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YOUR JAPAN TRAVEL NOTEBOOK

Miyajima day trip from Hiroshima: shrine, ferry and a quieter park walk

A short Miyajima route centred on Itsukushima Shrine and Momijidani Park, with a mainland-to-island arrival plan and time left for the return ferry.

1 day2 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.

Itsukushima 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 Station on the mainland. Leave through the ticket gates and follow the underpass route to Miyajimaguchi Passenger Terminal. The operator gives this landmark-based route rather than a numbered station exit. The island ferry terminal is a separate place.

Our planning suggestionAllow 20 minutes for the station-to-boarding transfer, including buying tickets; this is our planning buffer, not a published walking time.
Getting between stops

From Hiroshima, take the JR Sanyo Line towards Iwakuni to Miyajimaguchi (about 30 minutes), then the ferry (about 10 minutes). Hiroshima tourism puts Momijidani Park about a 10-minute walk from Itsukushima Shrine.

Our planning suggestionSuggested buffers: island pier to shrine 20–30 minutes, shrine to park 15–20 minutes, and park to return pier 30–40 minutes. These are editorial walking allowances, not live directions; the map connects stops, and actual paths differ.
Entry, hours & reservations

Adult shrine admission is ¥300. From October 15 to November 30, opening hours are 06:30–17:30; hours vary in other seasons. The JR ferry’s Japanese fare page lists ¥200 each way for adults, plus ¥100 visitor tax when entering the island. Check the linked current fare before travel.

Our planning suggestionBuy ordinary ferry tickets at the terminal or use an accepted transit IC card. Budget ¥800 for the adult shrine entry, return ferry and island tax, excluding trains and food. This route does not include reserved restaurants, a ropeway ticket or a mountain tour.
Food & rest breaks

The tourist association’s area map places Omotesando Shopping Arcade between the ferry terminal area and the shrine, with public toilets marked. Use the map to choose a convenient meal stop; this itinerary does not book a restaurant.

Our planning suggestionKeep 60 minutes for lunch and 15–20 minutes for a seated break. Confirm opening hours and dietary requirements with your chosen venue; carry water and a snack instead of relying on a late lunch.
If it rains

Momijidani is an outdoor park. The shrine’s Treasure Hall is a separate indoor visit, listed as open 08:00–17:00; adult entry is ¥300, or ¥500 combined with shrine entry. It is not one of this route’s mapped stops.

Our planning suggestionIn rain, replace the park with the Treasure Hall and a longer cafe break if open. Walking between buildings remains outdoors. In severe weather, check ferry operations before leaving Hiroshima and shorten or postpone the island visit.
  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

    Make the shrine the main visit. Check current admission information and tides separately.

    Suggested visit: about 60 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

    An optional short park walk; this does not include a mountain ascent or a seasonal event.

    Suggested visit: about 45 min

    Open in Google Maps ↗

Keep the island day manageable

This route adapts the shrine and park portion of our Japanese Miyajima itinerary. We suggest two main visits, with lunch between them. Aquarium admission, a mountain hike and a ropeway excursion are not included. Adding all of them would require a different schedule.

Travel from Hiroshima

The shrine’s official access guide describes the JR Sanyo Line journey from Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi as approximately 30 minutes, followed by a walk to the ferry port and an approximately 10-minute crossing. These are individual journey estimates, not a door-to-door promise. Allow extra time for walking, waiting and queues. JR and Matsudai operate the crossing; check your chosen operator’s current timetable and ticket conditions.

Arrive on Miyajima before starting the mapped stops. Do not mistake Miyajimaguchi on the mainland for the island arrival port. If you have luggage, decide where to leave it before beginning the day.

Shrine first, then lunch

Make Itsukushima Shrine your main visit and check its current admission and opening information before travelling. Our suggested hour is an editorial planning allowance. Tide conditions change the view; this itinerary does not promise the appearance of a floating gate at a particular time.

Leave an unbooked lunch break after the shrine. Check the location of your restaurant carefully: an accommodation or restaurant with Miyajima in its name may be on the mainland. No specific meal venue is included in this adapted route.

A flexible park finish

Continue to Momijidani Park if weather and energy allow. Hiroshima’s official tourism guide places it about a 10-minute walk from the shrine. Treat our suggested 45 minutes as a short park visit, not a Mount Misen hike. Seasonal colour and illumination events are not guaranteed. Check any dated event separately rather than relying on an old seasonal itinerary.

Rain and the journey back

In heavy rain, shorten or omit the park walk. This is an outdoor route, not an all-weather indoor itinerary. For a shorter indoor visit, consider the separately ticketed Treasure Hall; the practical card above gives its current hours and price. Check the return ferry before choosing a meal time, and leave a buffer rather than planning around the final departure.

For a longer trip, use the 14-day Japan framework and decide which full sightseeing day can accommodate Hiroshima and Miyajima.

Compare the more focused route: Hiroshima in one day: Shukkeien, castle grounds and peace museum.

Compare the more focused route: Onomichi in one day: Senko-ji, hillside art and Jodo-ji.

Compare the more focused route: Hiroshima and Miyajima in two days: island shrine and city memorials.

Sources & further reading

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