Miyajima FAQ: Tides, Food, Transport, and Everything Else
After years of sending travelers to Miyajima, these are the questions I hear most often.
Getting There
Q: How do I get to Miyajima from Hiroshima?
Three options. (1) JR Train to Miyajimaguchi station (25 min from Hiroshima, covered by Japan Rail Pass) + JR ferry (10 min, also covered by Rail Pass). Total: 35-40 minutes, essentially free with a JR Pass. (2) Direct ferry from Hiroshima Peace Park pier (55 min, 2,200 JPY one-way). Scenic but pricier. (3) From Hiroshima Airport (HIJ), 1.5 hours by bus + ferry.
A:
Q: Should I do Miyajima as a day trip or stay overnight?
A: Day trip works for most visitors — 6-8 hours covers the shrine, torii gate, Omotesando Street, and either Mount Misen or Daisho-in Temple. But staying overnight lets you see the island after the day-trippers leave (by 5 PM it's quiet) and the illuminated torii gate at night. Iwaso Ryokan has hosted guests since 1854 (from 25,000 JPY/night). Simpler guesthouses start at 8,000 JPY.
Tides
Q: When should I time my visit for the floating torii?
A: Check tide charts at miyajima.or.jp. High tide: the gate appears to float — the iconic photo. Low tide: you can walk across the sand to the gate's base and see its massive pillars up close. Both are worth seeing. Ideally, plan a visit long enough to catch both — tides change roughly every 6 hours.
Q: Does the shrine flood at high tide?
A: Very high tides can bring water under the shrine's corridor floors, which is actually spectacular — you're walking over water. This is most common during spring tides. The shrine was designed for this; it's not damage.
Things to Do
Q: Is Mount Misen worth the effort?
A: Yes. The ropeway (2,000 JPY round trip) gets you most of the way. From the upper station, it's a 30-minute hike to the summit at 535m. The panoramic views of the Inland Sea are the best on the island. The Reikado Hall at the summit has a flame said to have burned for 1,200 years. Bring water — no shops at the top.
Q: Can I skip Daisho-in Temple?
A: Don't. It's free, it's beautiful, and the 500 stone Buddhas in hand-knitted caps are one of the most quietly moving sights on the island. Most visitors skip it because Itsukushima Shrine gets all the attention. Their loss. Allow 45 minutes.
Q: What about the deer?
A: Roughly 500 wild sika deer roam freely. They will eat paper maps, tickets, pamphlets, and anything from your bag. Don't feed them — it causes digestive problems and is discouraged. Keep bags closed and food sealed. They're photogenic from a distance; pushy up close.
Food
Q: What's momiji manju?
A: Miyajima's signature sweet — small maple-leaf-shaped cakes filled with red bean, custard, chocolate, or cheese. Fresh from shops on Omotesando Street for 100-200 JPY each. Iwamura Momijiya has been making them since 1912. For the best version, try age-momiji (deep-fried) from select stalls — crispy outside, molten inside. 200 JPY. Life-changing.
Q: Best food on the island?
A: Grilled oysters from street stalls (200-300 JPY each, Miyajima oysters are excellent). Anago (conger eel) on rice at Ueno restaurant (anago-don from 1,800 JPY — the island's most famous proper meal). And of course, momiji manju from every direction.
Practical
Q: How long do I need?
A: Minimum 4 hours for the shrine, torii gate, and Omotesando Street. Full day (6-8 hours) to add Mount Misen or Daisho-in Temple. Overnight for the complete experience.
Q: When's the best time to visit?
A: March-May for cherry blossoms. Mid-to-late November for Momijidani Park's 700 maple trees in autumn color — one of Japan's premier koyo spots. Weekday mornings year-round for fewer crowds.
Q: Is it wheelchair accessible?
A: Partially. The shrine corridors are flat. Omotesando Street is paved. But Mount Misen and Daisho-in Temple involve steps. The ferry terminal and main tourist areas are accessible.
Quick Reference
Need
Answer
JR Ferry
10 min, free with Rail Pass
Shrine entry
300 JPY
Ropeway (Mount Misen)
2,000 JPY round trip
Momiji manju
100-200 JPY each
Oyster (grilled)
200-300 JPY
Best photo time
High tide + golden hour
Crowd-free window
Before 9 AM
For the full day-trip experience, read our Miyajima journal. For the spiritual depth of the island, see our sacred Miyajima guide. Pair with a visit to Hiroshima — the two are inseparable.
