Miyajima is one of the World Heritage site in Japan. It is very popular destination for the tourists.
You can access to Miyajima by Japan Rail Pass with no extra charge. But you have to take a local train and Ferry. I show you some images and explain how to get there.
At Hiroshima station
First of all take Shinkansen to get Hiroshima. After get off Shinkansen at Hiroshima, move to platform 1, Sanyo Line bound for Miyajima-guchi and Iwakuni. You will see the sign for Miyajima. You will find the platform very easily. The local trains are operated every 15 minutes in daytime, 10 minutes in peak time. So if you miss the train, the next train will come shortly.
Please refer Hiroshima station guide to get some more information in the link below:
Take a train to Miyajimaguchi
After arrival at Hiroshima station, change to the local train to get Miyajimaguchi. Miyajima-guchi is 9th station from Hiroshima. Trip time is about 30 minutes.
Catch the ferry to Miyajima
After get off the train at Miyajima-guchi, you will transfer to Ferry. You will see the ferry terminal at the entrance of Miyajima-guchi station. It is only 3 minutes away. We have two ferry services at Miyajima-guchi. You have to take JR Ferry if you use JR Pass, Sanyo Sanin Area Pass, Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass and other JR West Rail Passes.
The ferry service runs every 15 minutes and every 10 minutes in peak season. Usually three boats are operated continuously.
It is very short cruise to Miyajima. It takes only 10 minutes. Big Torii Gate of Itukushima Shrine is usually on your right side.
Miyajima is a small island. You can access the world famous Itsukushia shrine on foot from the ferry terminal.
You can visit both Hiroshima and Miyajima by day trip from Osaka. Please find the link below to find the sample itinerary:
Sample itinerary of day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima from Osaka/Kyoto
Hope this post will help you build your trip plan to Miyajima.
Hello,
Looking for your kind advice.
Osaka duration of stay: 16 Dec (arrive) to 25 (depart).
Planned trips/stay (in sequence) :
(a) Osaka (16 & 17 Dec)
(b) Shirakawago (18 Dec) – stay over
(c) Takayama (19 Dec) – day trip. Evening back in Osaka.
(d) Kobe (20 Dec) – day trip only.
(e) Hiroshima (21 Dec) – day trip only.
(f) Osaka (22 Dec to 24 Dec
(g) Home sweet home.
For (b) – intent to take the train to Nagoya and then bus to Shirakawago.
For (c) – intent to take bus to Takayama. Train from Takayama back to Osaka.
Based on above itinerary – does it make economic sense to purchase the 7 Days JR Rail pass ? If “yes” – will I be able to make use of the pass for all above travellings.
Thank you in-advance for your kind words of wisdom.
Would be grateful.
Hi JC,
You may use JR pass 7 days for the first 7 days of your trip. Most part of your trip are covered. But you need to add the fare for bus to Shirakawago, local transports, such as subway and city bus in Osaka, Kobe. Please see the link below to find more info:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html#How_to_use_JR_pass_in_major_cities_and_tourist_spots
You may find other deal after JR Pass expires in the links below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-osaka.html
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello.i hope i can see answer sooner. my friend is in Osaka right now and he wants to go to Hiroshima tomorrow,. He only have JR west Kansai pass. How can he go to Miyajima Island using local trains?. I can see in hyperdia that he must ride shinkansen from Shin Osaka to Hiroshima…his JR pass is not covered by Shinkansen, Thank you.
Hi Vera,
I think you has Kansai area pass. This pass does not cover Hiroshima. So Hiroshima is way far from the coverage area. Even if he takes only local trains, he cannot reach Hiroshima by his pass. You should have another pass, such as Kansai Hiroshima area pass.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/kansai-hiroshima-area-pass-perfect-deal-for-the-traveller-who-wants-travel-both-kansai-and-hiroshima.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi, the stations on our way to Miyajima-guchi are announced in English ! Maybe we had a newer type of train…
Cheers , Coen from Holland.
Thanks for your info, Coen.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi I will be travel to Osaka, Kyoto n lastly Tokyo. And I want to visit Hiroshima and miyajima better to travel from Osaka or Kyoto? And bason my trip do I need to buy Jr pass? Pls advice, if yes which one should i get? Thank you. Osaka 4d 3n, Kyoto 3d 2 n, Tokyo 6d 5n.
Hi Lina Lina,
Osaka is the best place to access to Hiroshima and Miyajima. You can get both places as day trip.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1-day/day-trip-to-hiroshima-and-miyajima-from-osakakyoto.html
You may use JR pass 7 days for the first 7 days. Once you get Tokyo, JR pass is not required. You can use a local deals, such as subway pass.
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello,
I am considering traveling to hiroshima on 29dec and miyajima on 30dec.
would the ships and musuem be open as it is near end of year?
cant really find much info on closing date.
i am also considering of getting either14days or 21 jr pass.
if 14days jr pass will start on 26dec and if 21days it would be used on the 21dec as i would be arriving at narita but first few days seems quite wasted as i will be in tokyo area
21-25dec tokyo
26 – 28dec osaka
29dec*Hiroshima
30dec Miyajima
31dec- 04 jan Kyoto
05jan Hida takayama / Gero
06jan Hida Furukawa,Shirakawa-go (stay one night)
07-08jan kanazawa
08jan kanazawa
09-10jan hakone or tokyo
11-14jan tokyo
Hi Kaze,
Ferry to Miyajima is operated all year around. If you mean Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, it will be open on 29th. Please see the link below:
http://hpmmuseum.jp/?lang=eng
14 days pass is okay for your trip. You don’t need JR pass in Tokyo. You can use subway pass, single ticket or other deals.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/narita/the-list-of-deals-for-access-to-downtown-tokyo-from-narita-airport.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi! We are a family of 4 , traveling from Tokyo at past 5pm to Hiroshima, then the following day in the afternoon, go to Miyajima, overnight in a Ryokan. Then we plan to go to Naoshima on the 3rd day for the museums Do we need to go back to Hiroshima from Miyajima? We have a JR pass. Can we use it to go to Naoshima? Can we use our JR pass for transfers in Naoshima too? We plan to spend a night in Naoshima, tour the museums, then head for Osaka /Kyoto for 3 days then back to Tokyo for our flights back home. 8 days total stay in Japan.
Hi Peggy,
You need to go back to Hiroshima from Miyajima to catch Shinkansen. You can take Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Okayama and then change to local train to Uno. JR pass covers your trip until you get Uno. After Uno, you will take ferry and it’s not covered by JR pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello,
I am traveling to Japan next month and I would like to visit Nachi falls. My question is can I use my JR pass from Wakayama to Kii-Katsuura for the LTD exp. Kuroshio train?
thanks,
Hi Agnes,
Yes, you can.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Takeshi-san
My wife and i have planned our Japan trip as follows:
5.9.2017 flight to Tokyo (HND)
6.9.2017 Arrival at Tokyo (22:40 PM) what Kind of Transportation should we use to shinjuku?
7.9.2017 Tokyo
8.9.2017 Tokyo
9.9.2017 Tokyo to Kawaguchiko (overnight) Highwaybus or JR Pass??
10.9.2017 Kawaguchiko to Tokyo
11.9.2017 Tokyo to Kyoto
12.9.2017 Kyoto
13.9.2017 Kyoto to Himeji then to Hiroshima
14.9.2017 Hiroshima to Tokyo
15.9.2017 Tokyo to Kamakura
16.9.2017 Tokyo to Nikko
17.9.2017 Tokyo
18.9.2017 Tokyo
19.9.2017 Tokyo and return home
Is this Route okay? Where would you suggest we use the JR Pass? We have a 7 Day JR Pass
Best Regards from Vienna
Hi Igor san,
You can use JR pass from Sep 10 when you leave from Kawaguchiko. As you think, express bus is your choice on Sep 9.
For arrival day, please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/subway/how-to-take-tokyo-monorail-or-keihin-kyuko-for-late-arrival-and-early-departure-at-haneda.html
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/platform_searches/index/4/279
You can use subway pass when you are in Tokyo.
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Takeshi-san
thank you!
dont you think we should start on sep. 11 with the rail pass, because from kawaguchiko i think ist more convenient to use the Highway bus.
and for the subway pass i thought we use suica Cards.
is it possible to get from haneda to shinjuku with the Airport Limousine bus so late at night? i cant find the midnight Services from hnd
Hi Igor san,
You may start it on 11th if you like. But if you start it on 10th, you may save your cost more. Because you cannot get a big savings if you use JR Pass to take train in downtown Tokyo. It’s totally up to you.
I think you didn’t see the link below. The bus runs after midnight.
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/platform_searches/index/4/279
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com