In the previous blog, I wrote about how to go to Hiroshima from Tokyo, and today I tell you how to get there from Osaka and Nagoya. So, let’s begin!
How to go to Hiroshima from Osaka
Is Hiroshima close to Osaka?
In the previous blog, I summed up that it took about four hours to go to Hiroshima from Tokyo by Shinkansen, and Hiroshima airport was far from the center of the city, thus many people felt that it was further than their expectation.
However, reversely, I think many people think Hiroshima is closer to Osaka than their imagination (Hiroshima is about 340 km away from Osaka).
Generally speaking, Shinkansen is commonly used between these two cities, but I am going to write about other transportations, too.
Shinkansen
My recommendation:
time and frequency
Again, generally speaking, using Shinkansen is common between Osaka and Hiroshima.
What is general here is everyone excluding people who want to save money, such as university students.
The reason why I recommend Shinkansen in this district is it only takes 90 minutes by taking Nozomi, Mizuho or Sakura.
Shinkansen is definitely the fastest transportation between Osaka and Hiroshima because no airplanes are operated for Hiroshima from Kansai-International, Osaka-Itami and Kobe Airport.
From Tokyo, Nozomi is the only way to go to Hiroshima directly, but from Shin-Osaka, Mizuho and Sakura, which are directly connected to Kyushu Shinkansen and go to Kagoshima-Chuo Station, Kagoshima, are operated too. Including Mizuho and Sakura, about five Shinkansen go to Hiroshima per hour from Osaka, which is enough.
Thus, unless you do not think the ticket is expensive, using Shinkansen is the basic way to go there from Osaka.
In case using non-reserved seats
When you go to Hiroshima from Shin-Osaka on a non-reserved seat, I recommend you to use Mizuho or Sakura instead of Nozomi.
It is because Nozomi comes from Tokyo, which means that Shin-Osaka is just a station that stops during the way from Tokyo to Hiroshima or Hakata, but all the Mizuho and Sakura start their service from Shin-Osaka, thus you can necessarily sit on the seat.
In fact, there is a high possibility that you can sit on the non-reserved seat for Nozomi now, but it will be more difficult from next March (2025)because the number of non-reserved seat will be decreased from 3 to 2.
Nozomi has 16 cars, but Mizuho and Sakura have only eight cars, and three of them are non-reserved seats. No change is announced for Mizuho and Sakura now.
Thus, if you want to save money but want to go to Hiroshima fastest, buying non-reserved seats for Mizuho and Sakura is appropriate.
However, on your way back to Osaka from Hiroshima, you may not able to sit on non-reserved seats.
For Mizuho and Sakura, they operate service from Kagoshima-Chuo, thus there is a possibility that all the seats are full due to passengers taking on at Kumamoto or Hakata.
Then, for Nozomi, only some of them operate its service from Hiroshima, but others excluding them are from Hakata.
I have used Nozomi for non-reserved seats from Hakata to Tokyo this July, and at that time, many non-reserved seats were vacant at Hiroshima station.
However, due to the rule change, the number of non-reserved seats will be decreased, thus it is unclear whether you can still sit on non-reserved seats from Hiroshima.
Also, the situation changes depending on the season and period of time, hence please be careful.
For outbound trip from Osaka, it is easy to find a seat, but it may not for return trip from Hiroshima.
Fare
The Shinkansen fare between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima costs ¥9,890 for a non-reserved seat, ¥10,750 for a reserved seat and ¥14,410 for a green car.
This means you can pay less than ¥10,000 for a non-reserved seat.
One disappointing news is there is no early booking discount by using Smart EX.
Thus, for Nozomi, Mizuho or Sakura, the cheapest ticket is a non-reserved seat.
Kodama (Bari-Toku Kodama)
If you want to save more money but do not use other transportations, I think using Kodama (the local type Shinkansen) is appropriate for you.
In case of Kodama, the ordinary ticket fare is same as above, but a special ticket called as “Bari-Toku Kodama (no English version sorry)” sold by Nippon Travel Agency, a Japanese travel agent, only costs ¥8,300 for single-trip between Osaka and Hiroshima. This is the cheapest Shinkansen ticket in this district (it costs ¥10,300 during the busy season, so please be careful).
For Kodama, it takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima and is operated every hour, but you can get an online coupon that can be exchanged for a drink at Seven-Eleven, thus this product is suitable for people who are not hurrying up but want to move comfortably.
Also, for those who want to go to Onomichi from Osaka, this Bari-Toku-Kodama is the best.
Actually, the fare of this ticket varies depending on your destination, and between Shin-Osaka and Shin-Onomichi, it costs ¥6,700, which is ¥1,600 cheaper than going to Hiroshima.
Only Kodama stops at Shin-Onomichi Station, thus if you want to go there by Shinkansen, this ticket is definitely suitable for you (the normal price for this zone costs ¥7,910 for non-reserved seats and ¥8,240 for reserved-seats).
No direct highway bus is operated between Osaka and Onomichi, thus excluding using local trains or transferring buses, this Bari-Toku Kodama is the cheapest way (it takes 1 hour and 50 minutes).
For those who really want to reach Onomichi as fast as possible, taking Nozomi or Sakura from Shin-Osaka to Fukuyama and transfer to Kodama at Fukuyama is the best and it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
You are required to book this ticket by 4 p.m. one day before your trip, and you can’t change nor miss the Shinkansen once you book, thus please be careful.
For more information about Bari-Toku-kodama, please click here.
↑Sanyo Shinkansen kodama at Hakata Station
Highway buses
My recommendation:
Between Tokyo and Hiroshima, I did not recommend highway buses at all, but I think taking highway buses between Osaka and Hiroshima is a good option, especially for students.
This is because the distance is 340 km and mainly operated as daytime bus (overnight buses are operated too). It takes about 5 hours by taking daytime buses.
I can’t sleep on the bus, hence I refrain from taking an overnight buses, but I have used daytime buses a few times.
Recently, I have used it from Matsue, a capital city of Shimane prefecture to Osaka, which also took about 5 hours, and it was not hard at all, thus for those who want to save money it is a very attractive transportation.
The bus fare varies depends on some factors such as season and discount, but the cheapest ticket is around ¥3,500, which means you can save ¥4,800 compared to Bari-Toku Kodama.
Many buses have an outlet for smartphone charges and WIFI, thus there are many who think highway buses for 5 hours are better than Shinkansen.
Thus, my recommendation for highway buses is 4.5, which is same as the Shinkansen.
I am a student, and from a student view, saving a lot of money by buses is more important than saving time by Shinkansen, thus the score is the same.
Please note that using highway buses is one option between Osaka and Hiroshima even though Shinkansen is common.
Local Trains
My recommendation:
Between Tokyo and Hiroshima, I strongly did not recommend you to use local trains because it took 15 hours, but between Osaka and Hiroshima, using local trains is also a good idea if you want to enjoy a group trip and save money.
It takes about 6 hours and a half to the west from Osaka and to the east from Hiroshima, and the number of transfer is 3 to 4.
The best point of local trains is that you can get off at any station and enjoy sightseeing there or have lunch.
Thus, between Osaka and Hiroshima, you can visit any city such as Himeji, Okayama, Kurashiki, Fukuyama and Onomichi, thus you are able to enjoy the move itself.
You do not need to wait for a long time at the station thanks to a lot of passengers, thus you can make a plan that you depart from Osaka in the morning, visit one or two cities and arrive at Hiroshima at night.
All the five cities that I mentioned above have a good sightseeing spot near the station. I have been to all but Fukuyama.
How to go to Hiroshima from Nagoya
A few options than Osaka?
Next, I am going to write about how to get to Hiroshima from Nagoya.
Nagoya is located between Tokyo and Osaka, and it is more than 500 km away from Hiroshima.
Unfortunately, no airplanes are operated between Central Japan International Airport, Nagoya Airport and Hiroshima Airport.
Thus, again, the Shinkansen is basically the only one option.
Also, for buses, no direct daytime buses are operated, thus you have to transfer at Osaka if you want to use daytime bus.
Local trains also take a lot of time, thus I can’t recommend it to you very much.
Again, let’s check each transportation!
Shinkansen
My recommendation:
The recommendation rate of Shinkansen between Nagoya and Hiroshima is perfect, five.
Between Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima, it was 4.5, but it was because of the airplanes for Tokyo and highway buses for Osaka, both of which tend to be cheaper than Shinkansen.
However, in case of Nagoya, no direct daytime buses are operated for Hiroshima, thus you need to take overnight buses for direct access.
Thus, for me who do not take overnight buses at all, Shinkansen is the appropriate way even though it is expensive.
First, you have to take Nozomi for Hiroshima from Nagoya because unlike Osaka, no Mizuho nor Sakura are operated.
Second, some of the destination of Nozomi is Shin-Osaka, thus please take Nozomi that goes to Hakata or Hiroshima, which do not require transfer at Shin-Osaka.
It takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes and 3-4 trains are operated per hour.
It costs ¥13,540 for a non-reserved seat, ¥14,610 for a reserved seat and ¥19,480 and a round-trip discount is not applied between Nagoya and Hiroshima.
Also, Smart EX does not have an early discount between Nagoya and Hiroshima even though it is applied between Nagoya and Hakata, thus you need to pay the fare above.
For those who do not hesitate to transfer at Shin-Osaka, you can take Nozomi for Shin-Osaka and transfer to Mizuho or Sakura there.
In many cases, Mizuho/Sakura departs from Shin-Osaka about ten-fifteen minutes after the arrival of Nozomi, thus you do not need to waste a lot of time.
However, there is a significant difference between taking a Shinkansen at Nagoya and at Tokyo/Shin-Osaka.
That is, no Shinkansen starts its service from Nagoya Station except the three in the morning.
Nozomi departing Nagoya at 6:20 and 7:07, and Hikari at 6:36 (some Hikari also go to Hiroshima) start service from Nagoya, but others are coming from Tokyo.
Thus, in case you want to save money by using non-reserved seats, there is a possibility that you can’t sit on a seat from Nagoya.
However, many of the passengers from Tokyo get off at Nagoya, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka, thus in most cases you can find a seat at Shin-Osaka Station, and if you can’t, transfer to Mizuho/Sakura, then sit on a seat.
Also, in case you go to Onomichi, the fastest is going to Fukuyama by Nozomi and transfer to Kodama there, which is same as from Tokyo.
That takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes, but Kodama is operated every one hour and only some Nozomi stop at Fukuyama, thus I strongly recommend you to check the train time schedule previously.
This is the all about going to Hiroshima from Nagoya by Shinkansen.
Overnight buses
My recommendation:
The next choice is an overnight bus.
I do not use overnight buses at all, but for those who want to save money, this is very useful.
As I said above, no direct daytime buses are operated between Nagoya and Hiroshima, thus if you really want to use that, you have to transfer at Osaka.
However, in that case, it takes more than seven hours including transferring time, which is not very useful.
In case using an overnight bus, it leaves Nagoya at 10:30 p.m. and arrive at Hiroshima at 8:00 a.m., which means it takes about nine hours.
The fare varies, but the cheapest one costs between ¥5,000 and ¥6,000. For those who are accustomed to use overnight buses, it is a good option, but once again, some really hesitate to use it like me, thus please be careful.
During the busy season like the end and beginning of the year, Golden Week and Summer vacation, the fare tends to rise surprisingly.
This overnight bus stops at Miyoshi Station before arriving at Hiroshima Station. This is the only one way to directly get to Miyoshi from Nagoya.
Local Trains
My recommendation:
Using local trains is also not a good idea between Nagoya and Hiroshima.
It is because it takes about 9 hours and you need to transfer 6-7 times.
This 9-hour local trains ride is similar to going to Osaka from Tokyo by local trains. Not only I but also some of my friends have experienced it, thus surprisingly it is not a very bad idea.
Especially, for those who do not want to take an overnight bus but want to save money, it may be the best option.
However, there is a serious issue, too. In the past, Seishun-18 ticket could be used at any time throughout the designated period, but from this winter (2024), you have to use it for consecutive five days and it costs ¥12,050.
Thus, in order to save a great amount of money, you have to outbound to Hiroshima and return to Nagoya by only using local trains for five days, thus it is not a good option now.
The regular ticket costs ¥8,580, thus it is very expensive, too.
Due to this rule change, more and more people will use Shinkansen between these two cities.
Sum up
This is the all about the trip between Osaka/Nagoya and Hiroshima.
From both cities, the main transportation is Shinkansen, but from Osaka, using a highway bus is another option.
Also for Shinkansen, you should use Bari-Toku-Kodama from Osaka even though you can’t get a big discount from Nagoya.
Especially, when going to Onomichi from Osaka, this Bari-Toku-Kodama is definitely useful.
For local trains, the move between Osaka and Hiroshima is enjoyable, but it is very hard to do it between Nagoya and Hiroshima.
In this blog, I am going to write about this kind of topic, thus if you like, please follow me. Thank you very much for reading today.
↑This is irrelevant to the topic, but Kishimen, a flat Japanese noodle famous in Nagoya, restaurant on the platform at Nagoya Station is my favorite food. I ate it when I went to Hiroshima from Tokyo by local trains.
Comments