Travel

When people mention Japan, one of the first things they think of is the fast and efficient means of transportation available for both locals and visitors alike. In addition to Japan’s famous trains and subways, Hiroshima has a network of buses and streetcars that are clean, safe, and always on time. Best of all, mass transportation is relatively cheap compared to many other Western countries. Arriving as a tourist in Hiroshima, most people take advantage of the Japan Rail (JR) Pass, which grants free passage on the JR system. Unfortunately, this isn’t an option for residents, so we need to jump right in and become a ‘local’ by purchasing one of either rechargeable IC cards. The options vary throughout the country, but our choices are between the Paspy and ICOCA cards in Hiroshima. Since this is often more than a little confusing and even quite daunting for the newly arrived, so I’ve put together this guide using my own experiences and those of other local and expat friends. I assure you, after reading this, you will be more than suitably equipped to know which card is the best for your situation. First off, the local Hiroshima, PASPY, is very popular…