Train Tickets from Osaka to Hiroshima

Osaka is the largest city in the Kansai region, a portion of Japan's Honshu Island, with a rich culture and a plethora of attractions popular with both locals and tourists. The city of Osaka itself is well-known for its quirky residents, sights, and street cuisine. See well-known places, including the Tower of the Sun Park, Dotonbori, and the shopping district around Umeda Station! Also, be sure to see the amazing history Osaka has to offer, with Himeji Castle as a popular and standout destination. The interestingly shaped Mozu tombs also present a unique and educational visit for those who travel to the city!

Hiroshima will be recognized in history as the site of the first atomic bomb attack. Rebuilt in the present era, it has developed into one of Japan's liveliest and most culturally diverse cities, drawing tourists who come to honor the city's history, take in the breathtaking scenery and skyline, and savor the delectable cuisine. The famous Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and A-Bomb Dome, and the Hiroshima Museum of Art are must-see locations. Take a tour of the Mazda Museum and explore the city on one of the famous cable cars, which have been a fixture of the city since the early part of the last century!

Tickets booked with Japan Experience are issued through an official partnership with JR West, meaning you are dealing directly with the train operator that will take you from Osaka to Hiroshima.

Types of Shinkansen

From Shin-Osaka Station, the Shinkansen heads to Hiroshima Station in the center of the city. The journey only takes about 2 hours, traversing over 370 kilometers. During the ride, travelers will have access to a number of amenities, including power outlets, reclining chairs, and collapsible trays to use to eat eki-ben, special lunch boxes made specifically for long-distance Shinkansen bullet train travel! Shinkansen trains available on this line are the Nozomi, Mizuho, Sakura, Hikari, and Kodama. 

How to get to Shin-Osaka Station

Shin-Osaka Station was instituted to service the newly debuted Shinkansen bullet train in 1964, debuted for the Tokyo Olympics held that same year. Shin-Osaka serves as the major hub for traveling from Osaka to other locations within Kansai and all of Japan. As a major station in a major city, a number of train lines go through Shin-Osaka Station, including the JR Osaka Loop Line and trains on the Kobe and Kyoto Lines. 

Where to go from Hiroshima Station

Much of the city of Hiroshima is accessible with Hiroshima Station as a travel base! Nearby, the city’s rich history can be witnessed at the Toshogu Shrine, only an 8 minute walk from the station itself. Other lines are great for transit around the remaining Chugoku region, such as the Geibi Line and Sanyo Line. The station is also a terminal stop for the Hiroden Trams, historic tram cars that are synonymous with Hiroshima as a whole. 

How far in advance can I book train tickets?

You can book train tickets in Japan between 9 months prior to your train's departure date and 3 days before departure. 

Is there a special train ticket fare for children?

Yes, there are special fares applicable for children. Ages 12 and up are considered adults, but kids aged from 6 to 11 benefit from a reduced fare. Children under the age of 6 travel for free. This free fare is limited to 2 tickets, meaning any additional child under 6 will then pay the classic child fare.

Where to exchange your train tickets in Japan depending on region

In the JR West area (blue), you can exchange your QR code for a physical train ticket at reserved seat ticket machines in stations, or at Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket windows with station staff. In the JR Central area (orange), you can exchange your QR code at reserved seat ticket vending machines at indicated stations. In the JR East area (green), you can exchange your train tickets at Shinkansen stations, major stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and Narita Airport stations. 

How to use your train tickets in Japan

To use your train tickets once you have exchanged them, simply head to Shin-Osaka Station, insert your train ticket into the automatic gates (don't forget to take it back), and head to the right platform to hop on your train. On board the train, find the seat number that is on your ticket if you have a seat reservation, and enjoy the ride! Once you've arrived in Hiroshima, insert the ticket again at the gates upon exiting Hiroshima Station, and the city is now yours to explore. 

Modification and Cancellation

Order cancellation

Customers have up to 3 working days prior to their departure date to cancel their train ticket orders as long as they have not scanned the corresponding QR code and exchanged for their physical train tickets. A 15% cancellation fee will be charged, and the QR code will be instantly deactivated upon order cancellation. Cancellation of only a portion of the booking is not possible. 

For train ticket orders that have already had the corresponding QR code scanned and where the tickets have been received, or orders in less than 3 working days before departure, orders may be canceled at JR Station offices in the departure city up to 10 minutes before your train departure, where a refund will be issued with a 5%-10% cancellation fee, depending on the station and office. This refund will be made in cash in Japanese yen. 

Cancellation cannot be done at ticket machines. Please note JR Central offices can only cancel routes running through JR Central lines. 

Past the day and time of departure, refunds cannot be issued, regardless if the corresponding QR code has been used or not, and regardless if customers have received their physical tickets or not. Note that however, if you missed the departure train of the time, you can still board the next trains within 1 hour, in non-reserved seats.

These cancellation conditions still apply after one modification, according to the modification conditions below.

Order modification 

If you want to modify:

• Departure time on the same day OR seat for another seat except luggage seat:

Japan Experience can modify one time, free of charge, your booking if the corresponding QR code has not been used AND if it is NOT within 3 working days of the departure date. 

You will then be sent a new QR code to use at JR stations to exchange for your new tickets.

Otherwise, you will need to go to JR station machines to exchange your QR code to receive your tickets and then change the departure time at the same machine up to 10 minutes prior to your train departure.

You cannot modify the same ticket twice. For the second modification, the order will need to be canceled (check cancellation conditions) and then re-ordered with the new travel information.

• Departure date, route, seat for luggage seat, number of seats in the booking: 

Japan Experience cannot modify your booking. You will need to go to JR station machines to exchange QR code to receive your tickets and change time at the same machine up to 10 minutes prior to departure. There may be a difference in fare to be paid on the spot.

You cannot modify the same ticket twice. For the second modification, the order will need to be canceled (check cancellation conditions) and then re-ordered with the new travel information. 

• If you have made a mistake in your departure date or number of seats, you have to make a new booking online. Japan Experience will allow you to cancel your previous order free of charge. Kindly note that modifications for the new issued tickets won't be possible.

Eligibility

All persons above the age of 12, with no restrictions on residence status or nationality, are eligible to purchase individual train tickets (unlike the Japan Rail Pass and some JR regional passes, for example). Japanese individuals as well as foreigners living in Japan can thus purchase train tickets online. Under the age of 12, the aforementioned child fare conditions apply. 

Validity of train tickets

Train tickets issued are only valid for the date and time indicated on your booking and are to be used only on the Osaka to Hiroshima route.