Miyajima, Hiroshima · Things to do
Things to Do in Miyajima: 11 Places with Hours, Tides and Prices
11 things to do · checked October 22, 2026
11 things to do on Miyajima, from the pier outward
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 22, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1JR ferry, Great Torii routeJR宮島フェリー 大鳥居便
Ferry crossing · Miyajimaguchi
Some JR Miyajima Ferry sailings from Miyajimaguchi take the route that passes closest to the Great Torii from the sea. They take the same time as the regular ferry, about 10 minutes.
- Access
- Miyajimaguchi Pier. The Japan Rail Pass, the JR-WEST Rail Pass and IC cards are accepted.
- Hours
- Great Torii sailings leave Miyajimaguchi between 9:10 and 16:10
2Omotesando Shopping Street宮島表参道商店街
Shopping street · Pier to shrine
A shopping street about 350 m long leading to Itsukushima Shrine, with folk crafts, souvenirs, oyster and conger-eel dishes and momiji manju baked on the spot. It is crowded on holidays and long weekends.
- Access
- About 5 minutes on foot from Miyajima Pier.
3Itsukushima Shrine厳島神社
Shinto shrine (World Heritage) · Shrine area
A shrine built over the sea, given its present form by Taira no Kiyomori in the 12th century and registered as a World Heritage Site in 1996. At high tide the buildings look as if they float. The one-way route runs from the entrance along the East Corridor, past the main shrine and the deck, to the West Corridor, Noh stage and arched bridge.
- Access
- About 15 minutes on foot from Miyajima Pier. The shrine has no parking.
- Hours
- 1 March–14 October 6:30–18:00; 15 October–30 November 6:30–17:30; December 6:30–17:00; 4 January–end of February 6:30–17:30 (1–3 January longer)
- Closed on
- Open year-round
- Price
- Adults ¥300; high school ¥200; elementary and junior high ¥100. Combined ticket with the Treasure Hall: adults ¥500, high school ¥300, elementary and junior high ¥150 (sold only at the shrine entrance)
4The Great Torii and the tide大鳥居
Shrine gate in the sea · Shrine area
The shrine's great gate stands offshore. At low tide you can walk out to it across the flats; at high tide it stands in the water. The Miyajima Tourist Association's tide page shows, for any date, the hours when you can walk to the torii and the hours when the shrine looks as if it floats.
Check the tide page for your date: walking hours and high-tide hours change every day.
- Access
- In front of Itsukushima Shrine, about 15 minutes on foot from Miyajima Pier. Check the tide page for your date before you go.
5Itsukushima Shrine Treasure Hall厳島神社宝物館
Museum · Shrine area
The shrine's own museum, holding some 3,500 items. A combined ticket with the shrine is sold only at the shrine entrance.
- Access
- Run by Itsukushima Shrine; buy the combined ticket at the shrine entrance first if you want both.
- Hours
- 8:00–17:00 all year
- Price
- Adults ¥300; high school ¥200; elementary and junior high ¥100 (combined ticket with the shrine: adults ¥500)
6Senjokaku (Hokoku Shrine) and the Five-storied Pagoda千畳閣（豊国神社）・五重塔
Historic hall and pagoda · Shrine area
Senjokaku, the "hall of 1,000 mats", is the largest structure on the island; Toyotomi Hideyoshi oversaw its building but died in 1598 before it was finished. The red five-storied pagoda beside it was first built in 1407.
- Access
- Near Itsukushima Shrine, which lists Senjokaku's hours and fee with its own.
- Hours
- Senjokaku 8:30–16:30 all year
- Price
- Senjokaku: adults ¥100; elementary and junior high ¥50
7Daisho-in大聖院
Buddhist temple · Foot of Mt. Misen
The head temple of the Omuro school of Shingon Buddhism, at the foot of Mt. Misen behind Itsukushima Shrine. Zen and esoteric meditation, sutra copying and rosary making are offered 9:00–14:00, from ¥1,000.
- Access
- About 30 minutes on foot from Miyajima Pier.
- Hours
- Gate open 8:00–17:00
8Momijidani Park紅葉谷公園
Park (autumn leaves) · Foot of Mt. Misen
A park at the base of Mt. Misen, designated a Natural Monument, known for red Japanese maples against evergreen forest in autumn. The Miyajima Ropeway starts from here.
- Access
- At the base of Mt. Misen; the ropeway's Momijidani Station is reached from the Momijidani Park entrance.
9Mt. Misen and the Miyajima Ropeway弥山・宮島ロープウエー
Mountain and ropeway · Mt. Misen
Mt. Misen stands in the centre of the island, with a wide view from the top; at its Reikado hall a sacred fire has burned for over 1,200 years. The ropeway rides about 15 minutes from Momijidani Park to near the summit, on two linked cable systems.
The ropeway's own site was under maintenance on 22 October 2026, so its hours and fares are not printed here.
- Access
- Momijidani Station, at the Momijidani Park entrance.
10Miyajima Public Aquarium (Miyaji Marine)宮島水族館（みやじマリン）
Aquarium · Miyajima
A Seto Inland Sea aquarium with more than 13,000 creatures of 350 species, finless porpoises first among them. Closed for repairs from 1 December 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Closed 1 December 2026–31 March 2027.
- Access
- About 25 minutes on foot from Miyajima Pier, or about 10 minutes by taxi.
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (reception closes 16:00)
- Closed on
- 1 December 2026–31 March 2027 (facility repairs)
- Price
- Adults ¥1,420; elementary and junior high ¥710; age 4 and up ¥400; under 4 free
11Miyajima History and Folklore Museum宮島歴史民俗資料館
Museum · Miyajima
A local history museum about Itsukushima Shrine and Taira no Kiyomori, with folk materials from the island. Free for elementary and junior high age.
- Access
- About 20 minutes on foot from Miyajima Pier; about 2 minutes on foot from the aquarium.
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- Closed on
- Mondays (the next day if Monday is a holiday); 26–31 December
- Price
- Adults ¥300; high school ¥170; 65 and over ¥150; elementary and junior high free
Good to know
The island is a 10-minute ferry ride from Miyajimaguchi, which is about 30 minutes from JR Hiroshima Station on the Sanyo Line. Two companies run the crossing, JR and Matsudai, and both charge the ¥100 Miyajima Visitor Tax on top of the fare when you cross to the island; preschool children are exempt. The Japan Rail Pass covers the JR ferry.
From Miyajima Pier, Omotesando is about 5 minutes on foot and Itsukushima Shrine about 15; the Treasure Hall and Senjokaku are run by the shrine and keep shorter hours. Daisho-in is about 30 minutes, the aquarium about 25, and the ropeway starts from Momijidani Park at the foot of Mt. Misen.
Plan around the tide. The Miyajima Tourist Association's tide page shows, for each date, when you can walk out to the Great Torii and when the shrine appears to float; on some days there is no walking window at all. Itsukushima Shrine closes at 17:30 from 15 October to 30 November and at 17:00 in December, and the aquarium is closed from 1 December 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Near the pier, at the foot of Mt. Misen, or the far side of the shrine
Walking time from Miyajima Pier, adult entry and when each place closes. Children's prices are on each card above.
| Where | From Miyajima Pier | Entry (adult) | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omotesando | About 5 min on foot | Free to walk | — |
| Itsukushima Shrine, Treasure Hall, Senjokaku | About 15 min on foot to the shrine | Shrine ¥300 · Treasure Hall ¥300 (both ¥500) · Senjokaku ¥100 | Shrine 17:30 (15 Oct–30 Nov), 18:00 (Mar–14 Oct) · Treasure Hall 17:00 · Senjokaku 16:30 |
| Daisho-in | About 30 min on foot | No gate fee listed; experiences from ¥1,000 | Gate 17:00 |
| Momijidani Park and the ropeway | Ropeway from the Momijidani Park entrance | Park not stated · ropeway fare not checked | Ropeway hours not checked |
| Aquarium and History and Folklore Museum | About 25 and 20 min on foot | Aquarium ¥1,420 · Museum ¥300 | Aquarium reception 16:00 · Museum last entry 16:30, closed Mondays |
By kind of trip
First visit, half a day
Omotesando, the shrine and the Great Torii are all within 15 minutes of the pier. Check the tide page first: the gate is reached on foot only in the walking window shown for that date.
Omotesando Shopping Street · Itsukushima Shrine · The Great Torii and the tide · Senjokaku (Hokoku Shrine) and the Five-storied Pagoda
Seeing the torii from the water
JR Great Torii sailings leave Miyajimaguchi between 9:10 and 16:10 and take the same 10 minutes as the regular ferry. At high tide the shrine and gate stand in the water.
JR ferry, Great Torii route · The Great Torii and the tide · Itsukushima Shrine
Temples, maples and the mountain
Daisho-in sits at the foot of Mt. Misen and opens its gate 8:00–17:00. Momijidani Park, a Natural Monument known for its autumn maples, is where the ropeway starts.
Daisho-in · Momijidani Park · Mt. Misen and the Miyajima Ropeway
Rain or with children
The aquarium (until 1 December 2026), the History and Folklore Museum and the Treasure Hall are indoors. The museum is free for elementary and junior high age.
Miyajima Public Aquarium (Miyaji Marine) · Miyajima History and Folklore Museum · Itsukushima Shrine Treasure Hall
Questions
When can I walk out to the Great Torii?
Only at low tide. The Miyajima Tourist Association's tide page (miyajima.or.jp, Tide info) shows, for each date, the hours when you can walk to the torii and the hours when the shrine appears to float. Some days have no walking window.
How do I get from Hiroshima to Miyajima, and what does the ferry cost?
JR Sanyo Line from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi takes about 30 minutes, then a ferry of about 10 minutes. Matsudai's fare is ¥200 one way for adults; JR's ferry accepts the Japan Rail Pass and IC cards. The ¥100 Miyajima Visitor Tax is charged on top when you cross to the island.
What is the Miyajima Visitor Tax?
A ¥100 charge per visit to the island, collected with the ferry ticket on the crossing from Miyajimaguchi to Miyajima. Both ferry operators state it is in addition to the fare. Preschool children are exempt, and island residents and some other groups are too.
What time does Itsukushima Shrine open and close?
It opens at 6:30 every day. It closes at 18:00 from 1 March to 14 October, 17:30 from 15 October to 30 November, 17:00 in December and 17:30 from 4 January to the end of February. Adult entry is ¥300.