Travel to Hiroshima

[dsimiller]

Hi,
Does anyone know if there are direct flights from UK to Hiroshima?
From Hiroshima I would get the Bullit Train to Tokyo and return from there.Expensive,I know,but in a few months,I'll be able to do it,just wondering about that first leg though.
Regards

[Mr Veritas]

Well,
After checking quite a few Airlines schedules I cannot see ANY that fly direct to Hiroshima,and that includes JAL
(Japan Airlines) and of course if they don't go direct nobody does!
I looked at JAL's timetables,and to get to Hiroshima you have to change at Tokyo.The interchange(waiting for onward connection) times seem to vary between 2hrs and 5 hrs.
However,why not fly into Tokyo,and then get to Hiroshima (and back)
by the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) and then fly back from Tokyo.Like most rail companies I am sure Japanese Railways offers a great deal on return trips,which may not be much more than a single journey.

[dsimiller]

Thanks Mr Veritas.I suppose I'll have to do it in reverse as you suggest.Its strange that not even JAL fly there direct.What I'll try for is coming back from Hiroshima to Oasaka for the return flight.
Thanks for the info
Regards

[Mr Veritas]

You are most welcome!
JAL by the way no longer flies direct to the Uk from Osaka,so again you would have to change (and wait) in Tokyo.
As you mentioned the Bullet Train,this might be interesting to you?
http://www.uk.jal.com/en/flight_planning/bulle t_train.html

[Buenchico]

There are no flights into Hiroshima from any non-Asian airport. All destinations served from Hiroshima are listed on the airport's website:
http://www.hij.airport.jp/english/flight/diagr am.html

Nearly all long-haul flights from the UK to Asian destinations leave from Heathrow. All destinations served from Heathrow are listed here:
http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/page/Hea throw%5EGeneral%5EFlight+information%5EDestina tions+and+airlines/

Putting the information from those links together, it appears that the only routes to/from Hiroshima, with a single change of aircraft, are via Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Shanghai or Taipei.

Chris

[dsimiller]

Thanks for the answers everybody.Guess I'll have to use Tokyo as main base.I might sound out the Shinkansen as alternative to internal flights.
Regards

[Lil O'lady]

Hiroshima - Tokyo is a huge distance even by Shinkansen - you will need to change at Osaka or Shin-Osaka. Were you considering doing this in one journey, or were you spreading it over a few days?
I have a recollection of seeing a package tour in one of the sunday magazines that involved flting into Tokyo and out from Hiroshima but can't find direct flights to anywhere apart from Tokyo.

[Lil O'lady]

If you get the Japan Rail Pass, it makes travelling long distances by Shinkansen very cost-effective, as well as enabling you to use lots of other rail service free including the Tokyo underground. I think it's about �200 one-off, for a 7-day pass. You have to buy it before you go to Japan and then it works from the date you activate it.
When I went for 10 days, I activated the pass on the second or third day and travelled 'free' after that, including back to narita airport.

[dsimiller]

IWe will be spreading the Japan trip over about two weeks,so we can go at a fairly easy pace.We are certainly finding out a lot about flights and transportation around Japan.Will find out about the Rail Pass,sounds interesting.Projected launch date for this holiday will be DEC/JAN,so we've got a few months to sort things out.
Regards to all.

[Lil O'lady]

For trains in any country start with http://www.seat61.com

[dsimiller]

Thanks for the Rail Link Lil O lady,looks like the Rail Pass is the way to go.