Korean Air is making it easier to combine a trip to South Korea with a visit to western Japan, with a new daily route between Seoul and Hiroshima launching later this year.
From December 23, Korean Air will operate one daily return flight between Incheon International Airport and Hiroshima Airport, giving visitors another convenient option for traveling between the two destinations. The new service will also mark Korean Air's first scheduled route to Hiroshima.
Flights will depart Incheon at 10:35am, arriving in Hiroshima at 12:15pm. The return flight will leave Hiroshima at 1:25pm and arrive in Incheon at 3:25pm. The route will be operated using an Airbus A321neo, a newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft.
For travelers, the new connection opens up some interesting possibilities. Hiroshima is one of the major cities of Japan's Chugoku region and makes a particularly useful base for exploring western Japan. The city is home to attractions including Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and nearby Miyajima, where the UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shrine is located. It is also known for Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, oysters, hot springs, and traditional gardens.
Hiroshima is also well connected to other parts of the region, with the Sanyo Shinkansen making it possible to continue on to cities such as Okayama and beyond. That makes the new route potentially useful for travelers who want to explore more than just Hiroshima itself.
Hiroshima isn't just a tourism destination. The city is also an important industrial center, home to Mazda's headquarters and major production facilities, as well as semiconductor operations by Micron Technology. This industrial base is expected to contribute to demand for business and industrial travel, adding another potential source of passengers for the new route.
With daily flights beginning just before Christmas, the new Seoul-Hiroshima connection could be a handy option for anyone looking to combine two popular East Asian destinations in one trip. It also adds another regional Japanese destination to Korean Air's growing network beyond the country's biggest gateways.
