Miyajima is one of the World Heritage sites in Japan, and also this is called one of “Three Views in Japan” with Matsushima and Amanohashidate.
You can access to Miyajima by Japan Rail Pass with no extra charge. But you have to take a local train and Ferry. I will explain the access to Miyajima with some images in this article.
Access to Hiroshima by the Shinkansen
Take the Shinkansen to get to Hiroshima. There are several kinds of trains on Sanyo Shinkansen, but all Shinkansen trains stop at Hiroshima.
After get off the Shinkansen train at Hiroshima, move to platform 1.
The Sanyo Line local train bound for Miyajima-guchi and Iwakuni depart from this platform usually. You will see the sign for Miyajima and find the platform very easily.
A local train operates every 15 minutes in daytime, 10 minutes in peak time. So even if you miss a train, next one comes up shortly.
Take a local train to get to Miyajimaguchi. Miyajimaguchi is 9th station from Hiroshima. A travel time is about 30 minutes.
Please refer Hiroshima station guide to get some more information in the link below:
At Miyajimaguchi station
Miyajimaguchi is the gateway for Miyajima. You have to change a train and a ferry at Miyajimaguchi.
Miyajimaguchi station is a small station. There are only two platforms and three tracks. Usually a train from Hiroshima arrives at the platform with the station building. You can exit a station through this building.
After exiting the station, you will find the ferry port building at the end of the street. Just go down this street to the end. It is only 3 minutes away.
You will find many signage on the way even though it is super easy.
At the ferry port
There are two ferry services for Miyajima. You have to take JR Ferry if you use the JR Pass, the Sanyo Sanin Area Pass, the Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass and other JR West Rail Passes.
The ferry service runs every 10 to 15 minutes.
It is very short cruise to Miyajima. It takes only 10 minutes. The famus Big Torii Gate of Itukushima Shrine is usually on your right side.
After arrival in the Miyajima port, just get off a ferry and go through the building.
Access to the Itsukushima shrine
Miyajima is a small island. You can access to the world famous Itsukushia shrine on foot from the ferry terminal.
The last word
Miyajima is very easy to access and it is definitely worth visiting.
Actually you can visit both Hiroshima and Miyajima by a day trip from Osaka. If you have very tight schedule but want to visit there, consider this option. Please find the link below to find the sample itinerary:
Hope this post will help you build your trip plan to Miyajima.
Comments
Hi,
I want to know whether its worth it to get a 7days JR pass ..?
Day 1. Arriving late at Narita airport to Tamachi
Day 2. Tamachi to Osaka
Day 3. Osaka
Day 4. Osaka to Yufuin -cho Kawakami
Day 5. Yufuin
Day 6. Yufuin to Fukuoka
Day 7. Fuokuoka
Day 8. Fukuoka to Tokyo
Day 9. Tokyo
Day 10. Tokyo to Narita airport
Wondering how many hours from Fukuoka to Tokyo?
Please give me some suggestions,
Thank you.
Regards,
Mrs Ong
Hi Mrs. Ong,
JR pass will give you a huge deal. It will be much much cheaper than single fares.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/compare-japan-rail-pass-with-regular-fare.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
I always found posting on how to get to Miyajima. But what if I already there? Do I need to worry on transportation?
Thank you.
Hi Tina,
Never. Miyajima is very easy to access by local train and small ferry. Both services are covered by JR Pass and reservation is not required because of local service.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
HI Takeshi,
We intend to buy 14 days because in fact we will arrive on 25 sept at Kansai airport:
25sept kansai-kyoto
29ept-kyoto-hiroshima(at night)
30sept-hiroshima-myiajima-tokyo
6oct- tokyo-takayama-kyoto
7oct-kyoto-kansai-sydney
I have doubts about if it possible make Miyajima and Hiroshima before 14:30 to get the train to Tokyo. what do you think about it?
We are traveling in 3 adults and 2 kids(9 and 7).
Cheers,
Marcelo
HI Takeshi,
Thanks for all your support.
I planning my trip and I intend to arrive in Hiroshima at night of 29th September sleep in a hotel close to the station, I thinking about Urbain executive to leave the luggage, Miyajima island, dome/ museum, get luggage and return back to Tokyo arriving before 22:00 of 30th September.
I will buy th JR pass by the way.
I also on 6th October intend to go in early morning to takayama and in the same day to Kyoto.
what do you think about it?
Hi Marcelo,
Are you going to buy 14 days pass and use for the following trip?
Hiroshimna – Miyajima – Hiroshima
Hiroshima – Tokyo
Tokyo – Takayama – Kyoto
If so, 14 days pass price is more expensive than total single fares. Please see the fare table at the following link:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/compare-japan-rail-pass-with-regular-fare.html
If you start to use 7 days pass on Sep 30 and complete trip by Oct 6 at Kyoto, 7 days pass is cheaper.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Marcleo,
It is not impossible to make Miyajima and Hiroshima by 14:30, but as you guess, it will be very tight.
Itsukushima shrine is open at 8:00. So you need to leave Hiroshima at 7:00. I think you will spend at least 1 hour at Miyajima, so you will be back to Hiroshima around 10:00. And you can spend rest of hours as you want in Hiroshima.
Regarding Takayama and Kyoto, you will get only 6 hours at Takayama. Because the first connection take you Takayama at 12:30. And the last connection to Kyoto at 18:45 depart at Takayama. If you can accept it, you can go.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
Thanks you very much.
I will study the tickets price and compare the options, I still need work out the places to visit from Tokyo and Kyoto. for now I just started to plan the basic schedule now I will work to get the details about the main part of the trip.
About Myiajima and Hiroshima I will chat with my familly to see what they fell about it.
Maybe I still will make more questions.
Kind regards,
Marcelo
Hi Marcelo,
When you have other questions, feel free to ask me. 🙂
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takashi,
Thank you. I fully understood!
Cheers!
No problem, Cindy.
Enjoy your trip!
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Thank you for your in-depth info. Honestly, this has been superb and useful! I’m looking forward to my holiday in 2 weeks time.
May I ask, if I wanna cover Miyajima and Hiroshima in a day, will that be possible? I had oredi booked my hotel accommodation in Osaka. Hence, I do not want to waste it.
Thank you!
Hi Cindy,
It’s not very hard. Shinkansen can take you to Hiroshima from Shin-Osaka in less than 2 hours. If you don’t care about late arrival in Osaka, you can take a dinner in Hiroshima and then go back to Osaka.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Thank you Takashi =)
I realized there r 2 Hiroshima stations and they are pretty far apart. Hence, to get to the unesco heritage sites (Miyajima – Itsukushia shrine & Hiroshima – atomic dome memorial, museum, castle) Should I stop at ‘Hiroshima’ or ‘Hiroshima station’?
Thank u once again!
Rgds,Cindy
Hi Cindy.
Hiroshima is JR’s station. Hiroshima station is Hiroshima Railway’s (street car) station. This tram station is just located at south exit of JR Hiroshima station. It is a few minutes away and not very far. It’s Hiroshima railway’s station and Hiroshima station terminal building picture below.
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:HiroshimaStation03.JPG
I believe you will take Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka. So you don’t have to take Hiroshima Railway. Just transfer to local train at Hiroshima station. You can get Miyajima by Hiroshima Railway train. But JR train is faster.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Thanks for an excellent and detailed description on how to get to Miyajima! No I have no doubts what so ever about how to get there! Again, thanks! 🙂
Hi Al,
I’m very happy to hear that. Enjoy your trip! 🙂
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
HI Takeshi-san,
For the JR West Ferry to Miyajima Island, just hop-in right?
No need to reserve any seats.
Thanks
Hi Simon,
That’s right. And you cannot make a reservation. It is like commute passengers ferry.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
HI,
Thank you for your helpful site. I hope to travel from Tokyo to Hiroshima and on to Miyajima in one day. However, JR pass does not allow travel on Nozumi. Is there another option that will get me there with few changes? How long will other options take?
Hi Terri,
Why don’t you take Hikari and Sakura. It is a bit slower than Nozomi and you need to change the train at Shin-Osaka or Okayama. But it will be very tight trip. It will take 5.5 hrs to get Hiroshima by Hikari and Sakura from Tokyo. And you will spend half an hour to get Miyajimaguchi station. And also you will spend another 15 minutes to get Miyajima by ferry.
See the timetable of Shinkansen below.
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/index.html
If you take the earliest Hikari (dep from Tokyo at 6:26am) and transfer to Sakura at Shin-Osaka, you will get Miyajima around 12:30. The last Sakura that can be connected with Hikari to Tokyo depart from Hiroshima at 18:22. (arrive Tokyo at 23:10)
So you need to spend all day and spend 12 hours in the train. You can stay Miyajiama for 4.5 hours.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Thank you very much for clear directions to Miyajima using JR pass. The photos and other tips are very helpful. I look forward to visiting your country again 🙂