Miyajima day trip from Hiroshima
A day trip to Miyajima from Hiroshima: the Miyajima Ropeway, Momijidani Park, Daishō-in temple, Itsukushima Shrine and its Great Torii, the Senjōkaku hall of Toyokuni Shrine, the ferry pier, and Mount Misen. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Miyajima in 1 day
Day 1
Miyajima Ropeway
Cable car in two sections from Momijidani Park up the slopes of Mount Misen, with views of the Inland Sea islands.
Momijidani Park
Maple valley park at the foot of Mount Misen, with a stream, bridges and red leaves in autumn.
Daishō-in
Shingon Buddhist temple at the foot of Mount Misen, with hundreds of small statues, prayer wheels and a cave of lanterns.
Itsukushima Shrine and Great Torii
Shinto shrine of the 12th century built over the water, with its great vermilion torii standing in the bay.
Senjōkaku (Toyokuni Shrine)
Huge unfinished wooden hall commissioned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1587, next to a five-storied pagoda on a hill above the shrine.
Miyajima Ferry Pier
The ferry terminal on the island's north shore where boats from Miyajimaguchi and Hiroshima arrive; not a sight in itself.
Mount Misen
The island's sacred mountain, with temple halls, huge rocks and a summit view over the Seto Inland Sea.
Watch: Miyajima
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
From Hiroshima take the JR Sanyō Line (about 30 minutes) or tram line 2 (about 70 minutes) to Miyajimaguchi, then the JR or Matsudai ferry, which crosses in about 10 minutes. Direct boats also run from near the Peace Memorial Park in about 45 minutes.
Staying in Hiroshima? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Miyajima
Spring cherry blossoms in early April and red maples in November are the most popular seasons. Summer is hot and humid with rain in June and July, while winter is cool and quieter. Weekends and holidays bring the biggest crowds, and the tide changes how the torii looks during the day.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Miyajima on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Miyajima on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Miyajima on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Japan from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Miyajima
- Check the tide tables before going: at high tide the Great Torii seems to float, and at low tide you can walk out to its base.
- Take an early ferry to see the shrine before the day-trip crowds arrive from Hiroshima.
- A small visitor tax is collected with the ferry fare to the island.
- The island's deer are wild and will snatch food and paper; keep snacks and maps out of reach.
- Check the time of the last ropeway down before heading up Mount Misen, and wear proper shoes for the rocky path from the top station to the summit.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Daishō-in: Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Itsukushima Shrine and Great Torii: redlegsfan21, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Miyajima Ferry Pier: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Miyajima Ropeway: Clifford D, CC BY 2.0
- Momijidani Park: 耕太郎, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mount Misen: As6022014, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
