Shinkansen! Kyoto to Hiroshima train with JR pass (and cost without) 🗾🚊 Japan travel blog

Hi there!

Spending a couple of nights in Hiroshima can be a good idea so you can start to get to know this vibrant urban city.

Of course, that includes the place that memorializes the tragedy that Hiroshima is known for.

It can also be a good idea to spend one day in Miyajima from Hiroshima!

So now…

Is it easy to get from Kyoto to Hiroshima by train?

It can be pretty easy.

If you’re traveling with a JR pass, it may require a transfer though. So, it’s not as easy as traveling from Osaka to Hiroshima where you can get a direct train.

Although if you’re traveling without a JR pass, you can definitely find a direct train that will get you from Kyoto to Hiroshima without a transfer.

Either way, there are frequent enough timings that it can be pretty convenient.

So don’t let the transfer deter you or make you nervous!

If you’re looking to get to Hiroshima using your JR pass, you basically have 2 options.

If you don’t have a JR pass, you have one best option to get from Kyoto to Hiroshima by train.

• Taking 2 shinkansen bullet trains (JR pass option)
  • Hikari shinkansen
  • Sakura shinkansen
• Taking 1 JR train and 1 shinkansen bullet train (JR pass option)
  • JR rapid train
  • Sakura shinkansen
• Direct Nozomi shinkansen bullet train
• Local trains from Kyoto to Hiroshima

🗾🚊

How to get from Kyoto to Hiroshima with a Japan rail pass

Cost with JR pass: FREE!

• SHINKANSEN BULLET TRAIN ONLY
  • Kyoto to Shin-Kobe: Hikari shinkansen train (30 minutes)
  • Shin-Kobe to Hiroshima: Sakura shinkansen train (1 hr 15 min)
  • Time: 1 hr 50 min

• JR RAPID TRAIN + SHINKANSEN BULLET TRAIN
  • Kyoto to Shin-Osaka: JR rapid train (25 minutes)
  • Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima: Sakura shinkansen train (1.5 hours)
  • Time: 2 hr 5 min

You won’t have to pay anything extra for any portion of the journey if you have a JR pass.

The one small downside of traveling with a JR pass is that it won’t give you access to the fastest trains.

In the case of Kyoto to Hiroshima, it means that you can’t take the direct and fastest Nozomi shinkansen.

This means that you don’t have a direct train option.

The need to transfer trains when traveling with a JR pass may be a slight inconvenience. But in terms of time it takes to get to Hiroshima with the JR pass compared to the Nozomi, it’s a minimal difference of 10 to 20 minutes.

In terms of which of the above options you want to take, it’ll mostly depend on the timing and when you’ll be leaving Kyoto.

There are frequent enough Hikari and Sakura train timings that you can find this option several times throughout the day.

How to search for train routes for Kyoto to Hiroshima with a JR pass

Use the japan travel by navitime website to help you plan your route for Kyoto to Hiroshima by shinkansen with a JR pass! And to confirm the above is still true!

• from: Kyoto
• to: Hiroshima
• tourist pass: Japan Rail Pass (IMPORTANT!)

👆 Search for train schedule timings when traveling with a JR pass from Kyoto to Hiroshima. Otherwise, I like to use google maps, which will give you an estimated cost of shinkansen train tickets for general travel planning. (For example: google maps train route.) BUT, google maps is not great to use if you want to know exactly which shinkansen train to take at what time if you are traveling with a JR pass. That’s because google maps will give you the fastest shinkansen option, which will a lot of times be the Nozomi which you can’t take with a JR pass. That said, google maps can be good for giving you an idea of how much the train from Kyoto to Hiroshima will cost without a JR pass.

How much does it cost to get to Hiroshima from Kyoto WITHOUT a Japan rail pass?

Now, let’s say you’re trying to figure out if you should have your JR pass activated when you go to Hiroshima, or you won’t be traveling around Japan at all with a JR pass.

Listed prices are approximate just so you can start to get at least a little bit of an idea.

Option 1: Shinkansen bullet train – Nozomi

Cost: 11,210 yen (US$100)

• NOZOMI SHINKANSEN BULLET TRAIN: Kyoto station to Hiroshima station
  • Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Since you are traveling without a JR pass, you can take the direct train to get to Hiroshima.

This is the fastest option. It’s also the most expensive as it’s a bullet train.

Option 2: Local trains to Hiroshima

Cost: 6,480 yen (US$60)

Or maybe even less than $30. 

As you can imagine, taking the local train from Kyoto to Hiroshima will be a LOT slower compared to taking the bullet train.

Remember that the bullet train takes around 2 hours to get to Hiroshima from Kyoto.

But if you’re not short on time and you’re trying to save a little bit of extra money, this is an option you can consider.

Kyoto to Hiroshima by local train:

• 3 different trains, so 2 transfers
  • Train #1: 2 hours (Kyoto to Aioi Hyogo)
  • Train #2: 1 hour 10 minutes (Aioi Hyogo to Okayama)
  • Train #3: 2 hours 50 minutes (Okayama to Hiroshima)
• Total time from start to finish including transfer time: Around 6 hours

This is NOT the only route available. But this is just to give you an idea of what it may take to go for the cheaper train option.

Depending on the time you leave, you could be looking at 2-3 train transfers, and it may take longer than 6 hours.

Public transportation apps to download before your trip to Japan:

• Google Maps
• Navitime for Japan Travel

Have these apps on your phone and you’ll become a pro in no time at navigating public transportation in Japan!

When you’re ready to head to Hiroshima, use your current location to figure out exactly how to get to Hiroshima!

Google maps isn’t the best for planning out exact shinkansen train trips, since it will show you the fastest shinkansen, which is the Nozomi… which you are not supposed to take with a JR pass. However, it can give you a good starting point on train routes that are possible!

Top tips for using Navitime to get from Kyoto to Hiroshima

• To search shinkansen timings for a JR pass, see the option “tourist pass”
• To search local trains only, unclick the following under search options: shinkansen, added-fare trains, city bus

Things not to miss at Hiroshima Peace Park

Okay, so now that you have a better idea of how to get to Hiroshima, next up!

Here are some of the top things to see at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park:

1. Atomic bomb dome ruins

2. Peace memorial museum

3. Children’s peace monument

Plan your trip to the Hiroshima peace park

For more details on Hiroshima itinerary planning, be sure to see these details for what not to miss with a visit to the Hiroshima peace park.

Another place not to miss when you’re in Hiroshima: Miyajima

Miyajima is about an hour away from Hiroshima, and it’s considered to offer the top 3 most scenic views in Japan.

Here are some of the top things to do on Miyajima island:

1. Mount Misen hike

2. Visit to Daisho-in Temple

3. See the floating torii at high tide

Plan your trip to Miyajima

You can make it a day trip to Miyajima from Hiroshima by following this one day Miyajima itinerary.

There is also a direct ferry to Miyajima from the Hiroshima peace park if you’re looking to combine Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day.

HAPPY KYOTO TO HIROSHIMA PLANNING!

Plan out your time in Hiroshima!

• Hiroshima to Miyajima ferry
• One day in Miyajima
• Visit to Hiroshima peace park

Traveling around Japan and can't read Japanese? No problem! Just use the camera on the google translate app!

Is a JR pass worth it?!

• Google maps can make it easy to figure out whether or not you should get a JR pass!
• In google maps, type in your departure and arrival city, and choose the transit icon. The route will come up, and so will the estimated cost at the bottom!
• Here is an example of a train route with cost on google maps.
• So do that for all of your long distance routes to figure out how much it might cost.
• Next, go here to see how much a JR pass costs from an official JR pass vendor (and partner of this website).
• And compare!
• Not all forms of public transportation are JR, but long distance shinkansen bullet trains are, and that's where the most cost savings will come.

Best of Kyoto (and Japan!)

• Best temples to visit in Kyoto
• Japanese gardens in Kyoto

👇 Explore the best places to visit in Japan!




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