Hiroshima can be efficient when you have unlimited public transit to lean on, and this pass gives you that freedom for 1 to 3 days. I like that it covers the big must-dos like Miyajima and the Atomic Bomb Dome, without making you babysit each single ride.

The second thing I really like is the value play: you pay once, then you also get digital discount coupons for restaurants and sightseeing. The main drawback is simple, you do need to add up your rides and plan your days, because it can be annoying to track down where to exchange your voucher or coupon when you redeem it.

Your options: 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, or Middle Area

The Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass comes in four choices: one-day, two-day, three-day, and a Middle Area three-day pass. Each one gives unlimited boarding and disembarking within designated routes, plus a route map and digital coupons.

You’ll mainly use Hiroshima Electric Railway trams (streetcar), ferries to Miyajima, and buses in Hiroshima. JR trains and several bus types are not included, so I treat this pass as a smart local transit tool, not a ticket to everything in the region.

Key things to know before you buy

• Unlimited tram lines and ferry access, so you can bounce between central Hiroshima and the Miyajima side without recalculating fares
• Digital discount coupons for restaurants, sightseeing spots, and cultural experiences, which can meaningfully reduce daily costs
• Middle Area pass adds express bus coverage, letting you reach Kure, Takehara, Miyoshi-Shobara, and Iwakuni up to two times
• A route map on the ticket matters, because the unlimited rides are limited to designated lines and areas
• Miyajima has a separate visitor tax, so your day trip won’t be fully zero-cost on arrival

How the Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass Works in Real Life

This is a classic “pay once, ride a lot” pass, and it works best when you stay on top of the route map. Your pass lets you ride within the designated tram, ferry, and bus routes for the number of days stamped on your ticket.

What makes it useful is how you can change your mind mid-trip. With the Hiroshima Electric Railway’s Petit Suburban service, you can get on and off as many times as you like during your valid period without worrying about the fare per ride.

You’ll also want to think of the pass as a planning shortcut. You can structure your sightseeing around efficient transit corridors, then stop and start without feeling guilty about racking up extra charges.

Trams, ferries, and the Peace Memorial area you can actually reach

The pass includes unlimited rides on all lines of the Hiroshima Electric Railway for inner-city travel and for the Miyajima Line. In practical terms, that is what helps you connect central sights with the ferry terminal without making your day feel like a series of fare calculations.

Two of the headline sights are easy to connect with this transit web: the Atomic Bomb Dome area and the World Heritage site Miyajima. Because the pass covers the tram network and buses that run through Hiroshima, you can pair a morning in the Peace Memorial Park area with an afternoon ferry ride, or reverse the order if you prefer softer light.

One small reality check: trams and buses run on routes, not a straight-line map. If you’re hopping across town, you’ll still want to check that your specific stop falls on the included routes shown on the back of your ticket.

Miyajima day trip: ferry included, but budget for the visitor tax

If Miyajima is on your list, this pass is built for you. The ferry portion is included from Miyajimaguchi station to Miyajima island, using Miyajima Matsudai Kisen or JR West Miyajima Ferry.

The World Heritage setting is the main event, and what I like about having the ferry covered is that it removes one big “logistics tax” from your day. You can plan your arrival and departure times around the island experience rather than the cost of each ride.

There is one extra cost you should plan for: a Miyajima Visitor Tax of 100 yen is required for all visits to Miyajima Island starting October 1, 2023. Before you board the ferry, you purchase the “Miyajima visitor ticket (100 yen)” at the vending machine.

If you hate surprise fees, add that 100 yen to your mental budget so your day stays smooth.

Buses in Hiroshima, plus the loop option for low-stress days

Buses are part of the pass, which matters because Hiroshima’s sights do not all sit conveniently on the tram tracks. Your pass covers bus routes on the route map printed on the back of your ticket, including Hiroshima Electric Railway, Hiroshima Bus, Hiroshima Kotsu, Geiyo Bus, Chugoku JR Bus, and HD Nishihiroshima (Bon-Bus).

You can also use the Hiroshima Sightseeing Loop Bus, called Hiroshima meipuru～pu, if it’s running during your visit. This is handy on a day when you want to see multiple areas with minimal route planning, and you can hop on and off as you decide what’s worth your time.

The practical advantage is flexibility. On a tight schedule, you can use buses to patch together your “must-see” list. On a slower day, you can lean more into trams and take buses only when they make sense.

Middle Area 3-day pass: express buses for Kure and Iwakuni

If you want more than Hiroshima city, the Middle Area three-day pass is the reason to consider this product. In addition to the standard local transit coverage, it can also be used on express buses in specific corridors: Hiroshima to Kure, Hiroshima to Takehara, Hiroshima to Miyoshi-Shobara, and Hiroshima to Iwakuni, up to two times.

That two-times limit is important. It means you should treat each express bus ride like a planned excursion, not a casual hop. If you’re doing one long outward trip plus one return-style trip, that fits neatly with how most people build a short itinerary.

This option tends to suit you best if you already know which side trips you want. If you’re unsure, the regular 3-day pass can be a simpler choice because it keeps your day focused inside Hiroshima.

Price and value: when the math actually works

The pass is listed at $6 per person, and the real question is not the price number. It’s whether you will ride enough included transportation to beat paying as you go.

This is where the pass can shine. Unlimited tram and bus use inside designated routes helps you avoid “fare guilt” while you move between sightseeing areas. And unlike some transit tickets, this one also comes with digital coupons that can reduce the cost of meals and attractions.

One useful way to think about value is daily behavior. If your sightseeing naturally requires multiple rides, your cost per ride drops quickly. If you mostly walk around a tight cluster of neighborhoods for two days, it may not feel like a slam dunk.

For me, this is a great choice when your plan includes both central Hiroshima sights and a Miyajima day, because the ferry and tram coverage help connect those two worlds efficiently.

Coupons in your pocket: discounts that can change the daily budget

All purchasers receive digital coupons for restaurants or tourist spots as a present. When you redeem them, the coupon can unlock discounts at sightseeing spots, restaurants, and cultural experiences.

A couple of practical points matter here. First, this is not automatic money off at the moment you buy the pass. You’ll need to redeem the coupon during your trip, and I’ve learned it can take a bit of hunting if you’re not sure where to exchange a voucher.

One real friction point to plan for: you might find that the place to exchange your voucher is in a tourism office inside a bus terminal. If you’re arriving hungry and tired, give yourself a small buffer so this doesn’t eat into your first day.

The upside is real savings potential. If you’re already aiming for paid entry attractions or want to eat at places offering coupon discounts, this pass gives you extra leverage beyond transport.

What is not included, so you do not get surprised

To keep things fair, it’s important to know the boundaries. The pass does not include:

• Highway bus
• Hiroshima Airport Limousine bus
• Midnight bus
• Community bus
• JR trains

Also note these sight-specific costs and range limits:

• The Miyajima Visitor Tax of 100 yen is required and not covered by the pass
• Outlet Hiroshima is out of range. When you visit, you need to show your Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass to the driver and pay the fare for the outlet from Koi Shiroyama Memorial Hills (Koi Shiroyama Cemetery), listed as ¥190 as of April 2024

That last detail matters if you’re shopping as a planned stop. If Outlet Hiroshima is a “maybe,” I would keep it optional or prepare for the extra payment so your budget stays calm.

Who this pass fits best (and who should skip it)

This pass is a strong match if:

• You want to see Miyajima and Hiroshima city sights in a short window
• You prefer spontaneity, hop-on, hop-off movement, and low mental load
• You plan to use trams and buses multiple times across your day
• You want to stretch your budget using digital coupon discounts

It may be less ideal if:

• You’re sticking to one compact area and walking most of the day
• Your plan relies heavily on JR trains or airport transport that is not covered
• Your itinerary includes lots of out-of-range stops where you’ll pay extra anyway

For the Middle Area option, choose it if you already know you want an outward express bus trip to places like Kure or Iwakuni and you can use that express coverage within the two-times limit.

Should you book the Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass?

Yes, if your trip includes both Hiroshima city sights and a Miyajima day, and you expect to ride trams and buses more than a couple of times. This pass is built for movement: it reduces decision fatigue and can lower costs once you factor in the coupons.

I would skip or reconsider if your schedule is mostly walking, you hate voucher redemption steps, or you are planning to rely on JR trains and non-covered buses. In those cases, a more tailored pay-as-you-go approach might actually be simpler and cheaper.

If you do book it, the best move is to plan your first day so you’re not scrambling to find where to exchange your voucher. After that, the pass can make your Hiroshima sightseeing feel much more “easy mode” for both logistics and budget.

FAQ

How long is the Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass valid?

It’s valid for 1 to 3 days, based on the specific pass type you choose, and it only works during the period stamped on your ticket.

What transport can I use with the pass?

You can use the pass on Hiroshima Electric Railway trams, the ferry to Miyajima (from Miyajimaguchi station to Miyajima island), and buses on the route map shown on your ticket.

Can I ride the ferry to Miyajima with this pass?

Yes. The pass includes the ferry route between Miyajimaguchi station and Miyajima island.

Is there any extra fee for visiting Miyajima?

Yes. You must pay a Miyajima Visitor Tax of 100 yen, purchased before boarding the ferry at the vending machine.

What is included for the Middle Area 3-day pass?

For the Middle Area three-day pass, you can also use certain express buses (Hiroshima to Kure, Takehara, Miyoshi-Shobara, and Iwakuni) up to two times.

Are JR trains included?

No. The pass does not include JR trains.

Are airport and highway buses included?

No. It does not include Hiroshima Airport Limousine bus or highway bus services.

Does the pass cover Outlet Hiroshima?

Outlet Hiroshima is out of range. You will need to show the pass to the driver and pay the required fare from Koi Shiroyama Memorial Hills (Koi Shiroyama Cemetery) (¥190 as of April 2024).

Do I get any discounts with the pass?

Yes. You receive a digital coupon for discounts at restaurants and sightseeing or cultural experiences when you redeem it.

Is there free cancellation?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can also use a Reserve now, pay later option.

Final tip before you decide

If you’re planning Miyajima plus multiple rides around Hiroshima, this pass is usually a smart way to keep both time and costs under control. Just do a quick check that your sightseeing stops are on the included route map, and you will feel the benefit right away.