Where should you stay in Hiroshima, and how far should you travel?
Use Hiroshima Station for JR to Miyajima or Onomichi. Hondori also suits Peace Memorial Park and evening meals. Onomichi is a separate eastern city; decide between a day trip and staying there before departing.
Choose the Hiroshima attractions you want to see first
Compare city museum, garden and art; Miyajima by ferry; and eastern Onomichi’s hill views, temple and film displays. Plan island return and Onomichi travel on separate days.
Itineraries by trip length
Choose museum and city garden, Miyajima’s shrine or Onomichi views. Compare returns to a Hiroshima hotel with moving to Onomichi. For several areas, consider travel days alongside viewing days.
1 night, 2 days
For less intercity rail travel, see museum and park on day 1, then Shukkeien. For Miyajima, see shrine and shops first, then the city collection. Choose the island only if arrival leaves enough time for return trains, ferries and shrine.
2 nights, 3 days
Stay 2 nights in Hiroshima and choose Miyajima or Onomichi for day 2. Miyajima suits coastal shrine and shops; Senkojiyama offers town and island views from above. Island routes finish with Shukkeien; Onomichi routes finish with Peace Memorial Museum.
3 nights, 4 days
For hill views and Jodoji on separate days, stay 2 nights in Hiroshima then 1 in Onomichi. For one hotel, stay 3 nights in Hiroshima for garden, collection, Miyajima and museum on separate days. Final sightseeing returns to Onomichi or Hiroshima Station according to the stay.
4 nights, 5 days
For both Miyajima and Onomichi, spend 3 nights in Hiroshima then 1 in Onomichi. For more Onomichi instead of the island, split 2 nights in each city. Two Onomichi nights separate hill views, Jodoji and Film Museum; both routes end at Onomichi Station.
Where should you stay?
Hotel bases and sightseeing areas
Peace Memorial Museum and Hondori are in central Hiroshima; Miyajima is an island in Hatsukaichi; Onomichi is in the prefecture’s east. Miyajima needs a ferry after the train. Distinguish Shin-Onomichi from Onomichi Station.
Open the official Peace Memorial Museum guideWalking between station, landing and shrineOperator’s access by starting stationJR Shin-Onomichi Shinkansen and connecting-station guide
Choose accommodation, arrival and departure stations
City and Miyajima return routes use Hiroshima Station as a base. From a Hondori hotel, check access and time to Hiroshima Station separately from the tram examples. Four- and five-day routes staying in Onomichi move to a hotel near Onomichi Station and depart there on the final day. For luggage storage, check your booked hotel’s address and drop-off/collection hours; hotel detours add time outside sightseeing estimates.
Open the official Peace Memorial Museum guideOperator’s access by starting station
Plan JR, trams and meals
Which journeys can use a JR pass?
Kansai–Hiroshima costs JPY 17,000 per adult for 5 consecutive days; Sanyo–Sanin JPY 23,000 for 7. Buyers need a foreign-government passport and Temporary Visitor status. Both cover JR Sanyo Line local trains Hiroshima–Miyajimaguchi return and Hiroshima → Mihara → Onomichi. For Miyajimaguchi–Miyajima, coverage applies to JR West ferry, with JPY 100 visitor tax extra.
Neither includes Hiroden trams, Hiroshima Airport buses, admission, accommodation or meals. Kansai–Hiroshima covers Sanyo Shinkansen only Shin-Osaka–Hiroshima; Sanyo–Sanin extends to Hakata. Both exclude Tokaido and Kyushu Shinkansen. Reserve assigned seats before boarding.
Without a pass, buy ordinary tickets for each JR section. Shinkansen needs an express ticket in addition to the basic fare and differs from these local Sanyo Line costs. Route subtotals combine admission and transport excluding JR train fares. Compare ordinary tickets including travel into and out of the prefecture before buying; unspecified JR fares and starting/ending cities do not establish pass savings.
JR West Kansai–Hiroshima coverage, price and eligibilityJR West Sanyo–Sanin coverage, price and eligibilityOfficial Kansai–Hiroshima coverage mapOfficial Sanyo–Sanin coverage map
Changing trams at Hatchobori
For garden or art museum from Hiroshima, take line 2/6 then change at Hatchobori to line 9 towards Hakushima. Allow crossing and platform-transfer time. With cash, pay at first alighting, collect the transfer ticket and hand it in on the next tram. With IC, tap each boarding/alighting and change within 60 minutes of first alighting. The opposite-direction return after viewing needs a new fare. The routes below use ordinary JPY 240 one-way/480 return fares.
Hiroden ordinary faresHiroden cash transfer ticket and IC validityHatchobori transfer diagram
Where should you eat after city sightseeing?
Choose Hondori after Peace Memorial Park, or Hiroshima Station before travelling to another city, to reduce detours. Choose a local restaurant when eating in Onomichi. Meals cost separately from route admission and transport.
Compare transport costs for your starting station
Check departure-day JR and airport transport separately from sightseeing subtotals. After Miyajima’s return ferry, allow walking to Miyajimaguchi and JR to Hiroshima. When departing Onomichi, confirm whether your booking leaves Onomichi or Shin-Onomichi. Compare included and excluded admission/local transport in each route’s cost card.
Official museum admission, opening and bookingHiroden ordinary faresHiroden transfersOfficial Shukkeien admission and openingOpen Itsukushima Shrine’s official guideFerry faresArt museum admission and closuresJR West Kansai–Hiroshima coverage, price and eligibilityJR West Sanyo–Sanin coverage, price and eligibilityOfficial Kansai–Hiroshima coverage mapOfficial Sanyo–Sanin coverage map
Choose meals near your hotel base
Use the restaurant guide below for city okonomiyaki. For dinner in Miyajima or Onomichi, choose local restaurants near your hotel and check addresses and return transport. Follow each restaurant’s menus, prices and booking conditions.
Choose trip length and visit dates
Choose dates around museum closures and Miyajima returns. On the final day, leave time from sightseeing to your booked departure station; move visits earlier when time is short.
Official museum admission, opening and bookingArt museum admission and closuresFerry timetable
Use cameras for the area you will visit
Check the East Building entrance camera’s coverage and update time, alongside official museum queue and opening information.
Miyajima Omotesando shows anonymised current pedestrians over a previously filmed background, which does not change with time or weather. Do not use it for current weather or day/night. Check shrine sea tides and ferry operations separately in their official guides.
Check the Senkojiyama summit camera’s coverage and timestamp. It cannot show every town path or establish ropeway operations.
Choose a camera for Hiroshima city, Miyajima or Onomichi according to your destination. Do not treat island or summit images as conditions around a city hotel.
Transport, meals and cameras
Museum East Building entrance camera
Use images only for the area visible. Check facility guides for opening, reservations and transport operations.
Museum East Building entrance camera →Omotesando Shopping Street camera
Use images only for the area visible. Check facility guides for opening, reservations and transport operations.
Omotesando Shopping Street camera →Senkojiyama summit camera
Use images only for the area visible. Check facility guides for opening, reservations and transport operations.
Senkojiyama summit camera →Hiroshima camera list
Choose a camera by its actual filming location in this prefecture’s list.
Hiroshima camera list →Hondori and Hiroshima Station restaurant guide
Choose a meal area and menu after sightseeing, then check restaurant opening and reservation conditions.
Hondori and Hiroshima Station restaurant guide →Hiroden tram transfer guide
Check cash transfer tickets and IC conditions when changing to line 9 at Hatchobori.
Hiroden tram transfer guide →JR Miyajima Ferry timetable
Choose your island return ferry, then allow walking to Miyajimaguchi and JR waiting.
JR Miyajima Ferry timetable →Hiroshima Airport bus timetable
Check the new table for travel from 25 October onwards and allow separate airport check-in time.
Hiroshima Airport bus timetable →Kansai–Hiroshima Area Pass
Compare actual journeys and eligibility with official coverage, then ordinary fares for the full trip before choosing a pass.
Kansai–Hiroshima Area Pass →Sanyo–Sanin Area Pass
Compare actual journeys and eligibility with official coverage, then ordinary fares for the full trip before choosing a pass.
Sanyo–Sanin Area Pass →Hiroshima places to visit on separate days
Choose Hiroshima city, Miyajima or Onomichi for each day.
Hiroshima Station and Peace Memorial Park
Take a tram from Hiroshima to Genbaku Dome-mae, then walk through the park to the museum. Separate its exhibition day from Shukkeien/art days. Check required reservation periods first for your date.
Official museum admission, opening and bookingOfficial museum guideOpen the official Peace Memorial Museum guideHiroden ordinary faresHiroden line 2 stops and directionHiroden line 6 stops and directionCurrent museum crowd information
Miyajimaguchi and Miyajima
Reach Miyajimaguchi by JR, then connect to a ferry. See Itsukushima and Omotesando, choosing a return ferry too. Separate ferry fare, visitor tax and shrine admission.
Open Itsukushima Shrine’s official guideFerry timetableWalking between station, landing and shrineJR Miyajima Ferry ordinary fares and visitor taxJR West Kansai–Hiroshima coverage, price and eligibilityJR West Sanyo–Sanin coverage, price and eligibility
Onomichi Station and Senkojiyama
Shin-Onomichi and Onomichi are different stations. Current stays and town walks use Onomichi. Choose day trip or local stay, separating ropeway, temple and film visits across days.
Open the official Senkojiyama Ropeway guideOfficial ropeway operating hoursOperator’s access by starting stationMore transport and operating informationSenkojiyama ordinary tickets and JR-pass presentation discount
Plan access for your starting station and attraction
Separate walking to the facility from train and bus travel times. Each attraction guide includes return conditions too.
Getting to Peace Memorial Museum and back
From Hiroshima, take line 2 towards Miyajimaguchi or line 6 towards Eba to Genbaku Dome-mae, then walk through the park to the East Building. Return on line 2 or 6 towards Hiroshima Station. Ordinary one-way fares are JPY 240 adult/120 child.
Open the official Peace Memorial Museum guideHiroden ordinary faresHiroden line 2 stops and directionHiroden line 6 stops and direction
Getting to Itsukushima Shrine and back
Take the JR Sanyo Line towards Iwakuni from Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi. Tourism access gives about 10 minutes walking to the terminal, followed by about 10 minutes on JR ferry and 15 minutes from island landing to shrine. Ferry, walking and waiting are separate from JR travel. Shrine viewing proceeds one way.
Getting to Senkojiyama Ropeway and back
Walk about 15 minutes from JR Onomichi to the lower station, then ride about 3 minutes. By bus, alight eastbound at Nagaeguchi (長江口). Distinguish this from bus access starting at Shin-Onomichi.
Open the official Senkojiyama Ropeway guideOperator’s access by starting station
Connect with other regions and transport
For an onward trip, first compare the direction of your hotel move and the route’s actual end station.
Stay in Onomichi or return to the city?
Stay 1 night in Onomichi and depart after Jodoji, or keep a Hiroshima hotel for exhibitions and Miyajima. The Onomichi stay uses Hiroshima–Miyajimaguchi return and Hiroshima → Mihara → Onomichi one-way JR; the city stay uses only Miyajimaguchi return. Both are covered sections of Kansai–Hiroshima/Sanyo–Sanin, along with JR ferry. Tax, trams, ropeway, admission and accommodation cost extra; compare ordinary tickets including onward travel outside the prefecture.
Choose departure after an Onomichi night or staying at the same Hiroshima hotel.
The two-night Hiroshima day-trip route returns to the same hotel after Onomichi.
Valid for 5 consecutive days. Check coverage maps, eligibility and exclusions.
Valid for 7 consecutive days. Compare coverage including travel outside the prefecture.
JR West Kansai–Hiroshima coverage, price and eligibilityJR West Sanyo–Sanin coverage, price and eligibilityOfficial Kansai–Hiroshima coverage mapOfficial Sanyo–Sanin coverage map
Include the island or stay longer in Onomichi?
Include Miyajima with 1 Onomichi night, or omit the island for 2 nights there. Both routes’ JR Sanyo sections are covered by Kansai–Hiroshima/Sanyo–Sanin, but no island trip means no JR ferry. Passes last 5/7 consecutive days; tax, trams, ropeway, admission and accommodation cost extra. Compare ordinary tickets and dates entering Hiroshima and departing Onomichi too.
Spend 1 Onomichi night when including Miyajima, or 2 when giving the town more time instead of the island.
The two-night Hiroshima day-trip route returns to the same hotel after Onomichi.
Valid for 5 consecutive days. Check coverage maps, eligibility and exclusions.
Valid for 7 consecutive days. Compare coverage including travel outside the prefecture.
JR West Kansai–Hiroshima coverage, price and eligibilityJR West Sanyo–Sanin coverage, price and eligibilityOfficial Kansai–Hiroshima coverage mapOfficial Sanyo–Sanin coverage map
Check transport for your next journey
For Miyajima, connect JR to Miyajimaguchi and JR ferry, then check Hiroshima-bound trains after the return ferry. For moving to Onomichi, choose the Mihara connection and check your hotel location. Search city trams for museum/garden separately from intercity JR.
Check cash transfer tickets and IC conditions when changing to line 9 at Hatchobori.
Choose your island return ferry, then allow walking to Miyajimaguchi and JR waiting.
Check the new table for travel from 25 October onwards and allow separate airport check-in time.
What should you eat in Hiroshima?
Choose food near your sightseeing area, then check menus and prices at a restaurant open that day.
Hiroshima okonomiyaki
Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki layers batter, vegetables and noodles during cooking. Check menus and hours near Hondori or Hiroshima Station on your meal day. Tourism food explanations differ from individual restaurant booking conditions.
Choose a restaurant near that day’s hotel base
Use the restaurant guide below for city okonomiyaki. For dinner in Miyajima or Onomichi, choose local restaurants near your hotel and check addresses and return transport. Follow each restaurant’s menus, prices and booking conditions.
Compare transport, admission and passes
The two-day city route totals museum/garden admission and trams; the island route totals shrine/art admission, JR ferry, tax and city trams. Hiroshima–Miyajimaguchi JR is excluded. Add JR to Onomichi, accommodation, meals and airport transport separately too.
Peace Memorial Park and garden · JPY 1,510
The subtotal includes JPY 200 for the museum, JPY 480 for return museum trams, JPY 350 for Shukkeien and JPY 480 for return garden trams. Airport transport, accommodation, meals and luggage storage cost extra. Both visits use trams without JR.
Official museum admission, opening and bookingHiroden ordinary faresHiroden transfersOfficial Shukkeien admission and opening
Miyajima and art museum · JPY 1,790
The subtotal includes JPY 300 for the shrine, JPY 400 for the return JR ferry and JPY 100 tax, JPY 510 for the art museum and JPY 480 for return museum trams. Return JR travel between Hiroshima and Miyajimaguchi, airport transport, accommodation, meals and luggage storage cost extra. Special exhibitions are excluded.
Open Itsukushima Shrine’s official guideFerry faresArt museum admission and closuresHiroden ordinary faresHiroden transfers
Miyajima JR and ferry, plus Onomichi travel
Kansai–Hiroshima/Sanyo–Sanin cover JR Sanyo local trains Hiroshima–Miyajimaguchi and Hiroshima → Mihara → Onomichi, plus JR West Miyajima Ferry. Even with a pass, JPY 100 visitor tax remains; Hiroden, ropeway and admission do not become free. Compare adult Kansai–Hiroshima JPY 17,000/5 days and Sanyo–Sanin JPY 23,000/7 days including JR into and out of the prefecture. Savings are unconfirmed because all ordinary fares have not been totalled.
Compare actual journeys and eligibility with official coverage, then ordinary fares for the full trip before choosing a pass.
Compare actual journeys and eligibility with official coverage, then ordinary fares for the full trip before choosing a pass.
JR West Kansai–Hiroshima coverage, price and eligibilityJR West Sanyo–Sanin coverage, price and eligibilityOfficial Kansai–Hiroshima coverage mapOfficial Sanyo–Sanin coverage map
Choose around trip length and visit conditions
Choose dates around museum closures and Miyajima returns. On the final day, leave time from sightseeing to your booked departure station; move visits earlier when time is short.
Hiroshima in two days: city sightseeing or Miyajima?
For less intercity rail travel, see museum and park on day 1, then Shukkeien. For Miyajima, see shrine and shops first, then the city collection. Choose the island only if arrival leaves enough time for return trains, ferries and shrine.
Hiroshima in three days: where should the middle day go?
Stay 2 nights in Hiroshima and choose Miyajima or Onomichi for day 2. Miyajima suits coastal shrine and shops; Senkojiyama offers town and island views from above. Island routes finish with Shukkeien; Onomichi routes finish with Peace Memorial Museum.
Hiroshima in four days: stay overnight in Onomichi?
For hill views and Jodoji on separate days, stay 2 nights in Hiroshima then 1 in Onomichi. For one hotel, stay 3 nights in Hiroshima for garden, collection, Miyajima and museum on separate days. Final sightseeing returns to Onomichi or Hiroshima Station according to the stay.
Hiroshima in five days: include Miyajima or stay longer in Onomichi?
For both Miyajima and Onomichi, spend 3 nights in Hiroshima then 1 in Onomichi. For more Onomichi instead of the island, split 2 nights in each city. Two Onomichi nights separate hill views, Jodoji and Film Museum; both routes end at Onomichi Station.
View cameras before your Hiroshima trip
Camera images supplement planning only for the place filmed. Check official guides for facility and transport operations.
Museum East Building entrance camera
Check East Building entrance camera coverage and update time alongside official museum queue and opening information.
Omotesando Shopping Street camera
Omotesando shows anonymised current pedestrians over a previously filmed background that does not change with time or weather. Do not use it for current weather or day/night. Check shrine sea tides and ferry operations in their official guides separately.
Senkojiyama summit camera
Check summit camera coverage and timestamp. It cannot establish every Onomichi town path or ropeway operations.
Hiroshima camera list
Choose cameras for Hiroshima city, Miyajima or Onomichi according to your destination. Do not treat island or summit images as conditions around a city hotel.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to stay in Hiroshima after visiting Onomichi?
The three-day Onomichi day-trip route returns to the same Hiroshima hotel. The four-day hotel-move route divides 2 nights in Hiroshima and 1 in Onomichi. Five days offer 1 or 2 Onomichi nights; both finish at Onomichi Station after sightseeing. If booked from Shin-Onomichi, allow separate interstation travel.
JR Onomichi official timetable and station-map entryOperator’s access by starting stationJR Shin-Onomichi Shinkansen and connecting-station guide
Official sources and confirmation dates
- Official museum guide ·
- Hiroden ordinary fares ·
- Open the official Peace Memorial Museum guide ·
- Current museum crowd information ·
- Open Itsukushima Shrine’s official guide ·
- Ferry fares ·
- Ferry timetable ·
- Walking between station, landing and shrine ·
- Open the official Miyajima Omotesando guide ·
- Open the official Senkojiyama Ropeway guide ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- Art museum admission and closures ·
- Hiroden transfers ·
- Hatchobori transfer diagram ·
- Operator’s access by starting station ·
- Hiroden line 2 stops and direction ·
- Hiroden line 6 stops and direction ·
- JR Shin-Onomichi Shinkansen and connecting-station guide ·
- Official museum admission, opening and booking ·
- Official Shukkeien admission and opening ·
- Official ropeway operating hours ·
- JR West Kansai–Hiroshima coverage, price and eligibility ·
- JR West Sanyo–Sanin coverage, price and eligibility ·
- Official Kansai–Hiroshima coverage map ·
- Official Sanyo–Sanin coverage map ·
- Senkojiyama ordinary tickets and JR-pass presentation discount ·
- Hiroden cash transfer ticket and IC validity ·
- JR Miyajima Ferry ordinary fares and visitor tax ·
- JR Onomichi official timetable and station-map entry ·
- Hiroshima tourism guide to okonomiyaki preparation ·