Landing at Hiroshima Airport

What HIJ is like

Hiroshima Airport is not in the city but on high ground to the east, which is why it occasionally meets morning fog. The building is small and can be walked end to end in a few minutes. The thing to know before you travel is that no railway reaches it: the main way out is a bus to the city's central station, and that ride is not short. A great many people visiting Hiroshima arrive by high-speed train from another city instead of flying at all. If you are flying, build the road leg into the day properly.

On arrival

Get the line up on landing and check two things immediately: when the next bus leaves and how long it takes to reach the central station, because those two answers shape your day. The building is small enough that you are out front not long after the bag appears. There are few international services, so entry formalities here usually take less time than at a large airport. On a foggy morning flights can be rescheduled, which is another reason to have your own line for checking status rather than waiting for an announcement.

How far the airport Wi-Fi gets you

The Wi-Fi is adequate for a building this size and rarely slow because the crowds are not there, with the familiar terms page first. The point that matters is that it stops at the doors, while the longest part of your journey is the ride down from the high ground into the city. If you want to work out which stop to get off at, or tell your accommodation when you will arrive, that all happens on your own line.

Getting into town

The main way out is the limousine bus from in front of the terminal to the city's central station, taking roughly three quarters of an hour to an hour depending on traffic. There are also buses that run to other towns in the region without going through Hiroshima first, which helps if the city is not your destination. A taxi is possible, but the distance puts it out of most people's reckoning. The route crosses hilly country with tunnels between built-up stretches, so you have service for most of it with interruptions in the tunnels. Load your stop and your onward route before you board.

What people ask about this airport

• No train reaches the airport — Plan around the bus timetable before you even book the flight, because a late arrival can leave you with far fewer ways into the city.
• Morning fog is a real factor — The airport sits on high ground, so some mornings see schedules adjusted. Keep a fallback in mind if you are connecting onward the same day.
• Buses reach other towns directly — If your destination lies outside Hiroshima city, a direct bus saves a lot of time compared with going in and coming back out again.