JR Sanyo Main Line – Hiroshima Section

The JR Sanyo Main Line is a railway line that runs along the southern coast of western Honshu from Kobe Station in the east to Shimonoseki Station in the west and then crosses the sea to the island of Kyushu via the Kanmon Tunnel before terminating at Moji Station in Kitakyushu City.

Most regular services on this line do not cover the full distance between Kobe and Moji, but operate along one of several shorter sections. In this article we will look at the Hiroshima section of the JR Sanyo Main Line. However, passengers who wish to travel longer distances in this region can take a high speed “bullet train” service on the Sanyo Shinkansen line that runs roughly parallel to the route of the JR Sanyo Main Line.

The Hiroshima section of the JR Sanyo Main Line runs between Itozaki Station in the east and Tokuyama Station in the west. There are 47 stations in this section. Many visitors to Hiroshima will use this section of the line to visit the sake breweries of Saijo in Higashihiroshima as well as the island of Miyajima with its famous floating torii gate.

Eastbound Trains from Hiroshima

Trains heading east from Hiroshima Station terminate at Seno, Saijo, Shiraichi, or Itozaki. There are 17 stations between Hiroshima and Itozaki.

Hiroshima > Tenjingawa > Mukainada > Kaitaichi > Aki-Nakano > Nakanohigashi > Seno > Hachihommatsu > Jike > Saijo > Nishitakaya > Shiraichi > Nyuno > Kochi > Hongo > Mihara > Itozaki

The key destinations on this route are given below with example fares and journey times given from Hiroshima. The times given below are for a local train that stops at all stations.

Mukainada Station

Exit here for the Mazda Museum. This free museum gives visitors an overview of Mazda Motor Corporation’s history, with displays of iconic classic cars as well as the latest models, and a visit to the vehicle assembly line. Tours in English are available but all visits must be booked in advance. Booking can be made on the official Mazda website. The museum is a 4 minute walk from Mukainada Station.

Kaitaichi Station

This station serves the town of Kaita which has a number of cultural sites. About 6 minutes’ walk from the station is the Former Chiba Family Residence (Kyu-Chibake-Jutaku), a traditional 18th century samurai house with a garden that has been designated a place of scenic beauty in Hiroshima. Four minutes from there is Kumano Jinja Shrine, a peaceful spot which is said to date from 1026, though the current main building dates from 1825. Another 4 minute walk will take you to Yakushizenji Temple where you can see the 13-meter-high golden statue of Himawari Kannon, the Buddhist spirit of mercy.

Transfer here to the JR Kure Line with services bound for Kure and Hiro.

Aki-Nakano Station

Exit here for the hiking trail of Mount Rengeji. Rengeji Temple sits at the entrance of the trailhead and is a 7 minute walk from the station. The temple was founded by the famous Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi in the 9th century.

Saijo Station

The Saijo area of Higashihiroshima City is known as one of Japan’s top three sake producing regions alongside the Nada area of Kobe and Fushimi in Kyoto. On Saijo Sakagura Dori (“Saijo Sake Brewery Street”) are seven historic sake breweries, many of which offer sake tastings and have shops and exhibition spaces. Guided tours of the breweries are also available and there is a sake festival every October. Sakagura Dori is just a five-minute walk from the station.

About 3 minutes’ walk to the north of Saijo Station is Mitate Shrine, which was first founded in the 8th century. Today it enshrines the god of sake and you can see sake barrels piled up in the main hall.

Aki-Kokubunji is a 1,200-year-old Shingon Buddhist temple, which is a 10-minute walk from the station. The temple is home to a historic statue of Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of healing, but the statue is not usually on display. At the temple visitors can experience shukubo temple stays, meditation, sutra copying and a traditional Goma Fire Ritual.

Senseki Garden is a “garden stone museum” of over 40,000 square meters with unusual stones collected from all over Japan. The stones are shown within a typical stroll garden with ponds, trees, seasonal flower displays and waterfalls. There is also a restaurant on site. A free shuttle bus runs between Saijo Station and Senseki Garden once a day on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Check the official Senseki Garden website for the current schedule. On other days a taxi will get you to the garden in 15 minutes.

Shiraichi Station

Shiraichi Station is the closest railway station to Hiroshima Airport. Shuttle buses run between the station and the airport in just 15 minutes for a fare of 490 yen. This route tends to be less affected by congestion than other limousine bus services to and from the airport which run along the Sanyo Expressway.

Mihara Station

Mihara is a seaside city with a number of sites of historic interest. Right beside the station are the stone ruins of Mihara Castle. The hilltop Oshima Shrine, which is a 10-minute walk to the north of the station, is known for its many red torii gates and offers a fine view over the city. Two temples of special interest in Mihara are Daizenji and Buttsuji. The main hall of Daizenji, which is a 15-minute walk from Mihara Station, dates from 1290 and is known for its onigawara “demon” roof tiles as well as its scenic grounds. Buttsuji, which is a 30-minute bus ride from Mihara Station, is a Zen temple first founded in 1397. The expansive temple grounds feature several Zen gardens and are particularly popular in the fall for their colorful autumn foliage.

Transfers can be made at Mihara Station to services on the next section of the JR Sanyo Main Line that travel further east beyond the Hiroshima Section as far as Fukuyama, Okayama and Himeji. Some through services also run as far as Okayama before continuing on the JR Ako Line to Hinase Station in Bizen City and Banshu-Ako Station in Ako City.

Transfers can also be made here to services on the JR Kure Line for Takehara and Kure, or to the Sanyo Shinkansen.

Itozaki Station

Exit here for the Itosaki Jinja shrine. The shrine is said to have been founded in the year 729. On the shrine grounds there is a large sacred camphor tree that is believed to be over 500 years old. The shrine is a 20-minute walk from the station or a 2-minute taxi ride.

Transfers can be made at Itozaki Station to services on the next section of the JR Sanyo Main Line that travel further east as far as Fukuyama, Okayama and Himeji. Some through services also run as far as Okayama before continuing on the JR Ako Line to Osafune in Setouchi City, Hinase Station in Bizen City and Banshu-Ako Station in Ako City.

Itozaki Station also has some JR Kure Line services bound for Takehara and Kure.

Westbound Trains from Hiroshima

Trains heading west from Hiroshima Station terminate at Itsukaichi, Onoura, Iwakuni, Minami-Iwakuni, Yu, or Tokuyama. There are 31 stations between Hiroshima and Tokuyama. However, please note that most services running on this route are bound for Iwakuni and only one train a day runs as far as Tokuyama.

Hiroshima > Shin-Hakushima > Yokogawa > Nishi-Hiroshima > Shin-Inokuchi > Itsukaichi > Hatsukaichi > Miyauchi-Kushido > Ajina > Miyajimaguchi > Maezora > Onoura > Kuba > Otake > Waki > Iwakuni > Minami-Iwakuni > Fuju > Tsuzu > Yu > Kojiro > Obatake > Yanaiminato > Yanai > Tabuse > Iwata > Shimata > Hikari > Kudamatsu > Kushigahama > Tokuyama

The key destinations on this route are given below with example fares and journey times given from Hiroshima. The times given below are for a local train that stops at all stations.

Shin-Hakushima Station

Hiroshima Castle is a 15-minute walk south of Shin-Hakushima Station.

Shin-Hakushima Station is also served by the JR Kabe Line with services bound for Aki-Kameyama. Transfers can also be made here to Hiroshima Rapid Transit’s Astram Line with services bound for Hondori and Koiki-koen-mae.

Yokogawa Station

Yokogawa Station is also served by the JR Kabe Line with services bound for Aki-Kameyama. Hiroshima Electric Railway’s streetcar system, known as “Hiroden,” has two routes that run from Yokogawa Station: Route 7, which runs to Hiroshima Port; and Route 8, which runs to Eba.

Nishi-Hiroshima Station

Passengers can transfer here to Hiroden-Nishi-Hiroshima Station, which has two routes on the Hiroden streetcar system: Route 2, which runs between Hiroshima Station and Hiroden-Miyajima-Guchi; and Route 3, which runs to Hiroshima Port.

Shin-Inokuchi Station

Exit here for the Izumi Museum of Art. This museum shows modern Japanese painting, sculpture and Asian ceramics. Special exhibitions focus on local artists. The museum is a 15-minute walk from the station.

Also nearby is the Wood Egg Okonomiyaki Museum where visitors can learn about the history and culture of okonomiyaki and learn how to make it. This museum is a 20-minute walk away, but you can also take a taxi from outside the station and be there in 5 minutes, or use the nearby Hiroden streetcar service and be there in 15 minutes.

Passengers can transfer here to the Hiroden streetcar system’s Shoko Center-Iriguchi Station, with Route 2 services bound for Hiroden-Miyajima-Guchi. The Wood Egg Okonomiyaki Museum is just 10 minutes’ walk from Hiroden’s Inokuchi Station, which is the next stop on the streetcar line.

Hatsukaichi Station

Exit here for Hatsukaichi Tenmangu Shrine which is a 7-minute walk to the south of the station. This hilltop shrine was founded in 1220 and is known for its scenic views over Hiroshima Bay and the island of Miyajima. In the spring the approach road to the shrine is filled with the red and white blossom of plum trees. The shrine is dedicated to the god of learning and many students come here to pray for success in exams.

Hiroden-Hatsukaichi Station is a four-minute walk from the JR station and has Route 2 streetcar services bound for Hiroden-Miyajima-Guchi.

Miyajimaguchi Station

Exit here for the Miyajimaguchi Ferry Terminal, which has ferry services for the island of Miyajima (also known as Itsukushima). The island is considered to be sacred and there are many semi-wild sika deer roaming freely around the island as they are considered to be messengers of the gods. Miyajima’s attractions include the shrine of Itsukushima Jinja with its famous floating torii gate, the ropeway cable car service that takes visitors to the top of Mount Misen, and the large temple complex of Daishoin, which is believed to have been founded by the monk Kobo Daishi in the year 806.

Kuba Station

Kuba was a post-town on the Edo-era Sanyodo highway that linked Kyoto with western Honshu. The area still retains some of the atmosphere of those times. A 3-minute walk to the north of Kuba Station is Shomyoji Temple. The temple, which was built in 1537 contains several sculpted images of Kannon, the Buddhist spirit of mercy. Points of interest in the temple are its Edo-era stone walls, a small bell in the temple corridor which dates from 1682, and a plaque inscribed with calligraphy by the Chinese monk Ingen, founder of the Obaku Zen sect, who stayed here in 1655.

Otake Station

Exit here for Simose Art Museum. The museum, which was designed by Shigeru Ban, has paintings by Matisse, Chagall and Pisarro, Art Nouveau glassware, and traditional Japanese hina dolls. The museum is also notable for its beautiful architecture, its garden, and its views over the Seto Inland Sea. There is a restaurant on site, and ten unique villas designed by Shigeru Ban, are scattered about the museum grounds in which guests can stay. One free shuttle bus per hour runs between the station and the museum, taking 10 minutes to complete the journey.

Iwakuni Station

Iwakuni City is a historic castle town, which is most famous for the Kintai-kyo Bridge. Built in 1673, this unique wooden bridge with five elegant arches spans the Nishiki River. The bridge is a 20 minute bus ride from the station.

Iwakuni Castle is a 20th century reconstruction of the original, which was built in 1608. The castle stands on Mount Shiroyama and can be accessed on foot or by cable car. Inside is a museum displaying samurai armor and weapons, and from the top visitors can enjoy sweeping views over the city. The ropeway cable car station that leads to the castle is a 10-minute walk from the Kintai-kyo Bridge.

Kikko Park is located between the bridge and the castle. A large park with fountains and seasonal flower displays, it is also home to a white snake sanctuary. These white snakes with ruby eyes are native to Iwakuni, and are traditionally believed to be messengers of Benzaiten, the goddess of knowledge and good fortune. You can learn more about these snakes and see some of them at the Iwakuni White Snake Museum, which is located inside Kikko Park.

Other locations of interest in Iwakuni are the Mekata Residence, an 18th century samurai family home; Kikkawa Historical Museum, which shows artifacts of the Kikkawa family — a prominent samurai clan that once ruled Iwakuni; and the Kashiwabara Art Museum which displays traditional Japanese art as well as swords and samurai armor.

Passengers can transfer at Iwakuni Station to the JR Gantoku Line, which runs through destinations in the cities of Iwakuni, Kudamatsu and Shunan before terminating at Tokuyama Station. Both the Gantoku Line and the Sanyo Main Line run between Iwakuni and Tokuyama, but while the Sanyo Main Line takes a mostly coastal route to the south, the Gantoku Line is more direct.

Services on the Nishikigawa Seiryu Line can also be boarded at Iwakuni Station. This is a local, private railway line that runs alongside the Nishiki River as far as Nishikicho Station. All stops on this line are within Iwakuni.

Please note that Iwakuni City is also accessible by bullet train services on the Sanyo Shinkansen line which runs from Hiroshima to Shin-Iwakuni Station in just 14 minutes. However, this costs 3,060 yen for a non-reserved ticket.

Yu Station

Exit here for the beach at Shiokaze Park. The 450-meter long beach is a popular spot in the summer. Nearby is a seafood restaurant and the Iwakuni City Micro-Life Museum, where visitors can learn about the importance of micro-organisms in our natural environment and even view some of these creatures through microscopes. The beach and museum are a 15-minute walk from the station.

Yanaiminato Station

Exit here for the Chausuyama Kofun Tumulus, a large keyhole-shaped burial mound, which is over 1,500 years old. From the top of the mound visitors can enjoy splendid views over the sea, and beside the tumulus is a small museum showing artifacts found inside the mound. The Chausuyama Kofun Tumulus is a 25-minute walk from the station, or a 5-minute taxi ride.

Yanai Station

The top attraction in Yanai City is the preserved Ed-era district of Shirakabe Machi, where the cobbled street is lined by white-walled merchants’ houses with tile roofs and latticed windows. Many of these historic buildings are open to the public. Shirakabe Machi is a 6-minute walk from the station.

Goldfish lanterns are a unique folkcraft of Yanai and can be found decorating the streets, and bought as souvenirs. Yanai’s Goldfish Lantern Festival is held in mid-August and features a lantern dance and nighttime parade.

Hikari Station

Exit here for Nijigahama Beach. This white sand beach beside a pine forest is 2.4 kilometers long and considered to be one of the best beaches in western Honshu. The beach is a 7-minute walk from the station.

Kudamatsu Station

The city of Kudamatsu’s top attraction is Kasado Island. Connected to the mainland by a crimson bridge, the entire island is part of a protected national park, and features beaches, coastal walking trails, camp grounds, barbecue areas, and gourmet seafood restaurants. The Kasado Bridge is a 7-minute taxi ride from Kudamatsu Station.

Kushigahama Station

Passengers can transfer here to the JR Gantoku Line.

Tokuyama Station

Tokuyama Station serves the city of Shunan, an industrial city with one of Japan’s largest petrochemical complexes. When the lights of this complex are turned on at night, the entire seafront becomes a sparkling illuminated zone of towering smokestacks and brightly-lit factories. “Shunan Night View” tours are now a popular attraction in the city and can be done by taxi, or better yet, by boat.

The other top attraction in Shunan is Tokuyama Zoo, where you can see elephants, hippos, big cats, and red pandas. The zoo is a 5 minute taxi ride from Tokuyama Station.

Passengers can transfer at Tokuyama Station to the Sanyo Shinkansen.

The City Liner

The City Liner is a rapid service that mainly runs round trips between Hiroshima and Iwakuni on weekends and national holidays stopping at Miyajimaguchi on the way. City Liner trains from Hiroshima take between 44 and 48 minutes to reach Iwakuni and trains from Iwakuni take between 41 and 43 minutes to reach Hiroshima. At the time of writing there are five round trip services a day that stop at the following stations:

Hiroshima > Yokogawa > Itsukaichi > Miyajimaguchi > Onoura > Kuba > Otake > Waki > Iwakuni

Three of the Iwakuni-bound services begin at Hiroshima Station, but the first and last Iwakuni-bound City Liner services of the day begin at Hiro Station on the JR Kure Line before joining the Sanyo Main Line at Hiroshima Station, and following the same route above. These services stop at the stations below on the Kure Line before joining the Sanyo Main Line, but only the last service stops at the stations in brackets [].

Hiro > Shin-Hiro > Akiaga > Kure > [Yoshiura] > [Saka] > Yano > Kaitaichi > Hiroshima

All of the return services from Iwakuni terminate at Hiroshima and do not continue on the Kure Line.

There is also one morning City Liner service service on weekends and national holidays that runs from Shiraichi to Hiroshima on the Sanyo Main Line in just 39 minutes, stopping at the following stations:

Shiraichi > Nishitakaya > Saijo > Hachihonmatsu > Kaitaichi > Hiroshima

The fare for the City Liner is the same as that for a regular train.

The West Express Ginga – Sanyo Route

The West Express Ginga is an occasional limited express train that runs three different long-distance routes in western Japan. On its Sanyo Route it runs between Shimonoseki in the west and Kyoto in the east. This is a through train service that runs along both JR West’s Sanyo Main Line and Kyoto Line making stops at the following stations:

Shimonoseki > Shin-Shimonoseki > Ube > Shin-Yamaguchi > Hofu > Tokuyama > Yanai > Iwakuni > [Miyajimaguchi] > Hiroshima > [Himeji] > [Nishi-Akashi] > Kobe > Sannomiya > Osaka > Shin-Osaka > Kyoto

Only trains running the westbound route from Kyoto to Shimonoseki stop at the stations in brackets [ ]. All seats on the West Express Ginga must be reserved in advance. Details of upcoming West Express Ginga services can be found on JR West’s official website (Japanese only).

Useful Links

To plan your journey via the Sanyo Main Line use an English language route finder like Jorudan’s Japan Transit Planner.

Timetables and route maps can also be found on the official JR West website.

Article by Michael Lambe. Photos by Michael Lambe, PIXSTAR/pixta, Spring/pixta, Daikegoro/pixta. All rights reserved. Last updated 6-Aug-2026.