Bullet Train, 11 Hours 30 Minutes

Overview

This Amigo Tours Japan day trip bundles the two things most visitors want from Hiroshima into a single long day out of Osaka: Miyajima Island with Itsukushima Shrine, and the Peace Memorial Park in the city itself. The day runs 11.5 hours and travels on the Shinkansen, with a bilingual guide who runs the tour in English and Spanish.

The shape of the day is straightforward. A bullet train ride from Shin-Osaka Station gets you west, then the group crosses to Miyajima by ferry and spends the biggest block of time there, roughly four hours, walking the island and visiting the shrine. From there the tour moves to Hiroshima itself, with a bus handling local transport, and time at the Peace Memorial Park. The return leg brings you back to Osaka by train in the evening.

It suits travellers basing themselves in Osaka who want the history and the island in one shot without self-planning the connections. Expect a big group, up to 45 people, and a lot of time on your feet. Some reviewers do call it a long day, and it packs both sites in efficiently for anyone short on time.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Shin-Osaka StationThe tour starts at the station with the Shinkansen leg, which takes 1 hour 45 minutes. Train tickets are included when that option is selected.
2. Miyajimaguchi StationA 50-minute transfer stop on the way to the island, with the ticket included.
3. Itsukushima and MiyajimaFour hours on the island. The ferry crossing is included and entrance to Itsukushima Shrine is covered, with free admission at this stop.
4. Hiroshima StationOne hour at the station, a transfer point where the included bus transport takes over.
5. Hiroshima Peace Memorial ParkTwo hours at the park. The park itself is free to enter, but the museum, if you go in, charges admission paid separately.
6. Return to OsakaThe return train ride takes 1 hour 45 minutes, closing out the 11-hour-30-minute day.

What To Expect From The Tour

A day this long and this packed rewards a bit of preparation. Here is what past travellers and the listing itself suggest knowing before you book.

• Walking and fitness. The listing asks for a moderate level of physical fitness and says the tour is not recommended for travellers with back problems. At least one reviewer advises being prepared to walk. Comfortable shoes matter more than anything else you pack.
• Bring cash. The listing recommends carrying cash because card payments are not accepted everywhere and ATMs can be hard to reach on the route. You will also need money for lunch and for entry at the Peace Memorial Park, since neither is included.
• Lunch on Miyajima. Meals are not included, and the long island block doubles as lunch time. One reviewer noted there is time to walk around, shop and get something to eat on the island. Plan for food there rather than waiting for Hiroshima.
• Bilingual group. The guide runs commentary in both Spanish and English, and the group can reach 45 travellers. Several reviewers praise the guides for handling both languages well during the tour. Set expectations for a shared, two-language commentary format.
• Time at the museum. The Peace Memorial Park is free to enter and open around the clock, while museum admission is paid separately at the door, so budget both time and a little cash. The park stop runs two hours. Go in knowing the island gets the longest block of the day.
• Weather and outdoors. Four hours on Miyajima and two at the park are the longest blocks of the day. The listing carries no specific weather guidance, so check the forecast for both the island and the city before setting out.

Common issues. This is a long day with a lot of walking, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible, so it does not suit travellers with limited mobility or back problems.

Common Questions