Hiroshima Bus Tour, Shinkansen Ticket

Hiroshima Bus Tour, Shinkansen Ticket, 8 hours, rated 4.7 across 1,239 traveller reviews.

Overview

This day trip from Kyoto or Osaka bundles the bullet train with a guided bus loop through Hiroshima and Miyajima. Pick the Shinkansen plan and staff meet you at the departure station, hand over round-trip tickets and help with boarding, though they do not ride along. There is also an option to skip the train entirely and join the tour at Hiroshima Station.

Once the train pulls in, a guide takes over. The bus runs past Hiroshima Castle on a scenic drive, then stops at the Atomic Bomb Dome for about half an hour before an hour inside the Peace Memorial Museum. Lunch follows at a local restaurant, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki with pork, cabbage, bean sprouts and noodles, with no-pork and no-egg variations available if you flag them when booking. The afternoon is Miyajima: a short ferry across, an hour at Itsukushima Shrine, an hour of free time on the island, then the ferry and bus back to the station.

One reviewer found there was enough time and the day was not too stressful. It suits travellers who want both World Heritage sites in one day without planning anything themselves, and who are comfortable with a lot of walking. An audio guide option covers 21 languages on the bus, using your own smartphone and earphones.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at your stationThree meeting point options exist depending on the plan chosen; Shinkansen guests are met by staff who hand over round-trip tickets and assist with boarding.
2. Shinkansen to HiroshimaThe train ride takes 1.5 hours. Staff do not accompany guests on the train.
3. Hiroshima Station briefingMeet the guide at Hiroshima Station for a guided tour introduction and safety briefing.
4. Scenic drive past the castleA 15-minute bus ride passes Hiroshima Castle without stopping.
5. Atomic Bomb DomeA 30-minute visit to the UNESCO-listed dome.
6. Peace Memorial MuseumOne hour inside the museum, with entry ticket included. Some travellers wish this segment were longer.
7. Okonomiyaki lunchA 45-minute lunch stop at a local restaurant, with dietary options selectable at booking.
8. Ferry to MiyajimaA 30-minute bus transfer, then a 10-minute ferry crossing with the round-trip fare included.
9. Itsukushima Shrine and island timeOne hour of guided sightseeing at the shrine, entry included, followed by an hour of free time on the island.
10. ReturnFerry back in 10 minutes, then a 50-minute bus ride to Hiroshima Station and the 1.5-hour train back, or the tour ends at the station for Hiroshima-plan guests.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape the day, drawn from the listing and from what multiple travellers reported.

• Walking fitness. The listing states plainly that the tour involves a lot of walking and advises guests with walking difficulties not to book. That walking load is the main physical demand to weigh before reserving.
• Group feel. This is a shared tour with other guests, not private.
• Lunch choices. Okonomiyaki comes in three versions: regular, no pork with eggs, and no pork, no fish powder, no eggs. Allergies and dietary restrictions must be declared at booking, because the menu cannot be changed on the day, and outside food and drink are not allowed in the restaurant.
• Audio guides. The multilingual audio guide works only on the bus, in 21 languages, and requires your own smartphone and earphones. Earphone guides must be returned after use, and lost or damaged units can incur a replacement fee of up to 18,000 yen.
• Luggage. The bus luggage compartment can hold your bags during the tour, so a suitcase is workable if you are continuing on after the day.
• Tide and timing. One reviewer noted low tide in Miyajima during their visit but still called it a great experience. Another mentioned waiting about an hour for the return train at the end of the day.

Common issues. The honest gripes are modest. One reviewer called the tour fee high relative to what was delivered, and some say the hour at the Peace Memorial Museum is too short for the weight of the material. One reviewer would have preferred more island time and less waiting before the return train. The listing itself flags the heavy walking load, the fixed lunch menu and the possible replacement charge for lost earphone guides.

Common Questions