How to get to Miyajima by a train and a ferry. The JR Pass and the JR West Passes cover the trip fully.

Ferries
JR ferry will show you Itsukushima shrine.
2020.07.09
Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima
Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima

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

N700 series will be used as Mizuho and Sakura.
Mizuho and Sakura on the Sanyo Shinkansen is the best way to get to Hiroshima.

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.

The signage of the departure track for Miyajima

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:

Hiroshima station guide. How to change the trains, Shinkansen and local train to Miyajima. How to catch tram and loop bus Meipuru-pu.
Hiroshima is one of most popular places to visit in Japan. Many of you use Hiroshima station to visit not only Hiros...
jprail.com
2016.10.09

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.

At the platform for the track #1 in Miyajimaguchi station

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 see the ferry terminal from the Miyajima-guchi station. It’s just steps away!

You will find many signage on the way even though it is super easy.

Enter the underground path because there is no crosswalks.
The entrance of the underground path
The inside underground path

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.

Two ferry services to Miyajima. Follow the sign for JR Ferry. It’s right side in the photo above.

The ferry service runs every 10 to 15 minutes.

Ferry to Miyajima is a small ferry. Only 10 minutes cruise.

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.

The ferry usually goes by the Itsukushima shrine.
The interior of the ferry to Miyajima

After arrival in the Miyajima port, just get off a ferry and go through the building.

Walkway from the dock to the Miyajima port building
The shrine can be seen from the dock in the distance.
Information center at Miyajima ferry terminal. You can get English and other languages map here.
The Miyajima port 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.

Just walk by the sea
There are lots of suvenior shops and restaurants on the way.
The big torii gate comes up in 10 to 15 minutes
When a tide is low, you can walk on the beach.

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:

Sample itinerary of day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima from Osaka/Kyoto
You can visit Hiroshima and Miyajima from Osaka or Kyoto as day trip. It seems to be far but it is feasible. This post explains you how to manage day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima from Osaka.
jprail.com
2014.11.03

Hope this post will help you build your trip plan to Miyajima.

Comments

  1. Calvin says:
    April 12, 2016 at 1:51 am

    Hi,
    I’m planning two weeks photo trip arriving in Osaka mid November. I’ve not fixed my itinerary yet as I’m overwhelmed by too many information from JR pass, rail, travel times, types of train lines and accommodation. Basically this trip is my first time with wife to explore Japan. We are fine to skip Tokyo and modern shopping sites. I’m into photography and I would love to capture some nice scenery and moments. We would love to walk the streets for quaint stores and try some Japan local delights. All at budget.

    Current interest list on hand are below.
    1. Osaka
    2. Kyoto (with Arashiyama, major shrines)
    3. Miyajima (sunset view)
    4. Hakone (Mt Fuji view)
    5. Nara

    Do you think above mentioned places are doable and not tight?
    We are more focus on Kyoto since the autumn red leaves would be round the corner. Intend to cater 6-7 days in Kyoto.

    Should I get JR pass?

    Please feel free to suggest my itinerary. Appreciate your help

    thank you

    regards
    Calvin

  2. Aaron Ajay Sabharwal says:
    March 8, 2016 at 11:42 am

    Hello
    We intend to take a trip to Hiroshima and Kyoto at the end of our Tokyo visit as following:
    31.03.2016 Tokyo Haneda To Hiroshima arriving at 08.30 hours
    Visit Hiroshima and Mijiyama
    Stay overnight in Hiroshima
    01.04.2016 Travel from Hiroshima to Kyoto by Shinkansen early Morning

    Take a day tour to Nara and Kyoto.

    Stay overnight in Kyoto or Osaka

    02.04.2016
    Fly back from Osaka to India via Tokyo leaving 0730 am

    Could you suggest the best way to organise and travel especially the train tickets and tours?

    We are travelling with our son 6 years old.

    Thanks !

  3. Alana says:
    December 22, 2015 at 4:22 pm

    This was great advice! I just wanted to say thank you for your help. One thing only: Miyajima is the ninth stop from Hiroshima!

    Thanks again!

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      December 22, 2015 at 11:03 pm

      Hi Alana,

      I forgot to revise this post! Shin-Hakushima station has been opened in this past spring. You are right. Now it’s 9th station from Hiroshima.
      Thank you for correcting.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  4. Yasmina Zahra Syadza says:
    October 18, 2015 at 7:07 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    I use JR Pass, and if i take a local train from Hiroshima St. to Miyajima-guchi St., do i need to exchange/reserve the ticket on the ticket office, or i only need to show my JR Pass on the information desk (on the corner of ticket gate) without exchange it to the ticket?

    Best regards 😀

  5. Jasline says:
    October 9, 2015 at 9:35 am

    Hi Takeshi

    I am planning to travel in Nov.
    My itinerary is to go Miyajima from Kansai AIrport (1 night), then go to Kyoto (3 nights), Kinosaki onsen (1 night) and back to Osaka (2 nights).
    I believe the Kansai-Hiroshima pass is the best option for me. However, I read that I cannot take shinkansen to Kyoto from Hiroshima if I am using this pass. Can you advise what is the fastest way I can get to Kyoto from Hiroshima in this case?
    Will you advise a different route given the places I would like to visit?

    Thank you.

  6. Marcia Maemura says:
    August 13, 2015 at 2:09 am

    Hello Takeshi -san,

    I want to thank all the tips I read on your blog , they were all very helpful , I printed and took with me on the trip :

    – Use the Narita Express
    – How to go to the Ghibli Museum
    – Use of Yamatoji Line , Nara Line and bus to visit Nara and Kyoto in one day.
    – Using Meipuru -pu to visit Hiroshima sights included in the JR Pass
    – How to access to Miyajima from Hiroshima by local train, because I wanted to visit them on the same day .
    – Eating at Okomi -mura , very good!!
    – Use of Hyperdia was great!
    Thank you and God bless you in your work !!

    Márcia Maemura from Brazil

  7. Miyajima and Osaka in One Day | The Casually Curious Wayfarer says:
    February 21, 2015 at 5:40 pm

    […] (Getting to Miyajima from Hiroshima isn’t that straightforward, but there’s a great site with illustrated instructions here.) […]

  8. Nahomi says:
    January 5, 2015 at 5:30 pm

    Hi! Thank you so much for all the steps described before!
    I have a question, how do I return from Miyajima to Hiroshima station? I do have the Japan rail pass, but I don’t know how.
    I hope your answer ASAP.
    Thanks again!

  9. jess says:
    October 7, 2014 at 6:52 am

    Hi,
    I’m planning to go Japan on 26/11-10/12/2014, my plan as below:

    27/11-29/11 arrive to Haneda airport to tokyo ( 2nite in tokyo )
    29/11-2/12 – from tokyo to nagoya (3nites at nagoya)
    72/12-3/12 – from nagoya to osaka (2nites in osaka)
    4/12-5/12- from osaka to hiroshima (1nite in hiroshima)
    5/12-7/12- from hiroshima to fukuoka (2 nites in fukuoka)
    7/12-9/12- from fukuoka to tokyo (3nites in tokyo)
    10/12/14 – from tokyo to haneda airport

    kindly advise does JR rail pass coved all this area? What is your suggection for th above plannin?

    Does JR rail pass covered from tokyo to disneyland?

    Thanks.

    from,
    jess

    From

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      October 7, 2014 at 12:34 pm

      Hi Jess,

      All part of your trip will be covered by JR Pass. But when you take Shinkansen, Nozomi and Mizuho are not covered by JR pass. Please see the timetable below:
      http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/eastbound.pdf
      http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/westbound.pdf

      You may find “N”, “H”, “K”, “M” and “S”. N and M means Nozomi and Mizuho. You can’t take these trains by JR Pass.
      When you travel from Hakata (Fukuoka) to Tokyo, there is no direct trains other than Nozomi. You have to change the trains at Okayama or Shin-Osaka. And also it will be more than 5 hours trip. If you don’t want to take trains for such a long hours, you may stay in Osaka on the way back. If you travel from Nagoya to Hiroshima, it will be 3 hours trip. (but you have to change the trains at Shin-Osaka).

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  10. Mrs Ong says:
    October 21, 2013 at 6:11 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    Thank you for the fare comparisons.
    May I know, from Fukuoka to Tokyo, is there a direct Shinkansen to Tokyo?
    If not, which Shinkansen and which station I need to change train?

    Regards,
    Mrs ong

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