By Clever Tourists · Published · Last updated
Take the Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima: about 1 hour 25 to 30 minutes on a Nozomi or Mizuho, for ¥10,950 (≈ $69) in a reserved seat in regular season. Sakura trains take a few minutes longer and cost ¥10,420 (≈ $65) reserved; any non-reserved seat is ¥9,890 (≈ $62). Japan Rail Pass holders ride Sakura, Hikari and Kodama trains at no extra cost, or buy a ¥4,170 (≈ $26) NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket for the faster trains. Highway buses are cheaper but take most of a day or a night. This page covers the one-way trip; for doing it as a day out, see our Hiroshima and Miyajima day trip guide.
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All Shinkansen to Hiroshima leave from Shin-Osaka, not Osaka Station. From Osaka Station (Umeda), take the JR Kyoto Line one stop to Shin-Osaka, or the Midosuji subway from Umeda or Namba. Allow time to walk to the Shinkansen gates with bags.
Trains run roughly every 10 to 20 minutes through the day. Nozomi trains come through from Tokyo and Kyoto; Mizuho and Sakura start at Shin-Osaka and continue to Hakata and Kyushu. Hikari and Kodama make more stops.
| Train | Time | Reserved seat | With a JR Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mizuho | About 1 hr 25 min, the fastest | ¥10,950 (≈ $69) | Needs the ¥4,170 (≈ $26) NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket |
| Nozomi | About 1 hr 30 min | ¥10,950 (≈ $69) | Needs the ¥4,170 (≈ $26) NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket |
| Sakura | About 1 hr 30 to 40 min | ¥10,420 (≈ $65) | Covered |
| Hikari (through to Hiroshima) | Longer; more stops | ¥10,420 (≈ $65) | Covered |
| Kodama | About 2 hr 30 min or more | ¥10,420 (≈ $65) | Covered |
| Any train, non-reserved car | As above | ¥9,890 (≈ $62) | Covered except Nozomi and Mizuho |
Reserved fares are about ¥200 (≈ $1.3) lower in off-peak periods and ¥200 to ¥400 (≈ $1.3–2.5) higher on the busiest days; non-reserved is the same all year. Buy at the JR ticket machines and offices at Shin-Osaka, or online through JR's booking services, and check the train, date and seat before paying.
Non-reserved cars save a little and need no booking, but you may have to queue or stand at busy times. During the main holiday peaks (Golden Week, Obon and the New Year), JR makes every Nozomi seat reserved-only, and other dates can be added, so check JR's notices and book once your dates are fixed.
Bags with total dimensions over 160 cm need a seat with an oversized-baggage area reserved in advance on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen; see our Shinkansen luggage rules.
The nationwide pass covers Sakura, Hikari and Kodama between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima, reserved or non-reserved. For the Nozomi or Mizuho, the official JAPAN RAIL PASS site says you need a separate NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket for each ride: ¥4,170 (≈ $26) for an adult between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima, sold from one month before travel at JR ticket machines and offices in Japan, with the pass.
The pass itself costs ¥50,000 (≈ $313) for 7 days when bought on the official site (¥53,000 (≈ $332) through an overseas agency). A single Osaka to Hiroshima trip doesn't come close to that; the pass only pays off over a longer route. Our JR Pass worth-it table and JR Pass calculator price it against your itinerary.
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JR West's Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass costs ¥17,000 (≈ $107) for 5 days (¥8,500 (≈ $53) for children) and covers the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima in reserved and non-reserved ordinary cars, JR trains around Kansai and Hiroshima, and the JR Miyajima Ferry. A reserved Nozomi return costs ¥21,900 (≈ $137), so one round trip is enough to come out ahead.
It is for foreign passport holders, and it does not cover the Tokaido Shinkansen to Tokyo, the Sanyo Shinkansen west of Hiroshima or expressway buses. Book reserved seats before boarding.
Daytime and overnight highway buses run between Osaka (mainly Osaka Station's JR bus terminal, Umeda and Namba) and Hiroshima, including JR Bus and WILLER services. Booking-site listings show journeys of roughly 5 to 8 hours depending on the service and fares from a few thousand yen, cheaper than the train but a long day in a coach seat.
An overnight bus saves a hotel night but arrives early in the morning, before hotel check-in. Compare the live fare against the train before booking; on a busy day the saving can be small.
From Hiroshima Station, the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi takes about 25 minutes, then a 10-minute ferry crosses to the island. JR West notes a ¥100 (≈ $0.63) Miyajima visitor tax is paid when boarding. Our Kyoto to Hiroshima guide covers the ferries and staying on the island, and the day trip guide has the tide times and a timed plan.
For a base in the city, see where to stay in Hiroshima. Continuing west, our Hiroshima to Fukuoka guide covers the next leg.
About 1 hour 25 to 30 minutes on a Mizuho or Nozomi from Shin-Osaka, 1 hour 30 to 40 minutes on a Sakura, and 2 hours 30 minutes or more on a Kodama.
In regular season, ¥10,950 (≈ $69) for a reserved seat on a Nozomi or Mizuho, ¥10,420 (≈ $65) reserved on a Sakura, Hikari or Kodama, and ¥9,890 (≈ $62) for a non-reserved seat.
Yes on Sakura, Hikari and Kodama trains. For a Nozomi or Mizuho, pass holders buy a NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket, ¥4,170 (≈ $26) for an adult between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima, for each ride.
JR West's Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass costs ¥17,000 (≈ $107) for 5 days and covers the Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima and the JR Miyajima Ferry. A reserved Nozomi return is ¥21,900 (≈ $137).
Yes. Daytime and overnight highway buses run from Osaka to Hiroshima in roughly 5 to 8 hours, depending on the service, for less than the train.
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