expensive.
All Our Japan Content
Here are a few other articles you may find useful for planning your trip:
📍 How To Get From Tokyo To Hiroshima
📍 How To Get From Tokyo To Kyoto
📍 How To Get From Hiroshima To Miyajima
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.