Getting Around Hiroshima: Complete Transportation Guide
Japan's largest streetcar network covers central Hiroshima, and a short ferry crossing reaches Miyajima. Here's how each piece works, and how to avoid the pass and ferry mix-ups first-time visitors make most often.
Quick Answer
The Hiroden streetcar for the city, a short ferry for Miyajima
Yes, works everywhere, but cannot be topped up on board the streetcar
$5–10 (¥700–1,500) for a mixed streetcar/ferry sightseeing day
Only if combining several streetcar rides with the ferry, see the comparison below
Hiroshima, in western Japan's Chugoku region, is built around Japan's largest streetcar network rather than a subway. Hiroden streetcars reach Peace Memorial Park, downtown Hiroshima, and Hiroshima Castle directly, while the JR Sanyo Main Line and a second Hiroden line both continue to Miyajimaguchi, the gateway to Miyajima Island's floating torii gate. Getting around Hiroshima means understanding the streetcar first, then the ferry crossing that most visitors' itineraries depend on. This guide covers how that network fits together, which pass (if any) is worth buying among several similarly priced options, and the specific mistakes first-time visitors make.
This page focuses on getting around once you are in Hiroshima. For choosing where to stay and what to see, see the Hiroshima destination guide. For intercity travel to and from Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka, and for JR Pass decisions, see Getting Around Japan and the JR Pass Guide. Coming from Kyoto or Osaka first? See Getting Around Kyoto and Getting Around Osaka.
- •Hiroshima has no subway; the Hiroden streetcar, Japan’s largest streetcar network, is the actual backbone of city transportation
- •An IC card (ICOCA or Suica) works on the streetcar, the Astram Line, and buses, but cannot be topped up on board the streetcar itself
- •Miyajima Island has no bridge for public transit; every visitor reaches it by a roughly 10-minute ferry crossing from Miyajimaguchi
- •Three similarly priced one-day products exist (a streetcar-only pass, a streetcar-plus-ferry pass, and the broader Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass); they are easy to confuse and cover different things
Transportation at a Glance
Seven ways to move around Hiroshima and reach Miyajima
| Mode | Best For | Advantages | Limitations | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiroden Streetcar | Peace Memorial Park, downtown, Hiroshima Castle, Miyajimaguchi | Dense network, frequent, flat fare | Mixed low-floor/high-floor fleet, can be crowded | IC card (no on-board top-up) or exact cash |
| JR Sanyo Main Line | The fastest hop to Miyajimaguchi | Faster than the streetcar for that route | Limited stops within the city center | IC card or paper ticket |
| Astram Line | Northern Hiroshima, outside the streetcar network | Fast, automated, step-free stations | Does not reach most central sightseeing points | IC card or paper ticket |
| City buses / Meipuru-pu loop | Sightseeing loop around central Hiroshima | Covers stops the streetcar misses | Slower in traffic | IC card or cash on boarding |
| Walking | Peace Memorial Park, downtown, Miyajima’s shrine approach | Free, direct, scenic | Not practical between Hiroshima and Miyajima | None |
| Taxi | Late night, heavy luggage, Mount Misen ropeway access | Direct, no transfers | Most expensive option | Cash, card, or IC card in most cabs |
| Miyajima Ferry (JR or Matsudai Kisen) | The only way to reach Miyajima Island | Scenic, about 10 minutes, frequent departures | Queues at peak times | IC card, cash, or paper ticket |
How the Local Network Works
The streetcar is the backbone; three other modes fill in the gaps
Hiroshima's transportation centers on Hiroden, whose streetcar lines cover nearly every major sightseeing point in the city center. JR West's Sanyo Main Line offers a faster alternative for the specific run out to Miyajimaguchi, the Astram Line serves northern Hiroshima outside the streetcar's reach, and city buses fill in the remaining gaps. No single operator or pass covers everything, and the single most common point of confusion is assuming a subway exists; it does not, the streetcar plays that role instead.
| Operator | Coverage | IC Card | Pass Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiroden | Streetcar lines across central Hiroshima plus the Miyajima Line to Miyajimaguchi, Japan’s largest streetcar network | ICOCA, Suica, and other nationwide IC cards (cannot be topped up on board) | Hiroden day passes and the Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass; not covered by the JR Pass |
| JR West | Sanyo Main Line for short in-city hops and the fast route to Miyajimaguchi | ICOCA, Suica, all interoperable | Nationwide JR Pass covers JR West trains and the JR Miyajima Ferry |
| Astram Line (Hiroshima Rapid Transit) | 20 stations connecting the Hiroshima Station area to northern Hiroshima | ICOCA, Suica, all interoperable | Its own 1-Day Pass; not covered by the JR Pass |
| City buses (Chugoku JR Bus and others) | Meipuru-pu sightseeing loop plus general routes filling gaps the streetcar and Astram Line do not reach | ICOCA, Suica, all interoperable | Covered by the Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass; not covered by the JR Pass |
Key Stations and Transport Hubs
Three stations that anchor most Hiroshima sightseeing
Hiroshima Station
- Serves: The entire city; the universal transfer point
- Lines: JR Sanyo Main Line, Shinkansen, Hiroden streetcar lines, most city bus routes
- Nearby: ekie shopping complex, Hiroshima Station area hotels
- Transfer complexity: Low; the 2025 renovation put the streetcar platform and JR conventional-line gates on the same second floor
The south exit (ASSE Building side) is where the streetcar, buses, and taxis depart; the Shinkansen exit is now on the third floor.
Hatchobori
- Serves: Downtown Hiroshima, the main shopping district
- Lines: Multiple Hiroden streetcar lines converge here
- Nearby: Hondori shopping street, department stores
- Transfer complexity: Low; a central streetcar interchange rather than a rail station
This is the easiest jumping-off point for downtown shopping and dining, not just a transit stop.
Miyajimaguchi Station
- Serves: The gateway to Miyajima Island
- Lines: JR Sanyo Main Line and the Hiroden Miyajima Line both terminate here, alongside both ferry piers
- Nearby: JR Miyajima Ferry pier and Matsudai Kisen pier, side by side
- Transfer complexity: Low; a short walk connects the station to both ferry piers
Whichever way you arrive, JR or streetcar, both ferry piers are an easy walk from the station exit.
Best Transport by Sightseeing Area
Hiroshima splits into four practical zones, each with one clear best mode
Peace Memorial Park / Downtown
Streetcar plus walkingThe Genbaku Dome-mae streetcar stop puts you within walking distance of the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park; the park itself and the Peace Memorial Museum are best explored entirely on foot.
Hiroshima Castle / Shukkeien Garden
Streetcar plus a short walkBoth sit a short walk from the nearest streetcar stops in the northern part of central Hiroshima; neither requires a bus or taxi for most visitors.
Hondori Shopping Street
Streetcar to HatchoboriHatchobori and the neighboring streetcar stops drop you directly at the covered Hondori arcade, Hiroshima’s main shopping and dining street.
Miyajima Island
JR or streetcar to Miyajimaguchi, then ferryMiyajima has no bridge for public transit; every visitor reaches it via the roughly 10-minute ferry crossing from Miyajimaguchi, on either the JR or Matsudai Kisen boat.
Popular Route Examples
Three real routes, including the Miyajima ferry leg, worked all the way through
Mode: Hiroden streetcar to Genbaku Dome-mae
The Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park entrance are both a short walk from the stop.
Fare: ¥240 flat fare · Time: ~15-20 minutes · Transfers: None
Mode: JR Sanyo Main Line or Hiroden Miyajima Line to Miyajimaguchi, then ferry
JR Pass holders should take the JR ferry specifically, since only that operator accepts the Pass; the streetcar route is scenic but notably slower than JR.
Fare: ~¥420-470 one-way total, plus a ¥100 Miyajima Visitor Tax · Time: ~25-30 minutes by JR or ~60-70 minutes by streetcar, plus a ~10 minute ferry crossing · Transfers: 1 (to the ferry)
Mode: Hiroden streetcar plus a short walk
Shukkeien Garden sits close enough to the same stop to combine both on foot.
Fare: ¥240 flat fare · Time: ~10-15 minutes streetcar plus a 10 minute walk · Transfers: None
JR Miyajima Ferry vs. Matsudai Kisen
Both operators cross from Miyajimaguchi in about 10 minutes for the same fare. The real decision is JR Pass coverage and the Great Torii route, not price.
| Operator | Fare | JR Pass | Route | Crossing Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JR Miyajima Ferry | ¥200 one-way | Covered at no extra cost | Offers the no-extra-charge Great Torii route, passing closer to the floating torii gate | ~10 minutes |
| Matsudai Kisen | ¥200 one-way | Not covered by any JR Pass | Standard direct route only | ~10 minutes |
A ¥100 Miyajima Visitor Tax applies per person, collected at the Miyajima-side terminal for travelers not already covered by a bundling pass.
Tickets, IC Cards, and Passes
Three similarly priced passes cover different things, check carefully before buying
IC Cards
ICOCA and Suica work identically on the Hiroden streetcar, the Astram Line, and city buses. Tap in and out on the Astram Line and buses; tap on boarding and again on exit for the streetcar. IC cards cannot be topped up on board the streetcar itself, so load enough balance before you board.
Single Tickets
Cash fares remain accepted on the streetcar and buses. The streetcar charges a flat ¥240 fare regardless of distance; Astram Line fares run ¥220-¥490 depending on distance.
Which One-Day Pass Should You Buy?
Three different products all start around ¥1,000, and reviewed travel guides frequently blur them together. They cover genuinely different things.
| Pass | Price | Covers | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiroden Streetcar 1-Day Pass | ¥700 adult / ¥350 child | Unlimited Hiroden streetcar rides only | A streetcar-only day in Hiroshima city, no Miyajima trip |
| Hiroden Streetcar + Ferry 1-Day Pass | ¥1,000 adult / ¥550 child | Unlimited streetcar rides plus unlimited Matsudai Kisen ferry rides; includes the Miyajima Visitor Tax | A one-day Hiroshima-and-Miyajima trip with no bus rides needed |
| Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass | ¥1,000 (24h) / ¥1,500 (48h) / ¥2,000 (72h) | Unlimited streetcar, 6 bus companies, and the Miyajima ferry, plus a discount coupon book | A multi-day trip using both streetcars and buses |
Bottom line: a streetcar-only day in the city rarely beats paying per ride at Hiroshima's flat ¥240 fare. The Hiroden Streetcar + Ferry Pass is the one most travelers doing a single Hiroshima-and-Miyajima day should consider; the broader Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass earns its price back only if buses are genuinely part of the plan. Confirm current Miyajima Visitor Tax terms at purchase, coverage has varied by product.
The JR Pass in Hiroshima
The nationwide JR Pass covers JR West trains serving Hiroshima, including the Sanyo Main Line to Miyajimaguchi and the JR Miyajima Ferry itself. It does not cover the Hiroden streetcar, the Astram Line, or city buses. Budget separately for those with an IC card.
See current JR Pass prices and the break-even math →Walking
Hiroshima rewards walking within Peace Memorial Park, downtown, and Miyajima
Central Hiroshima is genuinely walkable within specific areas, though the city as a whole, and certainly the trip to Miyajima, still require transit. Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome sit within an easy, flat walking loop from the Genbaku Dome-mae streetcar stop. Downtown, the covered Hondori arcade and the surrounding shopping and dining streets are compact and pedestrian-friendly. On Miyajima itself, the flat approach from the ferry pier to Itsukushima Shrine and the floating torii gate is an easy walk; reaching the summit of Mount Misen instead requires either a steep hike or the ropeway.
- •Peace Memorial Park is flat and shaded in parts, comfortable for most visitors including families and seniors
- •Summer heat and humidity make midday walking uncomfortable; plan outdoor walking for morning or early evening where possible
- •Miyajima’s shrine approach is flat and accessible, but reaching Mount Misen requires either a steep hike or the ropeway, not a casual walk
Buses
A secondary mode, useful for the sightseeing loop and streetcar gaps
The Meipuru-pu sightseeing loop bus, operated by Chugoku JR Bus, runs three color-coded routes from Hiroshima Station's Shinkansen exit, covering many of the same central sights as the streetcar plus a few it does not reach. A single ride costs ¥220 for adults, with a ¥600 one-day unlimited pass available. General city buses fill in further gaps, paid on boarding with IC card tap or exact cash.
Board through any door
Hiroden streetcars allow boarding through any door on most cars. Tap your IC card on the reader as you board, since you cannot add funds to the card once on board.
Take a seat or hold on
Streetcars can be crowded on the Miyajima Line and around Peace Memorial Park stops during peak sightseeing hours.
Watch the stop announcements
Stop names are announced in Japanese and English on tourist-relevant lines, with a screen showing the next stop.
Tap or pay as you exit
Tap your IC card again as you exit, or pay the flat ¥240 cash fare into the fare box by the driver.
Steps above describe streetcar boarding, Hiroshima's primary mode; general city bus boarding follows the same tap-on, tap-off pattern with front-door boarding on most routes.
Taxis and Ride Options
A useful, pricier backup for late nights, heavy luggage, and Mount Misen access
Taxis are widely available at Hiroshima Station, major hotels, and tourist areas, and are hailed on the street or found at dedicated taxi stands. Flag-drop fares are typically around ¥620 for the first stretch, with an additional per-kilometer charge. This is noticeably more expensive than the streetcar or a bus ride, but often worth it late at night after the streetcar stops running, to move heavy luggage without wrestling it onto a crowded car, or to reach the Mount Misen ropeway's base station on Miyajima more directly.
Most Hiroshima taxis accept cash and credit cards, and a growing number accept IC card payment. Ride-hailing apps operate in a more limited way in Japan than in some other countries; GO and Uber (in a taxi-hailing capacity, not private ride-share) are usable in Hiroshima but mainly summon the same metered taxis rather than offering a cheaper alternative.
Accessibility
A mixed streetcar fleet means accessibility varies by car, not guaranteed fleet-wide
Streetcar and Astram Line
Hiroden's Green Mover Max cars, the first fully low-floor light rail vehicle built in Japan, run alongside older high-floor streetcars that require step boarding. Accessibility on the streetcar depends on which car arrives, not a fleet-wide guarantee. The Astram Line, as an automated guideway system, has step-free stations throughout.
Ferry and Historic Areas
Both Miyajima ferry operators accommodate wheelchairs with assistance on request. Peace Memorial Park is flat and accessible; parts of Miyajima beyond the flat shrine approach, including any route toward Mount Misen's summit, remain physically demanding regardless of transit accessibility.
Accessibility infrastructure and staff assistance policies can change; confirm current conditions directly with the operator or venue for a firm mobility need rather than relying on this guide alone.
Luggage
Plan around the streetcar's lack of luggage space, especially on older cars
Coin Lockers and Storage
Hiroshima Station has coin lockers in multiple sizes throughout the building, near both the JR conventional-line and Shinkansen areas. Some accept IC card or app payment; others require cash.
Luggage Forwarding
Takkyubin services (most commonly Kuroneko Yamato's TA-Q-BIN) can be arranged through many hotels, convenience stores, and station delivery counters, typically delivering a bag to your next hotel the following day. See our Packing Guide for more on traveling light between cities.
The Hiroden streetcar has no dedicated luggage racks, and older high-floor cars in particular make a large suitcase genuinely difficult to manage. If you are arriving in Hiroshima with luggage and heading straight to sightseeing, store bags at Hiroshima Station first, or forward them ahead to your hotel, rather than carrying them onto a crowded streetcar.
Common Mistakes First-Time Visitors Make
Specific, avoidable errors, not generic advice
Confusing the Hiroden Streetcar + Ferry Pass with the Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass
Instead: Both start at ¥1,000, but the Streetcar + Ferry Pass covers only the streetcar and the Matsudai Kisen ferry, while the Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass adds 6 bus companies and a discount coupon book. Check exactly what a day includes before buying either.
Boarding the Matsudai Kisen ferry expecting Japan Rail Pass coverage
Instead: Only the JR Miyajima Ferry accepts the Japan Rail Pass. Matsudai Kisen charges the same fare but is not covered by any rail pass, look for the JR-branded pier at Miyajimaguchi if you are using a Pass.
Underestimating the Miyajima day-trip time budget
Instead: Between the ferry crossing, walking the shrine grounds, and a possible Mount Misen ropeway trip, a rushed Miyajima visit undersells the island. Budget at least half a day, more if you plan to ride the ropeway.
Assuming Hiroshima has a subway or metro
Instead: Hiroshima has no subway. The Hiroden streetcar, not a metro system, is the actual backbone of city transportation, with the Astram Line covering only the city’s north side.
Trying to add funds to an IC card on board the streetcar
Instead: Hiroden streetcars cannot top up an IC card. Arrive with enough balance already loaded, ideally topped up at Hiroshima Station before boarding.
Traveler-Specific Advice
Concise guidance for how you're actually traveling
First-time visitors
Get an IC card on day one, but load extra balance since the streetcar cannot top it up on board. Decide on a pass, if any, only after mapping out how many streetcar and ferry rides your day actually needs.
Families
The Miyajima day trip is genuinely manageable with children, a flat shrine approach, plenty of food options, and a ropeway for older kids. Budget extra time for the ferry queue at peak hours.
Senior travelers
The JR route to Miyajimaguchi is faster and involves less standing than the longer streetcar ride; both ferry operators assist boarding on request.
Travelers with limited mobility
Hiroden’s fleet mixes low-floor Green Mover cars with older high-floor streetcars, so accessibility is car-dependent, not guaranteed. The Astram Line’s stations are more reliably step-free.
Budget travelers
A single streetcar-only day rarely justifies a pass at Hiroshima’s flat ¥240 fare; the Streetcar + Ferry Pass is the one most likely to pay off if Miyajima is on the itinerary.
Visitors with large luggage
Avoid carrying large suitcases onto the streetcar, especially older high-floor cars with no luggage racks. Use Hiroshima Station’s coin lockers or takkyubin forwarding instead.
Short-stay travelers (1 day)
A single day realistically covers either central Hiroshima (Peace Memorial Park, downtown) or Miyajima well, not both at a relaxed pace; pick one as the priority.
Hiroshima Transportation FAQs
Continue Planning
Transportation Hub
The nationwide transportation hub: intercity trains, flights, and rental cars.
Hiroshima Destination Guide
Neighborhoods, attractions, and where to stay in Hiroshima.
Getting Around Kyoto
The equivalent guide for Kyoto, useful for a multi-city western Japan trip.
Getting Around Osaka
The equivalent guide for Osaka, useful for a multi-city western Japan trip.
Japan Rail Pass Guide
Current pricing and whether it is worth it for a Hiroshima-inclusive trip.
Japan Money Guide
Cash, cards, and IC card top-up basics for Hiroshima and beyond.
Japan Packing Guide
What to pack, including notes on traveling light for the streetcar and ferry.
Accessible Travel in Japan
A deeper look at accessible travel planning across Japan.
Family Travel in Japan
Planning advice for families traveling with children.
Senior Travel in Japan
Planning advice for senior travelers.
Hiroshima in 3 Days Itinerary
A day-by-day Hiroshima and Miyajima itinerary built around this transportation guide.
Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara & Hiroshima in 14 Days
A multi-city itinerary featuring Hiroshima and Miyajima.
Next Steps
Get your IC card ready, then see how transportation fits into a full day-by-day Hiroshima and Miyajima plan.