Home TravelTopicsAnimals Japan: Miyajima Island & Hiroshima, a recommended and wonderful combo

Japan: Miyajima Island & Hiroshima, a recommended and wonderful combo

by Elisa Flitter Fever
Published: Updated: 2 comments 4.9K views
This content is available in:

Hiroshima and Miyajima both made a big impression on me, for completely different reasons. Actually I think their contrasts make a great combo. And located so close to each other! If you get the chance, I would definitely recommend to visit both. Hiroshima with its history, Miyajima Island with its deer, famous floating Torii and nature.

Deer on Miyajima Island
Deer on Miyajima Island
Me at the great floating Torii Miyajima
Me at the great floating Torii

Miyajima

Miyajima is Japanese for “Shrine Island”. It is the popular name for an island that is officially called Itsukushima. The great Torii attracts tourists on a daily basis. With its location approximately 200 meters from the shore, depending on the tide, the torii looks either to be floating on the sea (high tide) or on the beach (low tide).

A great time to take photos of the great Torri is at sunset, with the great the golden sky on the background.

The great Torii was constructed in 1168, made out of different types of wood. It is approximately 16.6 meters high. The vermilion color of the shrine keeps evil spirits away, according to Shinto belief. If the tide is low, you can walk up to it and touch it.

Nope it is not a kangaroo, it's a deer on Miyajima Island
Nope it is not a kangaroo, it’s a deer on Miyajima Island
Statue at Miyajima Island
Statue at Miyajima Island

The great Torii is part of a shrine complex called Itsukushima Shrine. It is listed as National Treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The complex has a high stage, open stage, purification hall and is surrounded by three round ponds. On good days traditional dances are performed at the stages.

To visit the Itsukushima Shrine complex, walk 5-10 min further along the shore from the point where most people take photos of the great Torii in the water (coming from the ferry).

Along the walking path between the ferry and great Torii
Along the walking path between the ferry and great Torii

Omotesando

Miyajima ferry terminal is a pretty nice area to walk around. The gravel path along the water easily leads to the great Torii (app. 10 min walk from the ferry). The main surrounding streets like Omotesando are a bit touristy. You can buy snacks, drinks, lunch, ice cream, souvenirs, etc.

Take away food at Miyajimachō
Take away food at Miyajimachō
Shopping street at Miyajima Island
Shopping street at Miyajima Island

Nature

There are several walking trails on Miyajima Island that are worth exploring, should you have the time. Be prepared for a tough climb if you wish to reach the top of Mount Misen (535m), make use of the Miyajima Ropeway. At the end of the day, enjoy a warm onsen bath.    

The deer on Miyajima are wild. Please do not throw trash on the ground and do not feed the deer.

Japanese school kids at Taira No Kiyomori statue, the benefactor of the Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (12th Century)
Japanese school kids at Taira No Kiyomori statue
So who wants some deer poop ice cream
So who wants some deer poop ice cream

More to see

If you have more than just one (half) day on Miyajima (you can easily spend a week here), consider visiting the following places on the island too:

  • Mount Misen
  • Toyokuni Shrine & Goju-No-To (five-storied pagoda)
  • Shishiiwa Tenbodai (view)
  • Momijidani Park (especially in autumn)
  • Daishoin Temple
  • Omoto Park
  • Asebi Walking Path
  • Komaga Forest
  • Treasure Hall
  • Miyajima Traditional Crafts Center
  • Miyajima Aquarium

How to get to Miyajima

Miyajima can easily be reached by public transport from Hiroshima.

  • From Hiroshima (1h): from Hiroshima Station take the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi Station (28 min) and then the ferry. Or take the tram via Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
  • From Miyajimaguchi Station: follow the signs to the ferry terminal (5-10 min walk). The ferry is run by JR West and covered under the JR Pass. Between 8-18h the ferry goes 4x a day and ride itself takes app. 10-15 min. See the ferry’s timetable here.
  • From Kyoto (3h), Osaka (3h), Kobe (2.5h) and Fukuoka (2h) via Hiroshima, see below.
Miyajima Island seen from ferry
Miyajima Island seen from the ferry
Tourists coming off the Miyajima ferry
Tourists coming off the Miyajima ferry

Where to stay at Miyajima

If you decide to stay longer than just a few hours or a day at Miyajima Island, try to get a room at a traditional Japanese Inn (ryokan). I am pretty sure you will really enjoy staying at one of these ryokans with onsen:

Contrast of A-Bomb Dome behind blossom, seen from across the Motoyasu River
Contrast of A-Bomb Dome behind blossom, seen from across the Motoyasu River

Hiroshima

The A-Bomb Dome and Peace Park are a must visits for everyone traveling to Japan. The destruction such bomb can cause, I had a hard time to get my head around it. The impact this historic event must have had on the lives of the people of Hiroshima in WW2.

On August 6, 1945 the United States detonated a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, killing 90.000 to 146.000 people of the acute effects.

Flowers are a colorful contrast with the A-Bomb Dome
Flowers form a colorful contrast with the A-Bomb Dome
A-Bomb Dome Hiroshima information board in multiple languages
A-Bomb Dome information board in multiple languages

The parkā€™s main facility is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which consists of two buildings (admission Ā„200). Unfortunately I could not visit this World War 2 Museum as it was closed for renovation during my time of visit, but it should be open again by now.

The Museum shows many photos and objects showing the destruction. The A-Bomb Dome tells the sad story on its own.

Between the Museum and the A-Bomb Dome is the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims, an arched tomb to remember the bombā€™s victims, and the Children’s Peace Monument. In addition, the Pond of Peace, Peace Flame, Monument of the Soldier and the Peace Boulevard (Heiwa Odori) are also nearby.

The A-Bomb Dome seen from the Aioi Bridge in Hiroshima
The A-Bomb Dome seen from the Aioi Bridge in Hiroshima
Wisteria near the Peace Park
Wisteria near the Peace Park brings some happiness

To visit the A-Bomb Dome, Peace Park, etc. take the Dentetsu tram line 2 or 6 tram line 2 or 6 outside Hiroshima Station, get off at Genbaku Dome-Mae (10 stops, 15 min, Ā„180). Once you get off the tram, you will see the A-Bomb Dome immediately. Reality check!

Walk around and see for yourself. If you want, it is possible to take a boat ride on the river. I was lucky to see also some pink blossom and purple wisteria at the other side of the river. A strange contrast with the concrete and steel of the A-Bomb Dome.

A-Bomb Dome up close Hiroshima
A-Bomb Dome up close
Gorgeous pink blossom in Hiroshima
Gorgeous pink blossom in Hiroshima

How to get to Hiroshima

Traveling by train through Japan and wondering how to get to Hiroshima?

  • Kyoto (1h 45min): take the Tokaido-Sanyo shinkansen Hikari (direction Hakata, 6 stops).
  • Osaka (1.5h): from Shin-Osaka Station, take the Tokaido-Sanyo shinkansen Hikari (direction Hakata, 5 stops).
  • Kobe (75 min): from Shin-Kobe Station, take the Tokaido-Sanyo shinkansen Hikari (direction Hakata, 4 stops).
  • Fukuoka (1h): from Hakata Station, take the Tokaido-Sanyo shinkansen Sakura (direction Shin-Osaka, 3 stops).

Hiroshima also has an airport (HIJ), the largest airport in the Chūgoku region. Other airports most people will use are: Fukuoka (FUK), Kobe (UKB) and Osaka (ITM). Tokyo airports are 4.5 (HND) to 5.5 (NRT) hours by train to Hiroshima Station or 1.5 hours flight time.

Welcome to Hiroshima
Welcome to Hiroshima
Trams in Hiroshima
Trams in Hiroshima

Where to stay at Hiroshima

Hiroshima seems to be mainly aimed at business travelers. I would recommend to stay at one of the following comfortable hotels:

Japanese hotels are very strict with regards to check-in times. As a consequence you should not expect to be able to check-in earlier.

Hotel Granvia Hiroshima lobby
Hotel Granvia Hiroshima lobby
View on Hiroshima from Hotel Granvia
View on Hiroshima from Hotel Granvia

Miyajima & Hiroshima as day trip or longer?

It is possible to combine Hiroshima and Miyajima Island in one day, although this will be rushed. For day tours see below. If possible within your schedule, I would suggest to spend the night in either one of them, preferably in Miyajima (if not fully booked), and spend at least one full day each.

Should all nice ryokans on Miyajima Island (mentioned above) be fully booked, staying at Hiroshima is fine too. Also if you have plans to travel further north or south early next morning. There are a number of centrally located classy hotels (see above).

Peace Park statue Hiroshima
Peace Park
Pond of Peace Hiroshima
Pond of Peace

In which order?

Sometimes I get the question what the best order is to visit Hiroshima and Miyajima? This tough to answer as it depends on several factors.

  • Photography wise, it would be smart to visit A-Bomb Dome in Hiroshima in the afternoon, when the sun will be shining from behind your back when facing the A-Bomb Dome across the street. I visited in the morning; it was quite a challenge to make good photos as the sun was coming from a difficult angle. On the other hand, in the morning it was pretty quiet around the A-Bomb Dome and Peace Park, so in that perspective it was great. After visiting Hiroshima, it is also nice to go to Miyajima with it’s lighter atmosphere.
  • For Miyajima, it depends for example on how you wish to see the great Torii and how long you are staying. I was there early afternoon, when the tide is high and the Torii seems to be floating. However, it is also beautiful to see the Torii around sunset. Ideally, you have multiple days on Miyajima and can experience the islandā€™s magic during different times of the day.
Uniformed Japanese school girls cycling over a bridge across the Motoyasu River in Hiroshima
Uniformed Japanese school girls cycling over a bridge across the Motoyasu River
Wonderful green trees and flower bushes in Hiroshima Peace Park
Wonderful green trees and flower bushes in Hiroshima Peace Park

Forgive me my bluntness, how harsh this may sound, the A-Bombs on Japan saved many lives too, including my grandmother’s, who were released from Japanese prison camp in Batavia, Dutch East Dutch Indies (nowadays Indonesia) soon after. Paradoxically, I would probably never have been born without these A-Bombs.

Tours

If you do not want the hassle of public transport and/or prefer to hear the stories of an expert guide, consider one of these group tours:

Childrens Peace Monument
Childrens Peace Monument
Statue of children right across the A-Bomb Dome
Statue of children right across the A-Bomb Dome

Map Miyajima & Hiroshima

This map includes places and spots mentioned in this article (and more). This one is ‘smartphone friendly’; you can easily use it via the Google Maps app. Click the icon at the top left to open the menu and see the categories. To adapt the map to your own preferences and interests, (de)select a category. Via Google Drive you can copy the map to your own My Google Maps account.

Planning to visit Japan soon? Tip: via Japan Experience you can arrange all sorts of things in advance, such as Sim card or Pocket-Wifi, Pasmo or Suica cards and/or JR Pass.

I hope you find this article useful. Have you ever been to Miyajima Island and/or Hiroshima? Do you have plans to visit Japan? Please share your story and/or question in a comment below.

Oh deer I got photobombed at Miyajima Island
Oh deer I got photobombed at Miyajima Island

Read more about Japan

Going to Japan? I wrote many other, detailed articles about it full of tips! Check all my Japan articles in the Japan Blog Archives.

  1. Sumo wrestling in Japan: complete guide to an impressive cultural experience
  2. Special experience: meeting a geisha or maiko in Japan
  3. Kyoto: donā€™t miss these fun temples near Arashiyama bamboo forest
  4. Japan: fantastic places beyond the Golden Triangle Tokyo – Kyoto – Osaka
  5. Japan: Miyajima Island & Hiroshima, a recommended and wonderful combo
  6. Riding my bicycle around Mount Fuji, Chureito Pagoda and Lake Kawaguchiko
  7. Onsen in Japan: relax in a traditional hot spring ryokan
  8. Cherry blossom hunting in Japan: Matsumoto Castle and Joya Park
  9. Robot hotel in Japan, the coolest and weirdest hotel experience ever!
  10. 15x Experience Japanese culture in Japan
  11. Walk the amazing Nakasendo Trail from Magome to Tsumago
  12. Japan: what you need to know about the JR Train Pass
  13. Tokyo: 25 fun things to do in a mind-blowing metropolitan
  14. Tokyo’s Fun Food Fairytales at themed restaurants and cafes
  15. Visiting the unique Jigokudani Yaen-koen Snow Monkey Park in Japan

This article contains affiliate links to support this website. It does not cost you anything extra if you buy something after clicking on one of those links. Partner websites that I am affiliated with, reward me with a small commission for making useful connections between buyers and their service or product. This helps to cover the costs for this website. Consider it as a compliment for my work. For more information click here.

Last Updated on 10/14/2024 by Elisa Flitter Fever

You may also like

2 comments

Japan: fantastic places beyond ā€˜the Golden Triangleā€™ Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka 04/14/2019 - 22:17

[…] For further details including how to get there, accommodation, day tour, more photos and info see my earlier blog Japan: Miyajima Island & Hiroshima, a great combo. […]

View Comment
Reply
kashika 10/06/2021 - 06:25

Your are doing a commendable work. keep it up

View Comment
Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

error: Content is protected !!