Harbingers’ reporters from the 2025 Japan Newsroom interview visitors of the new tram line
August 4, 2025, Hiroshima, Japan. Newly opened Ekimae Ohashi tram line.
August 5, 2025
Hiroshima’s new tram line revolutionises Japan’s public transport
Locals and tourists in Hiroshima are excited for the newly opened tram line – the first streetcar in Japan to run on elevated tracks directly into a station building.
They believe that the line will benefit local businesses and make commuting to work and the city center more efficient.
The Ekimae Ohashi line, located in the new Minamore Hiroshima Station building, offers quicker transfers and easier access to popular sites, such as the Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and the Hiroshima Castle.
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On August 4, 2025, many gathered at the site, taking photos of the new tram that had opened a day earlier.
“I’m happy that it is more convenient than before,” Moeka Sea, 25, associate at a confectionery store at the station, told Harbingers’ Magazine.
Takeuchi, a 16-year-old student, added: “At the old Hiroshima Station, trains would get crowded and it was inconvenient for many users, so it is now easier to travel thanks to the new platforms.”
Tashiharu, also 16, expressed his satisfaction with the train and noted its improved efficiency for both locals and visitors.
It’s really good. My daughter left her phone in the tram, but they returned it to our station, which was nice.
Willem Van Ditshuizen, 40-year-old tourist from the Netherlands
He added that the “flat fare” was another advantage, with a relatively low cost of 240 Japanese yen ($1.6) for adults and 120 Japanese yen ($0.8) for children.
The Ekimae Ohashi line – which had been in construction since 2024 – connects the Shinkansen (Japanese bullet trains), and Japanese Railway ticket gate at one station.
Japan plans to expand and modernise its streetcar network, potentially adding new lines or upgrading existing routes.
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