Photo by Ikarovski on Unsplash
Long before the Shinkansen existed, streetcars were weaving through Japanese cities — and in four cities, they still are. Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Matsuyama each kept their tram networks running through decades when most other Japanese cities tore the rails out for buses and subways. Riding them isn’t just nostalgia tourism: these trams are still the fastest, cheapest way to reach many of each city’s main sights, and a handful of the actual vintage cars from the 1910s-1950s are still in daily service. Here’s how to use each system without wasting time or money.
Why these four cities still have streetcars
Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Matsuyama all built their tram networks in the early 20th century, and all four avoided the postwar push to replace trams with subways or buses — partly due to geography (narrow streets hemmed in by hills or rivers made subway construction costly) and partly civic pride. Hiroshima’s network is the most famous because several cars survived the atomic bombing in 1945 and were repaired and put back into service; a few of those “Hiroden” cars from the 1940s still run on regular routes today, not in a museum. Matsuyama and Kumamoto run restored pre-war cars on select days, while Nagasaki’s hilly, narrow streets make its single-line tram arguably the most useful of the four for simple point-to-point sightseeing.
Hiroshima: the biggest network, flat fare, atomic-bomb-survivor cars
Hiroden (Hiroshima Electric Railway) runs eight tram routes covering the whole city, with cars arriving every few minutes on main lines. Fares are flat: ¥220 for adults regardless of distance within the city (slightly more on the line out to Miyajimaguchi, where you connect to the ferry for Miyajima island). Pay by IC card (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA all work) by tapping on and off, or pay cash into the box by the driver when you exit. A one-day streetcar pass costs around ¥900 and pays for itself after about four rides — worth it if you’re hitting the Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima Castle, and Shukkeien Garden in one day. Look for car numbers 650 and 651 on the Eba or Hiroshima Port lines; these are the originals that survived 1945 and still run scheduled service, not a special exhibit train. Avoid boarding during the 7:30-8:30am and 5-6:30pm rush, when cars fill with commuters and a rolling suitcase becomes a real liability.
Nagasaki: one simple line, cheapest flat fare in Japan
Nagasaki’s tram network has four numbered routes but they mostly overlap on a single north-south corridor, making it nearly impossible to get lost. The flat fare is ¥140 (IC card or exact change), one of the cheapest tram rides anywhere in the country. A one-day pass is ¥700 and is sold at the tourist information counter inside Nagasaki Station or from the tram drivers themselves — ask for “ichinichi jōsha-ken.” The tram is the easiest way to reach the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park (get off at Matsuyamamachi) and the Dejima and Chinatown area (Nigiwaibashi or Tsukimachi stops). If you’re extending the trip out to the Dutch trading history on Hirado, note that’s a separate bus/train journey outside the tram network — see our guide to Hirado’s Dutch trading post, castle and Christian history for how to connect onward.
Kumamoto: castle access and the restored 1920s cars
Kumamoto’s tram has two routes (A and B lines) that split near Kumamoto Station and both end up looping through downtown. Flat fare is ¥180 for adults, and a one-day pass (¥500) is a clear win if you’re also riding the Shiromegurin loop bus to Kumamoto Castle, since some day-pass versions cover both. The castle itself is a 15-minute walk from the Kumamoto-Jōtōmae tram stop. Kumamoto occasionally runs a restored 1924 tram car (the “171” or similar heritage units) on weekends and holidays as a nostalgia service — check with the Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau website or the tourist information desk at the station on the day, since the schedule isn’t fixed far in advance and depends on maintenance status.
Matsuyama: the Botchan Train and Dogo Onsen access
Matsuyama’s Iyotetsu network mixes modern trams with the “Botchan Ressha,” a diesel-powered replica of a Meiji-era steam train that runs on tram tracks through the city center — it’s a tourist novelty with a separate, higher fare (around ¥1,300 one-way) rather than a practical commuter option. The regular tram fare is a flat ¥200, and the most useful route for visitors runs between Matsuyama City Station and Dogo Onsen, one of Japan’s oldest hot spring towns, in about 25 minutes. If you’re building a longer Shikoku itinerary that includes food experiences, pair this with the udon-making classes in nearby Kagawa — Matsuyama and Takamatsu are well connected by train, making a two- or three-day Shikoku loop realistic.
Common mistakes foreign visitors make
- Trying to use a Shinkansen IC balance assumption. IC cards work on all four networks, but balance and boarding rules differ from Tokyo subways — in Hiroshima and Kumamoto, some cars require you to tap on at the front door and off at the rear, the reverse of Tokyo convention. Watch what other passengers do if signage isn’t obvious.
- Not having coins for the fare box. If your IC card runs low, you’ll need exact or near-exact change; drivers carry limited change and larger bills can cause delays. Keep ¥1,000 in small coins and bills as backup, especially in Nagasaki and Matsuyama where cash-only moments still happen on older cars.
- Boarding the wrong direction on a looping line. Hiroshima’s and Kumamoto’s lines branch and loop; check the destination placard on the front of the car, not just the line color, since the same line number can terminate in different places depending on time of day.
- Bringing oversized luggage during rush hour. These are single-car trams with narrow aisles, not high-capacity subway trains. If you’re arriving with large suitcases, take a taxi from the station to your hotel and use the tram unencumbered for sightseeing days.
Best timing and practical logistics
Spring (late March-April, cherry blossoms) and autumn (November, foliage) are the best times to combine tram sightseeing with comfortable walking weather in all four cities. Summer is brutal — Hiroshima and Kumamoto regularly see highs that trigger official heat warnings, and trams are not air-conditioned as aggressively as modern subway trains, so if you’re traveling in July or August, check our guide on planning sightseeing safely around Japan’s extreme heat warnings and front-load outdoor tram-hopping to early morning. All four tram systems operate roughly 6am to 11pm daily with no holiday closures, though frequency drops substantially after 9pm, especially in Nagasaki and Matsuyama, so don’t count on a tram showing up within five minutes late at night the way you might on a Hiroshima main line at rush hour.
Budget, mid-range and splurge approaches
Budget travelers should buy the one-day pass only if doing four or more rides; otherwise pay-per-ride with an IC card is cheaper and more flexible. Mid-range visitors can comfortably combine a tram day-pass with a single taxi ride for luggage transfer between station and hotel, keeping total local transport under ¥2,000 a day per person. The closest thing to a “splurge” here is Matsuyama’s Botchan Ressha, which is worth the roughly ¥1,300 fare once for the novelty and photos, but isn’t worth repeating for actual transportation — use the regular ¥200 tram for everyday trips to Dogo Onsen instead.