So it's about an hour from Hiroshima to either HIJ or FUK, but HIJ requires a bus (taxi is too expensive).

Sorry, where is Shiraichi station?

That's what I'll do for the inbound, I think. Thanks for the night-landing tip, I guess I'll try for a window seat, then (I'm usually an aisle guy).

45 mins from Hiroshima (sanyo line). So you could do most of the journey from Hiroshima to HIJ via train and the last 15 mins by bus or taxi, if you wanted to.

Well, there is ... sort of ...
5. Overnight train from Tokyo on the Sunrise Izumo/Seto in a sleeping berth

Steps are:

• NEX to Tokyo. Dinner at your leisure.
• Sunrise leaves Tokyo at 22:00
• Arrives into Okayama at 06:27 Change here.
• Hikari departs Okayama 07:16 Enough time for breakfast:p
• Arrives Hiroshima 07:58

You can experience the luxury of a single sleeper berth for approx. ¥27,000 some images here or take a comfortable recliner (Nobinobi seat) for half that. Also saves 1 night's accommodation :)

Would you recommend the right or left side for more awesomeness?

Right? I was on the left I think but I was coming from the south.

I thought planes usually land in the same direction regardless of where they're coming from.

What makes a night landing at ITM so nice -- is it lights? Or a specific building or area? If the latter, it might make more difference which side to sit on as to what you can see.

Left side if approaching from the south would give you a nice panoramic view of central Osaka. Right may be a bit better from the north, but I reckon it's a wash.

The city has grown out around the airport so it's surrounded on all sides by built up areas (hence Kansai was built). When you are coming in you almost can see into peoples apartments and this vast metropolis spreads off as far as the eye could see. I thought it was spectacular but perhaps I'm easily impressed.

The original Osaka was built between the rivers. The OSA (today ITM) airport is actually to the north in Itami bordering Ikeda, Kawanishi on the bank of Inagawa. It is fairly packed in by these three towns. Today they don't allow 4 engine planes anymore. So all the HND-ITM flights use 777s.

Sounds well worth a window seat, thanks. It also sounds like it doesn't much matter which side, either should be a fun view?

anabolism did you ever take this trip? what did you end up doing and any lessons learned getting to/from HIJ?

Like you I'm a OW flier (AA EXP) coming from the States

I want to go to Hiroshima via a OW award either on my way (or return) from SYD.. any ideas which may be easier?

I'm in the initial stages of building this OW trip

I will have two elementary age school kids with me and am seeking simplicity as much as anything. Although I am paying out of pocket so things like the cab from HIJ may not be feasable or at least my first choice.

One worry is that I don't speak a word of Japanese (never been Japan either) so is getting around via bus, subway etc going to be extremely difficult?

I don't mind overnighting at NRT after the long flight and flying in the next day early.

Hi TrojanHorse. Yes, I did this in November 2009 (I was participating in a conference). I think visiting Hiroshima on OneWorld is easier now because there are more flights to Haneda now. It's much easier to get to Hiroshima from Haneda than from Narita. Especially since you'll have younger children with you, you might want to check the flight schedules from your starting point in the States and from Sydney, to decide about visiting in one direction or the other (are you using a Circle Pacific ticket?).

I had no problems as an English-only speaker. It's an easy city to get around in, and depending on where you stay, plenty of things within walking distance. The staff at your hotel should be able to help you find your way around.

In my case, being very allergic to tobacco, finding non-smoking places to eat was the biggest challenge. Aside from one of the restaurants at my hotel, I often went to the food court at a nearby department store, which had a terrific variety of food options. Plus, there is a non-smoking conveyer-belt sushi restaurant not far that was fun.

Thanks for the quick response and the hint about Haneda. Yes I'm looking at Circle pacific tickets and trying to nail down the dates and just by chance I'd be returning to the states early august and would like to be there (Hiroshima) for the ceremony on August 6th.

I was curious if Peace park would be good for elementary age kids to see as I hear its intense and some parts graphic but after some readings, I think it is ok for them and even more it will be quite good for them to see.

Like you, I don't like smoke and don't really want the kids in those settings if its a choice. I was also worried about food (not for me as I'll eat anything) but the kids.. kids being kids.. they are not the most adventureous when trying new foods but a food court should provide them with a few choices that they can enjoy.

I don't plan on staying in Hiroshima but for three/four days tops if that long. Its really a trip to see Peace park of which I have great interest.

Great to hear that English is not a problem either.

thanks for the hints.. much appreciated. ^

I didn't think that the Peace Park area was very intense. I don't remember much of what was inside the museum, but lots of Japanese schoolkids visit. I thought a single afternoon was plenty to see all the major sights.

If your kids are picky about Japanese food, I'm sure you'll find plenty of McDonald's and KFC's around to meet the need. When my kids were small, they fell totally in love with ramen (to the extent of teaching themselves the katakana for ramen so they could spot the places better), so that's a possibility too.

Sheraton Hiroshima Hotel
 

Off topic:

I've just noticed Sheraton Hiroshima Hotel is to open soon. It's just next to Hiroshima Station.