Hiroshima is a bright, modern city with a sad history: in 1945 it was the location of the world’s first nuclear bombing. Today however, the city is a lively center of cultural entertainment and culinary delights and has much to offer visiting tourists. The city’s tragic past is remembered best at the Genbaku Atomic Dome, Hiroshima Peace Park and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. The museum in particular, presents the events of 1945 in a thoughtful and deeply moving way and will give you much to ponder.
Hiroshima skyline
Other locations of interest include the reconstructed Hiroshima Castle, Shukkeien Garden, and Hiroshima Museum of Art. While staying in Hiroshima remember to try some of the city’s famous seafood restaurants, and Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, the local version of the savory pancake. Hiroshima is also a good base from which to travel to Miyajima Island which is also known as Itsukushima. This island’s famous sea-front shrine and giant torii gate is partially submerged in the sea at high tide and is considered to be one of the most beautiful sights in Japan.
The easiest, quickest, and most comfortable way to get to Hiroshima from Kyoto is by taking the shinkansen bullet train. This can also be an economical option if you have a Japan Rail Pass. However, if you do not have a Japan Rail Pass and you want to save some money, you might consider taking a highway bus, checking departure points and prices carefully before booking.
Traveling by Train
Kyoto Station and Hiroshima Station are connected by the Tokaido and Sanyo shinkansen lines. You can catch a through train service which will take you over both lines directly to Hiroshima. Direct Nozomi services are usually the fastest option, taking around 1 hour and 40 minutes, and the fare for an ordinary non-reserved seat is about 10,770 yen. Reserved-seat fares vary by train type, season, and sales channel, so check the JR West route finder or SmartEX before buying.
A Nozomi shinkansen bound for Hiroshima at Kyoto Station
If you are traveling with a Japan Rail Pass, Hikari, Sakura, and Kodama services remain the straightforward pass-covered options. Nozomi and Mizuho trains are not covered by the pass alone, but pass holders can ride them by purchasing the special Nozomi/Mizuho ticket before boarding. For Kyoto-Hiroshima, that add-on ticket is 4,170 yen for adults. Without the add-on, you will usually use Hikari or Sakura services and may have to make a transfer at Shin-Osaka Station or Shin-Kobe Station. However, this will usually only add 10 or 15 minutes to your journey time so it is not a big problem. Use the JR West Timetable & Route Finder to find the best trains for your journey.
At Kyoto Station westbound shinkansen trains depart from platforms 13 and 14
Traveling by Highway Bus
Highway buses can be cheaper than the shinkansen, but they require more date-specific checking than trains. For direct Kyoto-Hiroshima buses, confirm the exact departure point, operator, fare, and arrival time for your travel date before booking. Willer Express lists Kyoto-Hiroshima highway and night bus options, and fares vary by date, service, and seat type.
The Bus Ticket Center at Kyoto Station
For JR Bus options, be especially careful with the departure city. JR Bus’s official Hiroshima route listing is for Osaka-Hiroshima services, with daytime and overnight buses from Osaka Station rather than Kyoto Station. Travelers starting in Kyoto may need to travel to Osaka first if they choose that JR Bus route. For details visit the West JR Bus Company website and use Kousokubus.net to look up bus times, fares and reservations. You can look up Kyoto-Hiroshima services and make a booking on the Willer Express English language website.
Traveling by Car
Driving between Kyoto and Hiroshima would take around 4 hours and 30 minutes and you would have to pay toll fees of around 8,000 yen. The cheapest and quickest route goes via the Meishin, Chugoku, and Sanyo expressways. For details of how to rent a car, and more information about driving in Japan, please see our article: Car Rental in Kyoto.
Article by Michael Lambe. Photos by Sean Pavone and Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 07-Jul-2026.
