Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden) has announced that the currently under construction “Ekimae Ohashi Route,” which will allow streetcars to run directly into the Hiroshima Station building, will open on August 3 (Sun), 2025.
Hiroden, Hiroshima City, and JR West are working together to redevelop the area around the south exit of Hiroshima Station, and a new station building called “Minamore” opened on March 24 (Mon). Hiroden is currently constructing a new 1.1 km line that will connect to the existing line, and when completed, it will be the first case in Japan where trams will depart and arrive from the second floor of a station building.
The new tram platform will connect to the Shinkansen and JR ticket gates without having to go up or down, making transfers smoother, and being indoors will also increase comfort in bad weather. There will be no ticket gates on the Hiroden side, and the number of platforms will be divided from the current two to four by route, making it easier to understand.
The new route heading south from Hiroshima Station will connect to existing lines at the Inaricho and Hijiyamashita tram stops, and a new “Matsukawacho” tram stop will be established between Inaricho and Hijiyamashita. The current Enkobashicho tram stop will be abolished, but the shortcut will reduce travel time to Hatchobori and Kamiyacho by about 4 minutes, and to Hijiyamashita by about 4.5 minutes.
After the Ekimae Ohashi route opens, the tram stops at Matoba-cho and Danbara 1-chome will no longer have trains running through them, but they will be reinstated as part of a circular route scheduled for completion in the spring of 2026. The new route utilizes the existing line that passes through Kamiya-cho, Hiroden Honsha-mae, and Minamimachi 6-chome, with the aim of increasing access to the city center.
On April 29th (Tue/Holiday), a pre-opening event called “Changing Hiroshima Station and Station Street Family Festival 2025” will be held as a joint event between three parties including Hiroden. There will be test drives of construction vehicles, vehicle displays, and events that children can enjoy, building up anticipation for the new route.
