Last Updated on 1st April 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
Wild deer, a breathtaking Torii gate that look as if its floating on the water, and one of the most breathtaking mountain hikes in Japan: there’s no shortage of things to do in Miyajima to impress even the most discerning of travellers. Easy to visit over the course of a day, here’s your guide to the best things to do on Miyajima Island.
Miyajima is one of the three top scenic spots in Japan (I’m not making that up, it’s even a UNESCO World Heritage Site!) and is a must-see on any trip to the country. This island has been inhabited for 1500 years and truly was a highlight of our trip.
The entire island is scattered with Shinto and Buddhist shrines, many which lie in the foothills of Mount Misen, the highest point of the island. Deer are almost everywhere you look and it truly is the destination in Japan that I would most like to return to.
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Miyajima or Itsukushima?
Please note that Miyajima is actually a nickname for the island. It means Shrine Island and upon visiting the island, you’ll soon realise how it got its name.
The official name for the island is Itsukushima, though almost everyone will know what you’re talking about if you say Miyajima. In this article, for the purpose of clarity, I’ll be referring to the little island just off Hiroshima as Miyajima Island, or Miyajima for short.
Is Miyajima worth visiting?
Yes, I would say that Miyajima Island is definitely worth visiting, and is even worth going out of your way to visit. We only had two weeks in Japan and spending a day devoted to exploring Miyajima Island was one of our top experiences in the country. If it’s your first time visiting Japan, be sure to check out our top Japan travel tips.
Best time to visit Miyajima
You can visit Miyajima year ’round. However, Japan is a country which has four clearly defined seasons, meaning that the best times to visit Miyajima are in the spring and fall.
In the spring, you can enjoy the cherry blossom (the ones around the Pagoda are particularly breathtaking) and in the fall you can enjoy the autumn leaves.
March until May and September to November generally offer the best weather and temperatures for enjoying hikes on the island.
These are the busiest times to visit Miyajima so don’t be surprised if you see a lot of people around the port area. However, much like Fushimi Inari-taisha, if you go further up the mountain, you’ll find that there are much fewer people about.
Cherry blossoms on Miyajima Island
Though there are not as many cherry blossom trees (sakura) on the island as some other places in Japan, there are a few notable places where you can enjoy the blooming flowers.
This includes next to the five-storey Pagoda, along the river between the Ropeway track and Itsukushima Shrine, and at the very top of Mount Minsen (there is a single blooming cherry blossom tree that can be seen from the mount Minsen Observatory).
Can you do Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day?
Some articles will say ‘yes, you can do Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day,’ but I would say that this is not possible. If you want to truly discover all that Miyajima Island has to offer and dedicate a good amount of time to learning about the history of Hiroshima, you can’t do both destinations in one day.
This is because, for a lot of the time you’ll be visiting Miyajima, if you want to enter the shrines and climb Mount Minsen, you’ll spend a lot of time queuing, which will in turn eat away at your precious time.
If you are visiting as a day trip from somewhere else (we visited as a day trip from Osaka), then you’ll also have to factor in the hour and a half or so train journey in each direction to reach Hiroshima in the first place.
The best course of action would be to book an overnight stay in Hiroshima. This way, you can dedicate an entire day to visiting Hiroshima, including seeing the A-Bomb Dome and Peace Park (essential and chilling viewing).
You’ll also want enough time to sample the savoury dish that Hiroshisma is famous for: okonomiyaki, a kind of savoury pancake. The dish is pretty customisable, making it a great option for vegetarians!
The next day, spend a whole day on Miyajima Island, enjoying the island’s attractions at a leisurely pace. If you do want to go ahead and see Miyajima and Hiroshima in a day, consider booking a guided tour like this one.
Things to do on Miyajima Island
If you want to do everything on the island over the course of a day, then you’ll want to travel at quite a fast pace. We brought a packed lunch as we knew we wouldn’t have time to stop during our itinerary.
There are a few foodie specialities of the island that you make want to make time to try, and these are oysters and maple leaf cakes, which are known locally as Manju! The cakes come in all kinds of flavours including cream cheese and vanilla, but the original flavour is bean paste.
O-Torii Gate (Grand Torii Gate)
One of the most impressive sites in Japan is the Grand Torii gate which rises out of the water and stands at an impressive 16.8 metres in height. Part of Itsukushima Shinto shrine, Torii Gates symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred at the entrance to a shrine.
Depending on the tide times (it’s a good idea to spend a full day on the island so that you can see the gate at high and low tide) it can appear as if the gate is rising out of the sea.
At low tide, it’s possible to walk underneath the gate. Just be warned that the tide comes in fast and so be mindful of the water if you do visit the beach.
High tide is a favourite of many thanks to the fact that the Vermillion gate rises out of the sea and appears to be floating. The best time to visit the gate is around sunset when golden light bathes the area in a beautiful glow.
Itsukushima Shrine
You’ll already have seen the most iconic part of the shrine when taking a ferry to reach Miyajima thanks to the giant O-Torii gate buried deep into the sand. The Shrine is actually constructed on stilts and sits above the water of the sea.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the complex comprises of two main halls and 17 other buildings, as well as the iconic O-Torii gate. The shrine is dedicated to the three female deities known as sanjoshin.
Daigan-Ji Temple
Close to the Itsukushima Shrine, the Daigan-Ji Temple is a Buddhist Temple dates back to the 1200s and is best-known for its intricate wooden carvings. The Temple is dedicated to Benzaiten, the Goddess of eloquence.
Daisho-In Temple
One of the most iconic Buddhist Temples on Miyajima Island is the Daisho-In Temple, which was foudned by famous Japanese Buddhist Monk Kobo Daishi at the beginning of the 9th-century.
One of the most iconic parts of the temple is the hundreds of Buddha statues leading up the main hall. In total, it’s beleived that there are over 500 Buddha statues in the grounds of Daisho-In.
Five-Storey Pagoda
One of the most beautiful buildings on Miyajima is a stunning five-storey pagoda, which stands at 29 metres in height and is right next to the Daisho-In Temple. The Pagoda was constructed in 1407 and combines Japanese and Chinese building styles.
Unfortunately, you can’t enter the Pagoda. It’s still worth checking out from up close, especially during cherry blossom (sakura) season when you can capture the Pagoda and cherry blossom all in one photo.
Take the Miyajima Ropeway up to Mount Shinsen
It’s worth noting that the Ropeway actually comprises of a gondola type lift followed by a larger aerial tramway. All visitors on the route must take both lifts to reach the top. Halfway up, you stop at the Kayadani Station, though you can’t get off here.
Taking the ropeway was one of the most expensive things we did in Japan in terms of attractions and cost 2000 yen each (for a return ticket).
You can only pay in cash at the ropeway ticket office and so be sure to have plenty of cash on you (you’ll always want to have a steady supply of yen on you anyway because Japan is such a cash-based society).
Another option is to hike up the mountain. The most popular route is the Momijidani Course, which takes around two hours. However, if you only have a short time on the island, I would recommend simply taking the Ropeway.
Hike at Mount Shinsen
The summit of Mount Shinsen is 535 metres above sea level and is well worth hiking up to, especially if it’s a clear day. They say to give yourself around an hour to hike to the top and back.
However, we were in a rush to catch the last cable car back down the mountain and so did it in 40 minutes (I don’t recommend doing this as you’ll want the extra time to stop off and take loads of pretty photos!) Do make sure that you catch the last cablecar down the mountain though!
From the top of the mountain, or even just the top of the cable car route if you don’t go on the hike, you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views of the Setouchi Inland Sea. If you go on the hike, there are a number of important shrines on the way up to the summit.
This includes seeing the “Kiezu-no-hi,” i.e. the eternal flame which has been burning constantly for well over 1200 years. The flame was lit by Kobo Daishi, a Japanese monk who founded the the Shingon school of Buddhism in Japan, as well as the Daishoin Temple on Miyajima in 806.
The flame burns within the Reikado, which is the Spiritual Hall of flame and its fire was actually used to light the Hiroshima Peace Flame. You’ll be able to see the eternal flame around 3/4 of the way up to the top of Mount Shinsen if you’re hiking from the Ropeway exit.
Momijidani Park
If you happen to visit Miyajima Island in the fall, then you simply must take the time to visit Momijidani Park, which is often said to be one of the most beautiful Maple Valleys in Japan. Situated at the base of Mount Misen, this area truly comes to life during the autumn when fall turns the leaves oranges and reds.
Miyajima History Folk Museum
Those who enjoy visiting museums should be sure not to miss the History Folk Museum which showcases exhibitions about the history of the island and its surroundings. In some areas you’ll be expected to take off your shoes so come prepared and make sure that you’re wearing socks!
See the wild deer
Much like in the city of Nara, wild deer are allowed to roam around the island. In the Shinto religion, deer are considered sacred and to be messengers of the gods and there are over 1000 deer on Miyajima island.
Therefore, they’re allowed to stroll around at their own leisure, though many prefer to stick close to the town (i.e. where the tourists with food are).
Be sure not to feed the deer anything other than the permitted rice crackers and note that these are wild animals- not pets. It is especially important not to leave any litter lying around. Though trash cans are somewhat of a rarity in Japan, just carry your rubbish around with you until you get back to your hotel!
Machiya Street and Omotesando street
If you do want to check out some local shops, then you can head to Machiya Street and Omotesando street, which is just a short walk away from the port. These streets is filled with all kinds of shops selling traditional snacks, as well as some souvenir shops (including, like in Nara, deer themed souvenirs).
One of the greatest curiosities is to be found on Omotesando street, which holds the rather unique title of being home to the O-shakushi, the world’s biggest rice spoon.
How to get to Miyajima Island
It’s surprisingly easy to reach Miyajima Island from the mainland, especially if you have a Japan Rail pass. If you’re visiting from another city in Japan that’s not Hiroshima, then you’ll need to take the Shinkansen to Hiroshima station. If you have extra time, you can even get the Hello Kitty Shinkansen.
From there, you’ll want to hope on a JR train (the San-yo line) to reach Miyajimaguchi station. Stations are often clearly announced in English and you’ll sometimes be told when to disembark the train to get the JR ferry. Keep an eye out too, in case they don’t announce the station for some reason!
It’s then a ten minute walk to reach the ferry terminal, all of which is clearly signposted. There are pretty regular ferries to reach the island and so you won’t have to wait long before being able to board one.
Just be sure to follow the signs for those using the JR Pass and get on a JR ferry. Your pass will be checked upon arrival at the island, and again when leaving the island. The journey between the mainland and the island is just ten to fifteen minutes, but have your camera at the ready to photograph the O-Torii gate!
Staying on Miyajima Island
If you get the chance to, I really recommend staying overnight on Miyajima Island so as to experience the true serenity of the island without the day trippers. There are a number of accommodation options, almost all which can easily be reached on foot from the port.
Auberge Watanabe: Those who are looking to experience a traditional Japanese hotel should consider this three-star hotel, which lies close to Itsusuhima Shrine. Amenities include a Japanese Style Room with private bath & toilet. Check details here.
Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto: Situated just a stone’s throw away from the water, this four-star hotel provides luxuries such as a concierge, air-conditioning, and a hot tub. Check prices and availability here.
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