Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima (Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima; General Manager: Toshiyuki Muro) is launching two immersive collaboration stay plans with Astram Line, the automated guideway transit system operated by Hiroshima Rapid Transit Co., Ltd. (Asaminami-ku, Hiroshima; President: 荒神原政司). Reservations are now open: Plan 1, the "Station Backstage Tour & Train Driver Roleplay Plan," runs from Monday, July 20 (national holiday) through Thursday, July 30, 2026, while Plan 2, the "Train Driver Roleplay Plan," runs from Friday, July 31 through Monday, August 31, 2026.
Astram Line is the longest automated guideway transit system currently in operation in Japan, and is a familiar part of daily life in Hiroshima for commuters, students, and tourists alike. The hotel is located along the Astram Line route, and both opened in 1994 — a shared origin that sparked the collaboration, which began in 2023. Following a renewed edition in summer 2025 that was well received by guests, this year's plans represent a third iteration of the "Train Driver Roleplay Plan," refreshed with enhanced experiences for guests returning for a second or third visit.
The guest room is a spacious 55 m² space created by connecting two twin rooms, accommodating up to four guests. The room is decorated with a driver's console, platform indicator boards, manufacturer's nameplates, hanging straps, and vehicle introduction panels — details sure to delight railway enthusiasts. Guests can put on a loaner uniform and driver's cap, then grip the controller while watching a cab-view video (DVD loaner) recorded during actual Astram Line operation for a fully immersive driving experience. New this year, Plan 1 adds a special "Station Backstage Tour" that takes guests behind the scenes at stations not normally open to the public, offering a deeper look at the world of railways.
The Driver Roleplay Plan also includes a station-name stamp keychain — an Astram Line novelty item no longer sold commercially — as a limited exclusive gift.
Astram Line Collaboration Stay Plans — One Group per Day
Plan 1: Station Backstage Tour & Train Driver Roleplay Plan
Stay Period: Monday, July 20 (national holiday) – Thursday, July 30, 2026
- Excluded dates: Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25, 2026
Room Type & Rate: Per room per night (breakfast included, taxes and service charges included, accommodation tax not included)
| Room Type | Size | Guests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Floor (14F) / Family Room | 55 m² | 1 guest | From ¥37,000 |
| Standard Floor (14F) / Family Room | 55 m² | 2 guests | From ¥44,000 |
| Standard Floor (14F) / Family Room | 55 m² | 3 guests | From ¥54,000 |
| Standard Floor (14F) / Family Room | 55 m² | 4 guests | From ¥64,000 |
Inclusions:
- Driver Roleplay Completion Certificate (1 per room)
— Sent by post after the stay. Requests for additional certificates can be made in advance. - Official Astram Line novelty goods (1 set per room)
- Stuffed toy "Astramichan" (1 set per room)
- 「アス謎〜時空機神アストラファイブ〜」puzzle game (1 set per room)
— Smartphone and transit ticket required. Playable during Astram Line operating hours. Estimated play time: approx. 5 hours (no time limit; can be played across multiple days). - Station Backstage Tour (10:00 AM – 11:00 AM)
- Tour content: Kenchomae Station — station office area tour (including behind ticket machines), emergency corridor walk-through, etc. / Shin-Hakushima Station — PA system operation experience, photo at the ticket gate window, etc.
- Meeting point: Astram Line Kenchomae Station (north gate) — 1-minute walk from Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima
- Note: The tour may be cancelled due to weather or other operational reasons. Content may be partially adjusted based on the number of participants or the ages of children. No refund or substitute benefit is available if the tour is not held. Costs for children sharing a bed who join the tour are not included; please pay separately at check-in.
- Breakfast (Japanese and Western buffet): "Dining Ruore," 1F
In-Room Facilities (shared by both plans):
- Astram Line Series 6000 driver's console installed in room
- Real platform indicator boards and vehicle components on display
- Cab-view video DVD loaner (広域公園前駅 ↔ Hondori Station, both directions, approx. 40 min each)
- Uniform (sizes: 110 / 120 / 130 / 150 / free size) and driver's cap (51.0–54.0 cm) available on loan
Plan page: https://www.rihga.co.jp/hiroshima/stay/plan/astram-line-202607/
Plan 2: Train Driver Roleplay Plan
Stay Period: Friday, July 31 – Monday, August 31, 2026
Room Type & Rate: Per room per night (breakfast included, taxes and service charges included, accommodation tax not included)
| Room Type | Size | Guests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Floor (14F) / Family Room | 55 m² | 1 guest | From ¥31,000 |
| Standard Floor (14F) / Family Room | 55 m² | 2 guests | From ¥35,000 |
| Standard Floor (14F) / Family Room | 55 m² | 3 guests | From ¥45,000 |
| Standard Floor (14F) / Family Room | 55 m² | 4 guests | From ¥55,000 |
Inclusions:
- Driver Roleplay Completion Certificate (1 per room)
— Sent by post after the stay. Requests for additional certificates can be made in advance. - Official Astram Line novelty goods (1 set per room)
- Stuffed toy "Astramichan" (1 set per room)
- 「アス謎〜時空機神アストラファイブ〜」puzzle game (1 set per room)
— Smartphone and transit ticket required. Playable during Astram Line operating hours. Estimated play time: approx. 5 hours (no time limit; can be played across multiple days). - Station-name stamp keychain (non-commercial item / 1 per room)
- Breakfast (Japanese and Western buffet): "Dining Ruore," 1F
Plan page: https://www.rihga.co.jp/hiroshima/stay/plan/astram-line-202608/
Other discounts and benefits cannot be combined. Cancellation fees apply from 7 days before the stay. A one-day pass is not included. Photos are for illustrative purposes.
