Located on the waters outside Hiroshima, discover one of Japan’s most iconic and spiritual destinations on Miyajima Island. Escaping from the city, you can enjoy a perfect day trip here. It’s a place with a rich history and natural beauty where you can experience the local charm and unwind in the tranquility of the island.

[This page may contain affiliate links to trusted partners.]

How to Get to Miyajima Island

Starting in Hiroshima, the best way is by train with a JR (Japan Rail) pass. Take the route to Miyajimaguchi Station. From there, you can purchase a round-trip ferry ticket to the island.

If you choose to sign up for one of the Miyajima Island Guided Tours, they will provide the tickets for you. Note that some tours also include exploring the Hiroshima sites before visiting the island. Others will have their meeting point in neighboring Kyoto and Osaka, from which they can take the bullet train directly to Hiroshima.

What to Do on Miyajima Island

Itsukushima Shrine

A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and an iconic Shinto shrine. This is one of the two main attractions of the island. Before you enter, your guide has taught and shown you proper shrine and temple etiquette by bowing at the torii gates and washing your hands at the chozuya. Now you are ready to enter.

You can see how wooden stilts were used to build it over the bay. As you make your way through the complex, take notice of the main halls and wooden corridors. See the barrels of sake stacked along the corridor. It can be jam-packed, but the open space makes it feel less crowded. The concentration of visitors is usually in the center of the pier, where there is a line to take your memorable photo of the next attraction.

Great “Floating” Torii Gate

The other main attraction of Miyajima Island is the “Floating” Torii Gate. Depending on weather conditions and the high tide of the Seto Inland Sea, the whole shrine appears to float in the water. When it is low tide, visitors can walk out onto the beach and get close enough to the gate to observe the craftsmanship and take additional photos or gather shellfish found in the sand.

Picking what time to visit is always tricky, depending on your itinerary schedule. It’s better to go in the morning for some fantastic photo opportunities, as there are always fewer crowds. If you decide to wait until sunset, you do have the chance of missing your return ferry, and the Itsukushima Shrine is not open at night.

Daishoin Temple

If you take the path hiking up the mountain, you will discover at its base the oldest Buddhist temple on the island. Surrounded by nature, it offers a more serene and intimate experience. There are many different temples and even a cave in the back you can enter. Not to mention, fewer tourists are visiting compared to the devout worshippers. You will find two divergent paths upon entering.

On the one side, the steps are lined with statues of various sizes. In the Buddhist religion, these represent different aspects and deities. The other contains spinning metal wheels with written Buddhist scriptures on them. Spinning these as you walk up the steps, which is equivalent to reading them, is part of an everyday Buddhist ritual. So, you get the added benefit of having these Buddhist blessings even if you don’t know how to read them.

Omotesando Street

Now you’re starting to get hungry from all the walking around, it’s time to eat. This street, just by the pier, is a long arcade of shops and eateries. It’s always bustling and lively with crowds of visitors. Here, you can enjoy some traditional island cuisine, including eel and oysters. You should also try the local dessert specialty, Momiji-Manju (Maple leaf-shaped cakes). There are also some unique boutique shops for local crafts and cooking ingredients (I found a place that only sold different types of soy sauces and bought two to bring home).

Senjokaku

Located behind the Itsukushima Shrine on a small hill, you will need to take some steps to reach it, but you can avoid the larger crowds. This building was never completed. Originally meant to be a Buddhist hall, it became a shrine when the 16th-century Daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who ordered its construction, passed away. Its open space, with no walls and wooden exposures, gives it a more powerful, raw feeling.

What attracts visitors is also the five-story pagoda, which predates Senjokaku and is adjacent to the building. The bright color makes it stand out with the background landscape. You can’t access the inside of this building and can only admire it from the outside.

Deer Encounters

In Shinto tradition and mythology, deer are regarded as messengers of the gods, which is why they are given considerable freedom in parts of Japan. If you have visited Nara Park as part of your travel itinerary, this is similar. A large population of wild sika deer roams the island. They are so accustomed to people that you will find them wandering the streets and parks, looking for food, and making their way right up to visitors. But don’t, as this will only encourage them to become dependent on us.

Mount Misen

The highest peak of Miyajima Island. Get to the top, and you can see across the water to Hiroshima and the Seto Inland Sea. There are multiple scenic walking paths to choose from at ground level, but they are a minimum of one hour’s trek, as they vary in steepness. Follow the stone steps through the forest, view little shrines, and see small waterfalls.

If you want to save some energy, they offer a cable car that operates in two parts, taking you halfway and finishing the remainder on foot. But be aware of their schedule if you are short on time, as there can be a long queue. Once you are up on the summit, though, the panoramic views are phenomenal on a clear day.

Miyajima History and Folklore Museum

It doesn’t look like much from the outside. Still, this former merchant residence, now a charming local museum, offers insight into the historical context and everyday lives of the residents of Miyajima Island. Bigger on the inside, it contains traditional family quarters, a courtyard garden, as well as artifacts, crafts, and standard tools. Displays in both Japanese and some English give you a better appreciation of the importance of the religious sites here.

Conclusion

Don’t miss this worthwhile opportunity. Add a visit to Miyajima Island to your Hiroshima itinerary. You’re getting to see what the real spirit of Japan is all about through this serene island with culture, nature, and spiritual beauty.