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Hiroshima and Miyajima in two days: island shrine and city memorials

A manageable island day followed by a city shrine and memorial walk, with the aquarium repair closure kept out of the core route.

2 days4 places
Explore this itinerary

Tabipita editorial team

The red torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine standing in the water
Itsukushima Shrine厳島神社
Photo: Balon Greyjoy· 2018 · CC0 1.0Credits & license

Photographed 2018-11-11 · Checked 2026-10-22

Cropped and resized for this page. Historical photograph; appearance may have changed.

Original on Wikimedia CommonsCC0 1.0

YOUR DAYS, AT A GLANCE

Explore the route

A suggested starting point, with room for meals and breaks. Stay lengths are editorial estimates; check opening times and bookings before visiting.

Follow the neighbourhoods

Lines show the suggested stop order, not walking or transit directions. Open a place in Google Maps to plan your actual journey.

Miyajima shrine and Momijidani Park2 stops

Before you go

Official references are dated below. Route choices, walking allowances and meal plans are our suggestions, not live directions. Recheck notices for your travel date.

Start here · station & exit

Start at JR Miyajimaguchi and follow signs to the ferry terminal, then continue from Miyajima pier towards the shrine. The train station and island pier are different places.

Getting between stops

Allow 30–45 minutes from the island pier to the shrine area with pauses, then 15–25 minutes towards a short Momijidani loop. Check the return ferry timetable before lingering.

Our planning suggestionOur transfer allowances include walking and waiting; confirm the actual connection on the day.
Entry, hours & reservations

Itsukushima Shrine: Check seasonal closing time and pay shrine admission separately from the ferry and visitor tax. Momijidani Park: The park walk is separate from the paid ropeway.

Food & rest breaks

Meal stops below are editorial suggestions rather than verified restaurant reservations.

Our planning suggestionLeave an hour for lunch around the island’s public shopping streets. Check seafood ingredients and dietary requirements directly; keep food away from wildlife.
If it rains

Shorten the park in rain and check ferry operation. Do not rely on the aquarium during its December 2026–March 2027 repair closure; use the city day or postpone the island outing.

  1. The red torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine standing in the water
    Photo: Balon Greyjoy· 2018 · CC0 1.0Credits & license

    Photographed 2018-11-11 · Checked 2026-10-22

    Cropped and resized for this page. Historical photograph; appearance may have changed.

    Original on Wikimedia CommonsCC0 1.0

    STOP 1

    Itsukushima Shrine

    厳島神社

    Walk the shrine route and compare the shoreline at your actual tide. A floating-gate view depends on water level, not just the hour of arrival.

    Suggested visit: about 75 min

    Open in Google Maps ↗
  2. A path and teahouse surrounded by autumn trees at Momijidani Park
    Photo: 耕太郎· 2012 · CC BY-SA 4.0Credits & license

    Photographed 2012-11-18 · Checked 2026-10-22

    Converted to WebP at the original 427 × 240 resolution; displayed with a card crop. This adaptation is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Original on Wikimedia CommonsCC BY-SA 4.0

    STOP 2

    Momijidani Park

    紅葉谷公園

    Take a modest park walk after the shrine. This itinerary does not include a summit hike or ropeway ride.

    Suggested visit: about 60 min

    Open in Google Maps ↗

Is this route for you?

A manageable island day followed by a city shrine and memorial walk, with the aquarium repair closure kept out of the core route. Stop lengths and transfer buffers are our planning estimates, not official journey times. The map shows places rather than turn-by-turn directions; check live transport and the linked opening calendars before setting out.

Day 1: Miyajima shrine and Momijidani Park

Give Miyajima a full day so ferry connections, lunch and the tide do not compete with a city museum booking. The core route uses the shrine and park. Miyajima Aquarium announces closure from December 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027, so it is not a dependable year-round rain substitute.

Itsukushima Shrine

Walk the shrine route and compare the shoreline at your actual tide. A floating-gate view depends on water level, not just the hour of arrival.

Momijidani Park

Take a modest park walk after the shrine. This itinerary does not include a summit hike or ropeway ride.

Allow 30–45 minutes from the island pier to the shrine area with pauses, then 15–25 minutes towards a short Momijidani loop. Check the return ferry timetable before lingering. These allowances exclude meals and longer queues.

Day 2: Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine and memorial park

Keep the second day in the city. Visit Gokoku Shrine in the castle area, then walk towards the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park. The museum is an optional addition requiring a separate ticket and enough time; use our dedicated Hiroshima day for a museum-focused plan.

Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine

Visit the shrine within the castle area, respecting worship and ceremonies. Shrine reception hours are not a promise that all surrounding facilities are open.

Atomic Bomb Dome

View the preserved building from the public paths and allow quiet time in Peace Memorial Park. The ruin is not entered as a normal building tour.

Allow 30–45 minutes from the shrine grounds to the Atomic Bomb Dome and additional time for a quiet park walk. These allowances exclude meals and longer queues.

Meals, weather and choosing the date

Day 1: Leave an hour for lunch around the island’s public shopping streets. Check seafood ingredients and dietary requirements directly; keep food away from wildlife. Shorten the park in rain and check ferry operation. Do not rely on the aquarium during its December 2026–March 2027 repair closure; use the city day or postpone the island outing.

Day 2: Have lunch between the shrine and memorial area, then leave time to sit and reflect. Avoid treating the memorial paths as a picnic or entertainment stop. This is mainly outdoors. If rain is heavy, consider the Peace Memorial Museum only after checking tickets and entry rules, or swap the order of the two days.

Continue planning

Miyajima day trip from Hiroshima: shrine, ferry and a quieter park walk · Hiroshima in one day: Shukkeien, castle grounds and peace museum

Sources & further reading

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