By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 27th May 2024 | Updated: 1st November 2024
Travelling from Tokyo to Hiroshima may seem like it will be a big hassle, with the sheer distance that you have to travel. But we are here to tell you otherwise! So how do you get between Tokyo and Hiroshima and what is the best mode of transport to use?
Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:
Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com
Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com
Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com
Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide & Viator
Currency Conversion: We recommend Wise
Travel Insurance: World Nomads
Tokyo to Hiroshima by Car
Driving from Tokyo to Hiroshima is not for everyone, and not recommended unless you are making a road trip of it with stops on route as the whole journey takes anywhere from 10 hours, (without stops!). The cost can also vary greatly depending on what route you take and therefore what tolls you have to pay.
Tokyo to Hiroshima by Bus
Tokyo to Hiroshima by bus takes around 12 hours and can cost between 3,000 and 13000 yen one-way depending on the bus type you take. Willer Express and Japan Bus operate along this route, with overnight buses as well. You can check what the best bus is for you and get a Japan Bus Pass which reduces the costs, as well as reserve a seat online at Japan Bus Online.
Tokyo to Hiroshima by Local Train
Travelling between Tokyo and Hiroshima by local trains is not only costly in terms of money but also time as well, with an average journey taking 15 hours, with 6 train transfers! A regular fare is around 12,000 yen so it is also not that much cheaper than taking the Shinkansen between the two.
Tokyo to Hiroshima by Shinkansen
Taking the Shinkansen is one of the easiest ways to get from Tokyo to Hiroshima, with multiple trains every hour along the JR Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen, including the Nozomi, Hikari and Sakura trains. The first Shinkansen that runs from Tokyo to Hiroshima is at 10:30 and the last departure is at 21:03.
🚅 How long does it take to get from Tokyo to Hiroshima by Shinkansen? 🚅
It takes between 4 and 5 hours to travel on the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Hiroshima, depending on if you take the Nozomi or Hikari and Sakura trains.
🚅 How much is the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hiroshima? 🚅
A regular non-reserved seat from Tokyo to Hiroshima costs around 18,400 yen and around 19,500 yen for a reserved seat. It is slightly cheaper on the Hikari and Sakura trains, but only by 500 yen.
🚅 What rail passes cover the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hiroshima? 🚅
You can use the JR Pass on the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Hiroshima, but you have to pay an extra fee of 6,500 yen if you are using a Nozomi train rather than a Hikari or Sakura train.
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Tokyo to Hiroshima by Flight
You can travel between Tokyo and Hiroshima by air from both Narita and Haneda Airport to Hiroshima International Airport, with tickets from around 35,000 yen, (but can be as cheap as 12,000 yen when discounted during certain times of the year). This is the fastest way to get between the two cities, with only 1.5 hours flight time, but it is worth noting that Hiroshima Airport is nearly an hour outside of Hiroshima city centre.
How To Get From Tokyo To Hiroshima FAQs
Is there a direct train from Tokyo to Hiroshima?
Yes, you can take the Nozumi Shinkansen direct from Tokyo to Hiroshima.
Is Hiroshima a day trip from Tokyo?
Hiroshima is definitely not a day trip from Tokyo! It takes approximately 4 hours via Shinkansen to go one way so not even slightly worth it. Plus if you are going all that way you might was well visit Miyajima as well.
How far is it from Tokyo to Hiroshima?
Tokyo is located approximately 764 km / 475 miles north east of Hiroshima.
Should I buy a JR Pass to get from Tokyo to Hiroshima?
Although it is one of the longer trips you can do in Japan, and therefore more expensive, we wouldn’t recommend getting a JR Pass from Tokyo to Hiroshima. We spent three weeks in Japan and it wasn’t worth it for us to get a JR Pass due to the price hike, even though we did some longer distance Shinkansen trains.
Conclusion: How To get From Tokyo To Hiroshima
So there are multiple ways to get from Tokyo to Hiroshima, with some options taking up to 15 hours and others around 4 hours. But with varying prices, and some more of a hassle than others, we think that the best option by far is to take the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Hiroshima.
All Our Japan Content
Here are a few other articles you may find useful for planning your trip:
📍 How To Get From Kyoto To Hiroshima
📍 How To Get From Tokyo To Kyoto
📍 How To Get From Tokyo To Hakone
📍 How To Get From Tokyo To Kyoto
📍 How To Get From Tokyo To Osaka
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.