Hiroshima Day Trip From Kyoto and Osaka: Itinerary, Transportation, Hotel, Activities, and More

Hiroshima Localized
Apr 30
4 min read

You would never guess how fun it is to do a day trip from one Japanese destination to the next. This is not your usual travel itinerary, since most of the time, you’d wake up in your hotel, take a shower, brush your teeth, eat the hotel breakfast, and go off to your activities without even leaving the place, right?

If you are traveling with your family and friends, a day trip is one of the best ways to enjoy each other’s company and talk about things, such as when on a train. Of course, the fun and bliss of ignorance of what’s about to happen is there. Laugh it off. If you’re traveling solo, a day trip is an opportunity to reflect and relax.

Have you ever tried a day trip to Hiroshima from Kyoto and Osaka? In here, you will witness the changing scenery from the food paradise of Osaka and the old streets of Kyoto to the modern history etched within Hiroshima. Wondering about the things to do? Here’s your guide!

How to Get to Hiroshima From Kyoto and Osaka

Traveling from Kyoto or Osaka to Hiroshima is a long-distance trip. So, before you even think about booking a ride on Uber, you can’t. If you want the most convenient option, ask your travel operator about a private car service. But, do you know what will make this transfer an adventure? By taking the train.

From Kyoto

It is the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen that connects Kyoto and Hiroshima. Otherwise, you can take a direct Nozomi train, but it will take about 95 minutes to get to Hiroshima from Kyoto. You can also transfer from a Kodama or Hikari train to a Sakura train at Shin-Osaka Station for a trip that will take two hours.

From Osaka

From Osaka to Hiroshima, there are four ways to travel. The first is to take the Shinkansen bullet train, which is the fastest and most convenient. You may also alight a local train. The fare may be cheaper, but the trip takes around six hours.

Thirdly, you can choose to ride the bus. Both regular and overnight buses are available from Osaka to Hiroshima. If traveling by Shinkansen, you can take the Sakura and Hikari trains using your JR Pass.

ALSO READ: BEST STREET MARKETS IN HIROSHIMA

Sample Itinerary

Here’s what to see around Hiroshima with estimated time and schedule:

7-8 AM: Ride the Shinkansen to Hiroshima

If you’re a late riser, you will miss the opportunity. The best time to start your train ride is around 7 or 8 a.m., so you can arrive in Hiroshima at 9 to 10 a.m. Unless you want to cram your trip, of course.

9 AM: Arrive at Hiroshima Station

That was quite a ride. Upon arriving at Hiroshima Station, you can grab a cup of coffee before you officially start your tour.

9:45 AM: Be at the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park

Start your itinerary with a visit to the Atomic Bomb Dome. This landmark should only be near the train station where you got off. After admiring this sight, cross the Motoyasu-bashi Bridge by the Motoyasu-gawa River for your next destination: the Peace Memorial Park.

10:30 AM: Visit the Peace Memorial Museum

From the Peace Memorial Park, take the opportunity to visit the Peace Memorial Museum. You may arrive at the museum ahead of this time if you finish at the Dome and Park early. Allow around 90 minutes to explore and enjoy the museum.

12 PM: Lunch and Continue Exploring the Peace Memorial Park

You’ll never know how you can be so hungry at this time already, since there is a lot of walking. So, grab a lunch at the restaurant inside the Peace Memorial Museum. If the food there is too expensive for you, you can look for nearby restaurants here, then just go back.

After finishing lunch, take the opportunity to explore the rest of the Park, such as the famous Cenotaph for A-Bomb Victims and the Children’s Peace Memorial.

2 PM: Relax at Shukkei-en Garden

You will need to take a taxi or tram to this relaxing garden translated as “the shrunken-scenery garden.”

3:30 PM: Return to Hiroshima Station

Be sure you have reveled into what the Garden has to offer before returning to the Hiroshima Station to end your tour.

3:30 PM: Take the Ferry to Miyajima Island

Should you wish to continue your trip to Miyajima Island, the afternoon is the perfect time to take a ferry to the Island as the weather won’t be too warm.