Hiroshima does not have a subway system in the traditional sense. Instead, the Hiroshima Electric Railway (広電) operates a surface tram network as the backbone of the city's public transportation. This choice is no accident—it reflects the unique urban planning philosophy of this city of peace: to rebuild on the surface, keeping citizens connected to history and to each other.
The Rebuilt Tracks: Why Trams Instead of Subway
Founded in 1910, Hiroshima Electric Railway resumed partial operations just three days after the atomic bombing, becoming a symbol of post-war reconstruction. When rebuilding the city after the war, the municipal government intentionally chose to preserve and expand the tram system rather than construct a subway, which reflects deep philosophical considerations in urban planning.
Surface tracks allow citizens to constantly feel the city's vitality. Trams穿梭在街道間，將商業區、住宅區、紀念設施串連成一個有機整體。這種設計讓廣島避免了許多大城市地下化後失去的街道活力，保持了人與城市的直接對話。
From a cost-effectiveness perspective, the construction and maintenance costs of a tram system are far lower than those of a subway. With a population of approximately 1.2 million, Hiroshima falls precisely within the most efficient scale for a tram system. Overbuilding a subway would not only waste resources but also disrupt the city's existing spatial sense.
Core Lines and Urban Pulse
Transportation Hub Around Hiroshima Station
Hiroshima Station is the junction for Shinkansen, JR conventional lines, and 広電. Tram Lines 2 and 6 have stations here. The tram platform design at the station square is cleverly integrated with the JR station building, with transfer distances kept within 50 meters. This handles approximately 150,000 transfer passengers daily, making it the best place to observe Hiroshima's commuting culture.
Kamichiyacho Transportation Center
Located in the city center, Kamichiyacho is the heart of the 広電 system, where Lines 1, 2, 3, and 7 intersect. This surface transportation hub handles 30% of the city's tram traffic, with a tram passing every 90 seconds during peak hours. The surrounding Hon-dori Shopping Street and Kan-zu Street are both within a 3-minute walk, embodying the planning philosophy of tight integration between trams and commercial districts.
Atomic Bomb Dome Station: Historical Dialogue
Line 2 and Line 6 pass through Atomic Bomb Dome Station, the only tram station in the world named after a World Heritage site. Trams deliberately slow down here, and onboard announcements remind passengers they are about to pass through the Peace Memorial Zone. This design naturally merges daily commuting with historical memory, a unique humanistic characteristic of the Hiroshima tram system.
Miyajima-guchi Ferry Connection Point
Miyajima-guchi Station, the terminal of 広電's Miyajima Line, offers zero-distance transfer to JR ferries heading to Miyajima. The tram platform and ferry terminal are separated only by one street, with transfer time not exceeding 5 minutes. This design makes the tourism route from Hiroshima city to Miyajima's Itsukushima Shrine extremely smooth, with over 10 million annual passengers.
Nishi-Hiroshima Industrial Area Commuter Line
Line 3 connects the city center with the western industrial area, serving commuters from major corporations like Mazda headquarters and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. During the morning peak of 7:30-8:30, this route has a frequency of one tram every 3 minutes, with occupancy often exceeding 150%. The corporate commuter culture inside the tram carriages forms an interesting contrast with the tourism atmosphere in the city center.
Practical Transportation Information
Fare System
Inner-city lines: single ride ¥220 (flat fare), suburban lines: ¥220-¥340 based on distance. Day pass ¥700, includes unlimited rides on inner-city lines. Tourists are recommended to purchase the Hiroshima Tourist Pass ¥1,000, which covers trams, buses, and Miyajima ferries.
Operating Hours
First tram at 5:15, last tram at 23:30. Main lines (Lines 1, 2, 3) run every 3-5 minutes during peak hours and every 8-12 minutes during off-peak hours. Weekend and holiday frequencies are slightly reduced, but tourist lines (Line 6) have increased service.
How to Purchase Tickets
Pay on board (cash or IC card), or purchase day passes at major stations like Hiroshima Station and Kamichiyacho. Using PASPY card (Hiroshima area IC card) or nationally compatible IC cards like Suica or ICOCA is recommended.
Local Wisdom of Tram Commuting
nHiroshima trams have a unique "seat-giving culture": locals proactively offer window seats to tourists so they can better enjoy the scenery along the route. This kindness is particularly evident on Line 6 heading to Miyajima.
Avoiding peak hours (8:00-9:00, 17:30-18:30) allows you to avoid crowds and experience the tram system's comfort. Riding on the right side of Line 1 toward Hiroshima Port offers an excellent city panorama when crossing the Ota River.
On rainy days, tram services may be delayed by 5-10 minutes, as surface tracks affect driving safety. This is a good time to wait at a nearby coffee shop and experience Hiroshima's leisurely pace. This transportation experience that dances with the weather and city rhythm is precisely the irreplaceable humanistic value of a surface tram system.
