Hi everyone, I was just wondering if this is a possibility. I was thinking I could take the JR West Sanyo line from Hiroshima station to JR Iwakuni and then ride a bike to MCAS Iwakuni. How far is JR Iwakuni from the base? I suspect ThaiGuy would be the one to know Any help appreciated!

~facio57

yeah, the bike ride from JR Iwakuni to the base is not too bad. Maybe 10-12 minutes, and there's a back road with more room & less traffic. If you could get on base via the North Gate, so much the better; not sure if they'll allow this (it's normally for trucks & contractors). The train ride would be maybe 45 minutes, depending where in Hiro you board the train. I do know one person doing this, and we all think she's crazy (she's Japanese) but it can be done if you're willing to put up with the time & expense each day.

ThaiGuy: sawat dee krab! Thanks for the info. I might be getting a job there as a contractor and just wanted to see how feasible my plan was. One hour or so commute each way doesn't seem too bad if I manage to live really close to Hiroshima station. Anyhow, really glad to know about this website and if I do make it out there, would love to get together and get orientated!

~facio57

The train will cost about $200 a month for a commuter pass.

Thanks for the replies. $200 a month doesn't sound too bad at all. I was wondering if it's possible to drive without taking the toll road, the Sanyo Expressway. I know on the toll road, it would be about $30-$40/day, too much for me.

~facio57

Yes, you normally would NOT take the toll road 'kuni-to-Hiro. Just go straight up hiway 2 along the coast. Not sure about rush hour traffic; I don't normally go that way during the week. The drive would still be 45 minutes. In general, rents near the train station run higher since so many Japanese ride the train to work, so if you drive you could live further from the station, south end of Hiro to reduce your drive & save a little on rent.

You could also look at Miyajima which is like 10 minutes from Hiro & very scenic, or even south of Miyajima, town of Ono or Otake. I've heard rents are crazy cheap there, you could be on base in 20-30 minutes max, and still quite close to Hiro by train or car. Those towns are much smaller & quieter than Hiro, but still accessible. If you're up for a motorbike/motorcycle, you could commute real quick from Otake or Ono. Hiway 2 is one lane each way, it don't move too fast and little opportunity to overtake other cars unless you're on a bike.

You can find all these on google maps.