Hiroshima Electric Railway

The Hiroshima Electric Railway, often called "Hiroden," is a major transportation company. It operates in and around the Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan. This company manages an extensive network of streetcars and buses.

Because the company uses a wide variety of trams, people call it "The Moving Streetcar Museum." These vehicles are manufactured in many different locations across Japan and Europe. Hiroden provides essential travel for many people in the region.

The streetcar network is the longest in Japan. It consists of two main parts. First, there is the Miyajima Line, which is 16.1 km long. This line runs between Hiroden-nishi-hiroshima Station and Hiroden-miyajima-guchi Station.

Second, there are six inner-city lines. These lines provide eight different routes covering 19.0 km. In total, the company operates 271 streetcars to keep the system moving.

The company's history includes a very difficult period during World War II. On August 6, 1945, the USA dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. This event caused massive damage to the company's operations. Sadly, 185 employees lost their lives during the bombing. The streetcar fleet was also heavily impacted. Out of 123 cars, 108 were either destroyed or damaged.

One specific car, number 651, was documented as damaged and derailed on August 9, 1945.

Despite this destruction, the system showed great resilience. Hiroden began running its system again within only three days of the bombing. Some vehicles were able to survive the event. Specifically, cars 651 and 652 both survived the atomic bomb.

As of June 2025, both of these historic cars remained in service. In total, three trams that survived or were rebuilt continue to operate 75 years after the bombing.

Today, the company manages a large fleet of 489 buses alongside its trams. These buses serve many different areas. Some routes serve the suburbs, including the Asaminami and Asakita wards. Other routes connect to places like the Asa zoo and Asahigaoka. The bus network also includes superhighway routes. These routes connect the Chūgoku region to Tokyo. There are even specialized services like the Hiroshima Airport Limousine bus.

Traveling on Hiroden has also changed with new technology. For a long time, passengers used a smart card ticket system called PASPY. This system was accepted starting in January 2008. However, the company updated its technology in the spring of 2025. PASPY was replaced by a new ticketing system based on QR codes. This allows for modern ways to pay for transit.

The streetcar system is a vital link to other forms of travel. Many terminal stations connect passengers to larger networks. For example, Hiroshima Station connects to JR Hiroshima Station. Hiroshima Port Station allows travelers to reach ferries and hydrofoils. These water vessels travel to Matsuyama, Imabari, Kure, and several islands in the Seto Inland Sea. Other stations, like Hondori, connect passengers to the Astram Line. This connectivity makes Hiroden a central part of the region's infrastructure.