Miyajima Island (Itsukushima) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Miyajima Island. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Peaceful Hiroshima & Miyajima UNESCO 1-Day Bus Tour

• Hiroshima/Miyajima Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

• Full-Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Bus Tour From Hiroshima

• Miyajima Half-Day Trip Historical Walking Tour

• Miyajima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

You’ll need to pay a ¥100 visitor tax to visit Miyajima Island, but this is typically built into the cost of your ferry ticket from the mainland. If you’re traveling in Japan on a rail pass, you’ll need to pay for this visitor tax separately at the ferry terminal, because you won’t have to buy a separate ferry ticket. Traveling by train and ferry to Miyajima from Hiroshima typically costs around ¥440–620 one way, while direct boats from Hiroshima cost around ¥2,200, one way. Individual attractions on Miyajima, such as the ropeway, have their own fees.

Yes, Miyajima Island is definitely worth visiting while you're staying in or around Hiroshima. The sight of the red temple gates "floating" in the sea at high tide is an iconic Japanese image, but there's more on the island to experience than just the Itsukushima Temple. Ride the ropeway to the observatory at the top of the island for great views across the Seto Inland Sea. Guided tours from Hiroshima make it easy to visit without worrying about organizing train and ferry transfers.

Per one customer who booked the Peaceful Hiroshima & Miyajima UNESCO 1-Day Bus Tour, "We had such a lovely full-day experience including lunch, as our tour guide Rino was so cheerful and informative. Our morning tour of Hiroshima was emotional and our afternoon trip to Miyajima was perfect to lift our spirits. Such a beautiful landscape and great memory of Japan. Thank you, Rino."

Miyajima Island is easy to reach from Hiroshima. Either take the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi Station, which the Japan Rail Pass covers or take the number 2 tram bound for Miyajimaguchi Station, which the JR Pass doesn’t cover. Then, hop on a ferry straight to Miyajima.

There is more to do on Miyajima Island than you'd think. Take pictures of the floating torii gate, wander the streets tasting grilled oysters and wasabi soft serve, or take a hike or the ropeway to the top of Mt. Misen. See the Itsukushima Shrine, Daisho-in Temple, Senjokaku, and more.

In addition to tourists walking the streets of Miyajima Island, you also have sika deer. Residents consider them sacred and are free to roam where they like. They are not to be fed, but be careful, as they’ve been known to come up and eat a JR pass or two.

Yes, you can hike on Miyajima Island. Head to the summit of Mt. Misen for exercise. There are three different routes of varying difficulty. Whichever you choose, wear good walking shoes and plan on a few hours each way. The reward is an awesome view of the Seto Inland Sea.

There are many things to do other than visiting Miyajima Island. Travelers to Hiroshima recommend the following places:

• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

• Itsukushima Shrine (Itsukushima Jinja)

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Hiroshima.