Miyajima — officially Itsukushima — is the forested island in Hiroshima Bay where the vermilion halls of Itsukushima Shrine stand on stilts over the tide and a great torii gate rises from the sea. Shrine and gate are a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most famous views in Japan.
It is also Iwakuni’s nearest neighbour on the tourist map. The ferry port, Miyajimaguchi, is on the same JR line, about twenty minutes from Iwakuni Station and twenty-five from Hiroshima. That makes “Miyajima in the morning, Kintaikyo in the afternoon” one of the most satisfying days in the region.
Top things to do: Miyajima (Itsukushima)
Visit Itsukushima Shrine and the torii
Walk the shrine’s boardwalks and look out to the gate. At high tide both appear to float; at low tide you can walk across the sand to the foot of the torii. Check a tide table to choose your moment.
Go up Mount Misen
A ropeway and hiking trails lead to the island’s summit, with wide views over the Inland Sea. Allow two to three hours.
Graze along the shopping street
Grilled oysters and maple-leaf-shaped momiji manju cakes are the island’s snacks. The tame deer are everywhere — keep paper and food out of reach.
Combine it with Iwakuni
Take an early ferry, see the shrine before the crowds, lunch on the island and catch a westbound train from Miyajimaguchi to Iwakuni. Or let a guided day trip do the planning.
How to get there
- From Iwakuni: JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi, about 20–25 minutes; the ferry piers are a few minutes’ walk from the station.
- Ferry: about ten minutes, with frequent sailings by two operators; the JR ferry accepts the Japan Rail Pass. A small visitor tax is added to the fare.
- From Hiroshima: about 25–30 minutes by JR to Miyajimaguchi, or longer by tram.
Insider tips
- Miyajima is far busier than Iwakuni. Go there first, early, and enjoy Iwakuni’s calm afterwards.
- The torii is lit at night; staying on the island lets you see it without the day crowds.
- Leave luggage in coin lockers at Miyajimaguchi or the island terminal.
Best tours & tickets: Miyajima (Itsukushima)
These experiences are the easiest way to see Miyajima (Itsukushima) and the rest of Iwakuni:
Small-group day trip from €168 1-Day Miyajima & Iwakuni Tour: Iconic Japanese Landscapes
A full day linking two of western Japan’s most recognisable views: the torii gate of Miyajima rising from the sea and the five-arched Kintaikyo Bridge. The group is small, the guide travels with you all day, and the order of the visits is planned around tides and transport.
- Itsukushima Shrine and the great torii
- Kintaikyo Bridge and the castle town
- Small group with a guide throughout
Day trip from €141 From Hiroshima: Iwakuni & Miyajima Highlights Day Trip
Iwakuni and Miyajima sit on the same railway line west of Hiroshima, which makes them a natural pair. This guided day covers both: the five arches of Kintaikyo first, then the ferry to Miyajima for Itsukushima Shrine and its great torii gate. A very new listing with only a handful of reviews so far.
- Kintaikyo Bridge in the morning
- Miyajima and the floating torii in the afternoon
- A guide to handle trains, ferry and timing
Guided day tour from €107 Hiroshima: Hiroshima and Miyajima UNESCO Sites 1-Day Tour
The best-reviewed way to see both of Hiroshima’s World Heritage sites in a day, with a guide for the Peace Memorial Park and museum in the morning and Miyajima in the afternoon. It does not go to Iwakuni — but it frees up another day to visit Kintaikyo on your own, about fifty minutes down the line.
- Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome
- Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine
- More than four thousand reviews
Half-day tour from €61 Hiroshima: Miyajima Island Half-Day Tour with Guide
Four guided hours on Miyajima. The appeal for Iwakuni visitors is the timing: do this in the morning, then take the train from Miyajimaguchi to Iwakuni — a little over twenty minutes — and you can be on Kintaikyo by mid-afternoon.
- Itsukushima Shrine and the great torii
- The island’s deer and shopping street
- Leaves half the day free for Iwakuni
Private tour from €70 Miyajima Private Tour: A Journey to the Floating Torii
A three-hour private walk that begins on the island, so it fits around your own trains and ferries. The guide covers the shrine, the torii and the lanes behind the main street. Easy to combine with an afternoon in Iwakuni.
- A private guide on the island
- Itsukushima Shrine and quieter back lanes
- Starts on Miyajima itself
