Hiroshima to Osaka/Kansai KIX

[n7of9]

Can I get a sanity check, please?

I will be on a 2-week tour of South Korea and Japan in August. On Day 14 the tour wakes up in Hiroshima, does touristy stuff, and makes its way overland to Osaka. On the morning of Day 15 the tour ends.

I opted for a flight out of Osaka (Kansai KIX) at 23:30 on Day 14, so I intend to leave the tour group before they leave Hiroshima, and make my own way to Osaka via the Shinkansen (1.5 hours) and then a normal train to KIX (1 hour - or taxi if I feel like it). The tour company is freaking out about it, so they are in turn freaking me out.

Is my plan doable? Can a middle-aged, well-travelled, non-Japanese speaking sheila make that trip in a very safe country by herself? I figure there is less chance of the train(s) being delayed than a mini-van in traffic.

 

[trendwhore]

Don't see an issue. Probably they are not used to people changing the strict plan. English signs everywhere especially for airport and tourist related things, you'll be fine I'm sure!

 

[RooFlyer]

I’ve just done a similar thing myself as a bit more than middle-aged, non-Japanese speaking bloke.

Landed in Nagoya Airport in the morning, caught a local train into the city, walked a short distance to the Shinkansen station and caught the shin to Osaka. Everyone said it will be straightforward and it was. Although I did use ticket office rather than the machines, which have an English button but can be a bit confusing at first.

of the Shinkansen is more than a minute late departing, you’ll see it on the National news, I think.

 

[drron]

Absolutely doable. Japanese trains are very efficient. Even if 2 minutes late you often get an apology.
Once we had a train from Aomori to Hakodate that was an hour late due to a derailment. Every passenger was given a personal apology.
A derailment in Australia would mean a delay measured in days not hours.

 

[moa999]

fore they leave Hiroshima, and make my own way to Osaka via the Shinkansen (1.5 hours) and then a normal train to KIX (1 hour - or taxi if I feel like it). The tour company is freaking out about it, so they are in turn freaking me out.

Very easy imho.
Hiroshima station is fairly small (14 platforms or so).. Osaka a little larger and you'll need to transfer from above ground to below ground.

But it's all very well sign posted (albeit English is a little smaller on signs). But every line has a different colour and it's all well organised.

 

[cosi]

Is my plan doable? Can a middle-aged, well-travelled, non-Japanese speaking sheila make that trip in a very safe country by herself? I figure there is less chance of the train(s) being delayed than a mini-van in traffic.

Very easy.

The Shinkasen will take you to Sin-Osaka station.

Then you get the The Haruka Express to Kansai Airport, which takes about 50 minutes.

You need to know which terminal you are departing from.

Enjoy.

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