Using the JR Pass on the Hiroshima sightseeing city bus

If you're visiting Hiroshima with a Japan Rail Pass, the Meipuru-pu sightseeing loop bus is completely free to ride. That means every hop between Hiroshima Station, the Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima Castle and the city's museums costs you nothing extra beyond the pass you already hold.

It's one of the less-publicised JR Pass benefits — and in a city where the main sightseeing spots are spread across a few kilometres, it makes a real practical difference to your day.

The Meipuru-pu (めいぷるーぷ) is operated by Chugoku JR Bus and gets its name from the maple trees (meipuru) found throughout Hiroshima's parks. The distinctively red buses run three colour-coded loop routes, all departing from Hiroshima Station's Shinkansen entrance. You simply show your pass to the driver, take a seat and get off wherever you like.

How the JR Pass Works on the Meipuru-pu

Show your activated Japan Rail Pass (or eligible JR West regional pass) to the driver when boarding. That's it — no ticket, no fare, no IC card needed. You do not need to show your pass again when exiting.

The Meipuru-pu accepts both the Japan Rail Pass and the JR West Rail Pass, though the JR West Rail Pass only applies to passes that include Hiroshima in their coverage area. If you're unsure which JR West pass you hold, check the coverage section of our JR West Pass guide.

The driver may note down your pass number or take a quick photo of it — this is normal procedure and takes only a moment. Once on board, you can hop on and off as many times as you like throughout the day with a single pass.

A Sample Day Using the Loop Bus

Here's a practical example of how the JR Pass and the Meipuru-pu work together for a morning in Hiroshima:

9:00 AM — Arrive at Hiroshima Station on the Shinkansen. Head to the Shinkansen entrance (north side of the building) and find bus stop ②. Board the Orange or Green Route bus, show your JR Pass to the driver, and find a seat.

9:20 AM — Get off at Atomic Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome-mae). The dome is visible from the bus stop. Spend 30–45 minutes here.

10:15 AM — Walk five minutes across the Motoyasu River to the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Allow at least 90 minutes — the museum is substantial and important.

12:00 PM — Board the next Meipuru-pu at the Peace Memorial Park stop. Ride back toward Kamiyacho or Hatchobori for lunch.

12:30 PM — Stop at Shintenchi (Green Route) for okonomiyaki at Okonomiyaki Mura.

2:00 PM — Continue on the Orange Route to Hiroshima Castle and Shukkeien garden, then loop back to Hiroshima Station.

Total cost for all bus travel: ¥0 with your JR Pass. Without a pass, the same day would cost around ¥660 in single fares (three separate rides at ¥220 each) — making the ¥600 one-day pass the better value if you're not on a JR Pass.

The Three Bus Routes

The Meipuru-pu currently operates three routes, all departing from Hiroshima Station Shinkansen Entrance (Bus Stop ②). The Lemon route runs most frequently, with 3–4 departures per hour; the Orange and Green routes each run approximately once per hour.

Orange Route

1. Hiroshima Station (Shinkansen Entrance)
2. Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum (Shukkeien)
3. Hiroshima Castle
4. Hiroshima Museum of Art (Shimin Byoin-mae)
5. Kamiyacho
6. Atomic Bomb Dome
7. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum
8. Hatchobori
9. Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art (comics library)

Green Route

1. Hiroshima Station (Shinkansen Entrance)
2. Hatchobori (Nagarekawa entrance)
3. Kamiyacho
4. Atomic Bomb Dome
5. Peace Memorial Park (Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum)
6. Namiki-dori
7. Shintenchi
8. Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum (Shukkeien)
9. Promenade of History
10. Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine

Lemon Route

1. Hiroshima Station (Shinkansen Entrance)
2. Hatchobori
3. Kamiyacho
4. Atomic Bomb Dome
5. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum
6. Namiki-dori

Note: Each route uses the same departure point but follows a different path. Check which route stops at your specific destination before boarding — particularly for Hiroshima Castle (Orange Route only) and Shintenchi/Okonomiyaki Mura (Green Route).

For the current timetable, see the official JR Chugoku Bus schedule at chugoku-jrbus.co.jp.

Fares If You Don't Have a JR Pass

The Meipuru-pu is affordable even without a JR Pass. A single ride costs ¥220 for adults and ¥110 for children aged 6–11. A one-day unlimited pass costs ¥600 for adults and ¥300 for children.

If you're planning three or more rides in a day, the one-day pass (available to buy on board) is the better value. It also makes hopping on and off stress-free — you don't need to think about fare each time. IC cards including ICOCA, Suica and PASMO are accepted for single fares.

Fares current as of 2025. Always verify with the driver or the official JR Chugoku Bus website.

Recommended Stops

The bus covers all of Hiroshima's headline attractions, but a few are worth highlighting specifically.

Peace Memorial Park and Museum

If you visit only one place in Hiroshima, make it this one. The park is tranquil and carefully maintained, and the museum — while heavy — is one of the most important and thoughtfully presented in Japan. Allow at least 90 minutes and go early to beat the tour groups. The Green and Orange routes both stop directly in front.

Atomic Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome)

The single most iconic site in Hiroshima. The dome is the only building left standing near the hypocentre of the 1945 blast and has been preserved exactly as it was found. It sits directly across the Motoyasu River from Peace Memorial Park — the two are best visited together. All three routes stop here.

Hiroshima Castle

A beautifully reconstructed castle with a good museum inside on the history of the city and the surrounding region. The castle grounds offer excellent views and a pleasant walk. The surrounding moat and garden are particularly photogenic in spring. Orange Route only.

Shukkeien Garden

One of Hiroshima's hidden pleasures — a traditional strolling garden originally laid out in 1620, featuring miniature hills, streams and tea pavilions built around a central pond. Combined with the adjacent Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum, it makes for a calm counterpoint to the intensity of the Peace Memorial sites. Orange and Green Routes.

Shintenchi and Okonomiyaki Mura Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki — a layered savoury pancake incorporating noodles, cabbage, pork and a fried egg — is considered by many to be the city's definitive food. Okonomiyaki Mura is a multi-storey building packed with small okonomiyaki restaurants, each with its own style. Get off at Shintenchi on the Green Route; the building is a three-minute walk away.

Tips for Riding the Meipuru-pu

• Board at Bus Stop ② at Hiroshima Station's Shinkansen entrance (the north exit from the station). This is where all three routes depart.
  
  
• Check the route colour before boarding. Each colour follows a different path — getting on the wrong one isn't disastrous (all routes pass major stops) but can add significant time to your journey.
  
  
• The Lemon Route runs most frequently — if your destination is Peace Memorial Park or the Atomic Bomb Dome, this is usually the quickest option.
  
  
• All buses have free WiFi on board under the "HIROSHIMA FREE Wi-Fi" network.
  
  
• The Sky de Loop — a new open-top double-decker bus — also runs on selected weekends and holidays between Hiroshima Station and Peace Memorial Park. It is operated by the same company but is not covered by the JR Pass; a separate fare applies. Great for sightseeing from the upper deck if you're not on a pass.
  
  
• Hiroshima's tram network (Hiroden streetcars) is separate from the JR system and not covered by the JR Pass. It's cheap and useful, but keep your IC card handy if you plan to use it.

Key Points to Remember

• Your JR Pass covers the Meipuru-pu loop bus completely. Show it to the driver on boarding — no extra ticket needed.
  
  
• Both the standard Japan Rail Pass and eligible JR West regional passes are accepted, as long as the pass covers Hiroshima.
  
  
• Three routes are currently operating: Orange, Green and Lemon. The Yellow and Blue routes no longer run.
  
  
• The Lemon Route is the most frequent (3–4 per hour) and covers Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome and Kamiyacho.
  
  
• Without a JR Pass: single rides cost ¥220; a one-day unlimited pass is ¥600 — better value if you're making three or more journeys.
  
  
• All buses depart from Bus Stop ② at Hiroshima Station's Shinkansen Entrance.
  
  
• Hiroden trams and the Sky de Loop double-decker are NOT covered by the JR Pass — they're separate fare systems.
  
  
• Free WiFi is available on every Meipuru-pu bus — great for offline maps and translation tools.

Ready to explore Hiroshima? Order your Japan Rail Pass before you travel and arrive knowing your transport around the city is already covered.