JR Kansai Hiroshima Pass: Travelling Between Osaka and Hiroshima

The JR Kansai Hiroshima Pass is a JR West pass for foreign visitors that covers the Kansai area, the shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima, and the route to Miyajima, including the JR ferry to the island. Thai travellers using Osaka as a base often look at this pass, because Hiroshima is far enough away that separate return tickets can add up.

한눈에 보기

The pass lets you ride the Sanyo Shinkansen from Kansai to Hiroshima, but the trains included are usually Hikari and Sakura, not the fastest Nozomi and Mizuho. Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima by shinkansen takes roughly an hour and a half to two hours, depending on the train type. The pass also covers Okayama and Himeji, so you can stop along the way. Check current conditions on the JR West site.

적합한 대상

• Travellers based in Osaka or Kyoto who want Hiroshima as a day trip or one night away.
• People who want to stop at Himeji or Okayama on the way, since the pass covers those areas.
• Anyone certain to visit Miyajima, because the ferry crossing is part of the value.
• Less suited to people who must ride the fastest Nozomi, or to visits that only touch Hiroshima with no Kansai travel.

Price and conditions

No price appears here because it can change over time. Three things to check on the official site: the number of consecutive days the pass is valid, which trains are excluded, and which Kansai areas are covered. The pass is sold to foreign visitors entering as temporary visitors, so have your passport ready when you buy and when you exchange.

How to buy or reserve

You can buy online in advance and exchange at a JR counter in the airport or a large station, or buy over the counter after arriving. Leave extra time when exchanging, since queues at big stations can be long. Shinkansen seats are reserved separately at a counter or machine, and on weekends and festivals it is wise to reserve ahead.

Using it step by step

1. 1Fix the Hiroshima dayChoose a suitable day for Hiroshima and use the other pass days for Kansai trips by JR.
2. 2Exchange and reserveExchange the pass at a JR counter and reserve Hikari or Sakura seats both ways.
3. 3Plan the Miyajima legFrom Hiroshima take the JR line to Miyajimaguchi, then the JR ferry across to the island.
4. 4Leave margin for the returnBook the return shinkansen with more margin than you think you need, as ferry and local train connections may not line up exactly.

On a day with trains, a ferry and trams to connect, being able to open maps and check departures instantly reduces stress. An eSIM installed before the flight works from landing.

일본 eSIM 요금제 보기

Sample routes

In Hiroshima, most visitors head for the Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome, which deserve unhurried time. Miyajima has the Itsukushima Shrine and its torii gate standing in the water, and what you see depends on the tide.

When it pays off and when it does not

The pass pays off when you ride the shinkansen to Hiroshima and back and also use JR lines in Kansai for a couple of other days. If you only go to Hiroshima and use no other JR rides, compare against separate shinkansen tickets or another pass with a wider area. On the other side, anyone who wants the Nozomi to save time loses out, as they must pay extra or switch to separate tickets. A simple check is to add up the separate fares of your real plan and compare with the pass price on the day you buy.

자주 묻는 질문