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Hiroshima Sceneries: Tram "Hiroden" (路面電車 "広電")

Tram, called "Hiroden", is the most popular mean of transportation in Hiroshima city.
You can see tram in many cities in Japan, but the scale of tram rail in Hiroshima is far superior to the others.
Secenery of the tram running in the town is the typical image and identity of Hiroshima city.

You can get or hear the sound of the tram from many important corner in the town, including Hiroshima Station (広島駅).
Sound of the tram is very unique, like "Gata-Goto", and comming up with its pretty train whistle, tram was called "Chin-chin densha" in Hiroshima (densha=tram).

Hiroshima Photo Album 3 - Tram "Hiroden"

Rate of tram is 150 JPY across the board in city central, as of 2011 Sep. It is cheapest and quickest means of transportation in Hiroshima city. Rate should be paid when you get off the tram.
You can get the route map from Hiroden web site.
http://www.hiroden.co.jp/en/

Tram runs in the center of the road. You can get on from tram stop. Direction is shown by Japanese character, but you can refer to the number shown beside the direction. English route map can be found in major station, including Hiroshima JR station.

Tram operation was started in 1910, more than 100 years ago. Hiroshima city central was ruined completely by atomic bomb on Aug 6 1945, but tram re-started the operation in just 3 days. Since then, tram has kept sounding as the identity of Hiroshima city.

One of the fun in Hiroshim city is finding the many shapes of tram, from modern shape to nostalgic, brown color to green, and sometimes you may luckily find the special shape for a limited time only.
Latest type of tram is very confortable, while the sound of old type is un-replaceable.
You should find out your favorite tram in staying a few days in Hiroshima city.

Most of the sightseeing spot can be reached by the tram, including Peace Park and Miyajima, as well as the major town areas, like Kamiya-cho, Haccho-bori and Hondori.
Of course, Hiroshima Station, Hiroshima sea port, Nishi- Hiroshima and Yokogawa are liked by the tram.

Scenery of tram running in the town is always beautiful. Summer, winter, fall, spring, morning, evening and night. However, running in twilight gloom should be the best. Wind by tram should make you feel good.

Hiroshima city has many river and bridges. Tram is the inevitable transportation method for the people in Hiroshima. Several plans to expand the tram route is considered for a years. Most major one is the line to link Hiroshima Station and the ballpark,"MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima". This is tightly related with the re-development around the station.

People in Hiroshima use tram to go home or to go city central. in the tram, and you can feel the emotion very much in twilight gloom.
After a few weeks past you leave from Hiroshima, you should feel nostalgic for the sound of tram.

Tram is oepration from 6am to 10pm. Small box in tram stop will let you know the tram is approaching.

Hiroshima Photo Album 3 - Tram "Hiroden"

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Hiroshima City View: Hiroshima Station (広島駅)

Hiroshima Station is of course the "gate" to Hiroshima City. Express railway, Shin-Kan-Sen, and airport bus stops north gate of the station, while the local line stops south gate.

As all people in Hiroshima know, south gate is more flourish than north gate. Historically, the central hirosima city is 1km south and west from the station. You can access easily from south gate by tram, "Hiroden", bus and taxi. 10min is enough for them.

Tram is the most popular mean of transportation in Hiroshima city. You can find the tram gate just 1min walk from south gate of Hiroshima Japan railways "JR" Station.

Large department store is standing just in front of the south gate, while upper floor of the south gate itself is also the shopping area and restaurants.
However, the proportion might be a little less than your expectation comparing to the city central.

Tram gate and the place in front of south gate.
You can pick up tram, bus tax by there. Most of the necessary information are writen in English, too. However, it is very hard to find the taxi driver who can speak English.

Shops and restaurants are in south gate station building. Also, you can find the large department store by acrossing the street.

Nowadays, re-development around the north gate is very active. Large apartment and hotels have been developed. Sheraton hotel is one of the drawing card. Considering the access to city central, I can't recommend, personally, but the re-development should keep going another a few years, followed by old city around south gate of Hiroshima station.

The re-development around Hiroshima station was kicked off with building new baseball stadiam, called "MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima". This new ballpark was opened in 2009. You can enjoy baseball game from Apr to Oct. To get to the ballpark, you just need to walk 5min from Hiroshima Station south gate. On the right, you can see the old market along the way.

MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima. Night game should be more exiting. 5min walking from Hiroshima Station and you can find how to get easily.

Left way is the easier way to go ball park, but you can stop for a moment in old market. The gate to the market is just 2min from Hiroshima station south gate. The name of the market is "Ai-Yu Market", meaning "Love and Friends market".

Old market might be in the scope of re-development. When night falls, only a few people you can find in there. Bus and tram are working around 10pm. Most of the shops close before 8pm. Enjoying in city central is strongly recommended. Public order is not so bad, though.

Main user of the station in weekdays is student followed by business man. The atmosphere of the station is relaxed comparing with other large cities in Japan. You can hear the sound of tram, smell the local meals and find the students sitting around water spout.

After you get out from the south gate, the water spout is just in front of you. You can find the bus gate behind the spout, the tram in the left front and the taxi gate in the left. Taxi has 3 types, large, middle and small, and the rate is slightly different.

Please sit down around the water spout, hear the sound and hazily consider the way to get to the city central with enjoying the atmosphere of Hiroshima city.

Tram is working around 10pm. Taxi is there 24hours. The rate is clearly noticed with the size of taxi.