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Quick answer: Hiroshima is on the Sanyo Shinkansen. From Shin-Osaka it is about 1 h 25 min (around ¥10,400–11,000 reserved), from Kyoto about 1 h 40 min, from Hakata (Fukuoka) about 1 h 5 min, and from Tokyo about 4 hours on a direct Nozomi (around ¥19,500 reserved). Booking Tokyo–Hiroshima 21 days ahead on smartEX ("EX Hayatoku 21") brings it down to ¥15,390. For a Kansai + Hiroshima trip, the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass (¥17,000, 5 days) usually pays for itself.
Hiroshima and Miyajima are the most common addition to a Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka itinerary, and the Shinkansen makes them easy: Nozomi, Mizuho and Sakura trains stop at Hiroshima Station, a short train and ferry ride from Miyajima. Fares below are typical 2026 reserved-seat prices for an adult; JR prices vary a little by season (a few hundred yen more at peak times), so check the exact fare when you book.
Times and fares from each city
| From | Fastest time | Reserved seat (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | about 4 h (direct Nozomi) | around ¥19,500 · ¥15,390 with EX Hayatoku 21 | Some trips need a change at Shin-Osaka |
| Shin-Osaka | about 1 h 25 min | around ¥10,400–11,000 | Nozomi, Mizuho, Sakura and Hikari all run |
| Kyoto | about 1 h 40 min | around ¥11,300–12,000 | Nozomi direct; others change at Shin-Osaka |
| Hakata (Fukuoka) | about 1 h 5 min | around ¥9,100–9,600 | Mizuho / Sakura / Nozomi |
Tokyo to Hiroshima: train, plane or night bus?
Four hours on the Shinkansen sounds long, but it is city centre to city centre, with no security queue and a seat you can work from. A flight from Haneda to Hiroshima Airport takes about 1 h 15 min–1 h 30 min, but the airport is far from the city — the limousine bus to Hiroshima Station takes another 45–50 minutes (about ¥1,450) — so door to door it is closer than it looks, and only cheaper if you catch a sale fare. A night bus from Busta Shinjuku takes around 13 hours and costs from about ¥4,200 to ¥7,800 depending on the date: cheapest, but you arrive tired.
Does the Japan Rail Pass pay off?
The 7-day Japan Rail Pass costs ¥50,000 (¥53,000 when bought through overseas agents from October 2026). To use Nozomi or Mizuho trains with it you must also buy a special Nozomi ticket — ¥6,500 one way between Tokyo and Hiroshima — or ride the slower Hikari and Sakura trains for free. A Tokyo–Hiroshima round trip on normal tickets is roughly ¥39,000, so the pass does not pay off for this trip alone. It starts to make sense only if the same 7 days also include Tokyo–Kyoto, Kyoto–Osaka and side trips. See Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it? for the full maths.
The better pass for most people: Kansai-Hiroshima
If your trip is based in Osaka or Kyoto, JR West's Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass is the one to check: ¥17,000 for 5 days (adult). It covers the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima, JR trains around Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe and Himeji) and the JR ferry to Miyajima. A single Osaka–Hiroshima round trip is already over ¥20,000 on normal tickets, so the pass pays off with just that one day trip.
Going further west to Fukuoka, or north to the Japan Sea coast? The Sanyo-San'in Area Pass (¥23,000 for 7 days) covers the Sanyo Shinkansen all the way from Shin-Osaka to Hakata. Our JR Pass vs regional passes guide compares them all.
From Hiroshima Station to Miyajima
- JR Sanyo line from Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi: about 26–30 minutes, ¥420.
- JR ferry to Miyajima: about 10 minutes, ¥200 (covered by the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass and the Japan Rail Pass).
- Miyajima visitor tax: ¥100 per person, paid when you head to the island.
- Peace Memorial Park is a tram or bus ride from Hiroshima Station; most visitors do the park in the morning and Miyajima in the afternoon, or the other way round.
Which option should you pick?
- Day trip from Osaka or Kyoto: Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass on the Shinkansen (check which train types your pass allows when you reserve).
- Tokyo → Hiroshima, plans fixed: smartEX EX Hayatoku 21 (¥15,390), E seat for Fuji.
- Tokyo → Hiroshima, flexible: a normal Nozomi ticket, or a Klook ticket booked in English.
- Japan Rail Pass holder: Hikari/Sakura for free, or add the ¥6,500 Nozomi ticket to save time.
- Tightest budget: the night bus from Shinjuku.
For a full day plan, see our Hiroshima and Miyajima day trip from Osaka and the 10-day Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka–Hiroshima itinerary.
How long is the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hiroshima?
About 4 hours on the fastest direct Nozomi. Some departures need a change at Shin-Osaka and take a little longer.
How much is the bullet train from Osaka to Hiroshima?
Around ¥10,400–11,000 for a reserved seat from Shin-Osaka, depending on the train type and season. The trip takes about 1 hour 25 minutes.
Is it cheaper to fly from Tokyo to Hiroshima?
Only with a sale fare. Hiroshima Airport is 45–50 minutes by bus from the city, so door to door the Shinkansen is often just as quick.
Can I use the Japan Rail Pass on the Nozomi to Hiroshima?
Only with an extra Nozomi ticket (¥6,500 between Tokyo and Hiroshima). Hikari and Sakura trains are covered without extra charge.
Does the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass include the Miyajima ferry?
Yes. It covers the JR Miyajima ferry, the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima, and JR lines around Kansai, for ¥17,000 over 5 days.
