If you are travelling through Hiroshima with children, Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate is one of the most convenient places to stay in the city — especially if you are arriving by Shinkansen or planning a day trip to Miyajima.
Opened in March 2025, the hotel sits directly above JR Hiroshima Station, so there is no need to drag suitcases across the city after a long train journey. That alone can make a big difference when travelling with young children, strollers, or large luggage.
The hotel has 380 rooms, including twin and triple room options, with guest rooms located on the upper floors of the Hiroshima Station building.
Why I Like This Hotel for Families
- Directly above Hiroshima Station for easy Shinkansen and local train access.
- Very convenient for a Miyajima day trip.
- No taxi or additional train ride needed after arriving in Hiroshima.
- Triple-room options are available for families who need more sleeping space.
- Restaurants, shops, and transport connections are all immediately around the station.
For a short Hiroshima stay, I think the location is the hotel’s biggest advantage. You can arrive, leave your luggage, start sightseeing quickly, and return to the station without adding another complicated transfer to the day.
Which Room Type Works Best for Families?
The best room depends on your family size, but the South Gate has several options that work better than a typical compact Japanese business-hotel room.
Superior Twin — 30 m²
The standard Superior Twin is around 30 m², giving couples and families with one young child more breathing room than many station-area hotels.
For families travelling with a stroller, carry-on luggage, or several bags, that extra floor space can make a noticeable difference during a multi-night stay.
South Gate Triple
Families of three should look closely at the South Gate Triple, which is designed for three guests and avoids the need to squeeze everyone into a standard twin room.
This can be particularly useful for parents travelling with an older child or teenager who needs a proper separate bed.
Family tip: The hotel has also promoted selected family plans where children of elementary-school age and younger could share a bed with an adult at no extra room charge. Because these conditions can vary by room and booking plan, check the current child-occupancy rules carefully before reserving.
If your priority is maximum comfort rather than the lowest room rate, I would compare the larger twin and triple rooms first rather than choosing purely by price.
Why the Location Is So Good for Family Travel
Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate is built directly above JR Hiroshima Station, which makes it especially practical if you are travelling around western Japan by train.
Easy Arrival by Shinkansen
If you are arriving from Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, or another city on the Sanyo Shinkansen, you can reach the hotel without taking another train, bus, or taxi across Hiroshima.
The South Gate entrance is integrated into the Hiroshima Station complex, and the hotel is also directly beside the city’s new streetcar stop at Hiroshima Station.
Convenient for Miyajima
From Hiroshima Station, take the JR Sanyo Main Line to Miyajimaguchi, then continue by ferry to Miyajima. This makes the hotel a very convenient base for a family day trip to Itsukushima Shrine and the island.
Some JR West regional passes, including the Kansai–Hiroshima Area Pass, also cover the JR West Miyajima Ferry between Miyajimaguchi and Miyajima.
Easy Access to Central Hiroshima
Hiroshima Station is also a major hub for streetcars and buses, making it straightforward to reach central sightseeing areas such as Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome without needing a rental car.
Family advantage: Staying directly at the station means fewer transfers with children, strollers, and luggage. For a two- or three-night Hiroshima stay, that convenience can be worth more than saving a small amount on a hotel farther away.
Breakfast and Dining With Kids
Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate has its main restaurant, Café & Buffet UmiShima Dining, on the 7th floor.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served from 6:30 to 9:30, which is useful for families planning an early start to Miyajima or another day trip.
The buffet focuses heavily on Hiroshima and Setouchi flavours, with dishes that can include anago rice, seafood, Japanese-style breakfast items, bread, fruit, and hot dishes.
Because the selection is broad, it can be easier for families with different tastes than relying on a small café breakfast.
Lunch and Dinner
UmiShima Dining also serves lunch and dinner, but you are not limited to eating inside the hotel.
One of the biggest advantages of staying directly at Hiroshima Station is the large choice of restaurants, cafés, convenience stores, and takeaway food in the station complex and surrounding buildings.
That flexibility is particularly useful with children, because you can choose between a proper sit-down meal, a quick casual dinner, or food to take back to your room depending on how everyone is feeling after a long sightseeing day.
Family tip: If breakfast is not included in your room rate, compare the buffet price with the many breakfast options around Hiroshima Station. For families, the station location makes it very easy to choose whichever option works best each morning.
Practical Family Advantages of Staying at Hiroshima Station
Easy Luggage Management
One of the biggest advantages of the South Gate is simply being able to arrive at Hiroshima Station and reach your hotel without another city transfer.
For families carrying suitcases, backpacks, or a stroller, this can make arrival and departure days much easier.
Everything You Need Is Nearby
The Hiroshima Station complex has restaurants, cafés, convenience stores, shops, and transport connections all within a very small area.
This is useful when children are tired, the weather is poor, or you need a quick meal or supplies without making another trip across the city.
Good Base for Short Stays
If you only have two or three nights in Hiroshima, staying at the station helps minimize wasted travel time. You can reach Miyajima, central Hiroshima, and your next Shinkansen with very little logistical effort.
My view: This is not necessarily the cheapest family hotel in Hiroshima, but the station location can justify paying a little more — especially on a short stay where convenience matters more than having a resort-style hotel.
Who Is Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate Best For?
Best For
- Families arriving or departing Hiroshima by Shinkansen.
- Travellers planning a Miyajima day trip.
- Parents who want to minimize transfers with children, strollers, and luggage.
- Families staying only two or three nights and wanting to maximize sightseeing time.
- Travellers who value easy access to restaurants, shops, and transport more than resort-style facilities.
Possible Drawbacks
- Room rates can be higher than hotels located farther from Hiroshima Station.
- If most of your sightseeing is around Peace Memorial Park, you will still need to use a streetcar, bus, or taxi to reach central Hiroshima.
- Families wanting a large apartment-style room or an in-room kitchen may prefer another hotel.
- The hotel is primarily a convenient city base rather than a destination hotel with extensive family recreation facilities.
Bottom line: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate makes the most sense when convenience is your priority. For families travelling Japan by rail, being directly above Hiroshima Station can simplify almost every part of a short Hiroshima stay.
Booking Tips for Families
Compare Room Types, Not Just the Lowest Rate
The cheapest room is not always the best value for a family. If you are travelling with three people, a dedicated triple room may be much more comfortable than trying to fit everyone into a smaller twin configuration.
Check the Child-Sharing-Bed Rules Carefully
Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate has offered plans allowing younger children to share an existing bed with an adult, but the conditions can vary by room and booking plan.
Always confirm how many children can share existing beds, whether breakfast is included for them, and whether an extra charge applies.
Decide Whether You Really Need Breakfast Included
The hotel buffet is convenient and features regional Hiroshima dishes, but staying directly at Hiroshima Station also gives you many cheaper breakfast options nearby.
For a family staying several nights, comparing room-only and breakfast-inclusive rates can sometimes produce a meaningful saving.
Book Early for Weekends and Holiday Periods
Hiroshima is a popular destination throughout the year, and station-connected hotels are especially convenient for domestic and international travellers. Rates and room availability can tighten during weekends, Japanese holiday periods, cherry blossom season, and other busy travel dates.
Best booking strategy: Choose the room type that comfortably fits your family first, then compare rates with and without breakfast. For a short rail-focused Hiroshima stay, I would prioritize room space and station convenience over finding the absolute cheapest nightly rate.
Related Guides
What to Eat on Miyajima Island
Planning a Miyajima day trip from Hiroshima? Discover the island’s signature foods, including oysters, anago meshi, and momiji manju.
7-Day Western Japan Itinerary with the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass
See how to use the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass for a rail itinerary covering Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, and other highlights of western Japan.
Traveling Japan by Train With Large Luggage and Kids
Practical advice for managing suitcases, strollers, station transfers, and Shinkansen travel when visiting Japan as a family.
Before You Buy a JR Pass
Compare the cost of your planned train journeys with the current JR Pass price. Depending on your route, individual tickets or a regional pass may offer better value.
Check Current JR Pass PricesAbout Train Travel Japan
Train Travel Japan is written from firsthand experience traveling throughout Japan by rail. I am a Japanese native based in Canada and have traveled to all 47 prefectures of Japan over more than 30 years.
My goal is to make Japan train travel easier to understand, especially for international visitors planning JR Pass trips, regional rail journeys and independent itineraries.