Last updated on April 21st, 2024
Planning your visit to Miyajima and looking for how to get to Miyajima island? Here is the details step-by-step guide with transport information and money-saving tips.
A visit to Miyajima can experience the traditional temples and shrines, see one of the tallest torii, and explore nature and wildlife. It is a perfect day trip from Hiroshima with beautiful attractions and hiking options. We highly recommend making time for an excursion to this small quaint island when visiting Hiroshima.
Depending on your starting location, you can get to Miyajima Island from Hiroshima, Okayama, Osaka, Kyoto, or any other neighboring cities. Once you are in Hiroshima, the journey will continue with a short and gorgeous ferry ride to the enchanted island.
In this Miyajima transport guide article, we’ll share a detail step-by-step guide on how to get to Miyajima from Hiroshima and Osaka with transport information and money-saving tips. Let’s start heading to Miyajima Island for the day!
How To Get To Miyajima
Miyajima is accessed by ferry, and you can easily do this as a day trip from Hiroshima. There are three ways of getting to Miyajima, either combined with a local train or tram and a ferry ride from the ferry terminal or by direct high-speed ferry from Hiroshima city center.
How To Get To Miyajima:
- Direct High-Speed Ferry – Depart from Hiroshima Peace Park to Mijiama Island
- Combination of JR Local train and ferry
- Combination of electric tram and ferry
If you have a Japan Rail Pass and some other JR Regional Pass such as JR Kansai-Hiroshima Pass, you may ride the JR local train and JR ferry from Hiroshima station to Miyajima Island. However, others options such as tram and the direct ferry would not be covered. You can purchase a JR Pass through Klook or Japan Rail Pass.
Direct High-Speed Ferry
The direct high-speed ferry is the fastest way to get to Miyajima island. The journey will take about 45 minutes from Hiroshima city center (Peace Memorial Park) to Miyajima island. The one-way journey will cost you ¥2,200 for an adult and half-price for a kid. Round trip ticket will be cheaper and is valid for 2 days.
Check here for fare and ferry information for Hiroshima World Heritage Sea Route to Miyajima Island.
The direct ferry ride is more expensive, but you can get to Miyajima island easily without any transfer. This option is best for travelers in Hiroshima city, especially those with a rush schedule with Hiroshima and Miyajima itinerary within 1 day.
Combination of Tram / JR local train and Ferry
Travelers also can get to Miyajima island with a combination of tram or JR local train and a 10-minute ferry ride.
From Hiroshima Station, take the JR local train from San-Yo Line to JR Miyajima-Guchi Station. The ride will take between 20 to 30 minutes depending if you take a local or rapid route.
When you arrive at Miyajima-Guchi Station, walk for 6 minutes to the ferry terminal for the ferry ride.
Alternatively, take a electric tram (Line 2) all the way to Miyajimaguchi from Hiroshima city or Hiroshima station will get you right in front of the ferry terminal. The journey will be longer and would take over 1 hour.
There are two ferry companies operating ferries between the mainland ferry terminal to Miyajima Island:
- JR West Ferry – The ferry departs four times an hour from 8:00 to 18:00.
- Matsudai Ferry run by a private company – Ferry departs 3 to 4 times an hour. The last ferry to Miyajima Island is at 20:35.
Choose either one and the price is ¥180 (adult) for a one-way trip. You can find the detailed timetable of the ferry over here.
- JR Miyajima Ferry Timetable: https://jr-miyajimaferry.co.jp/en/timetable/
- Matsudai Ferry Timetable: http://miyajima-matsudai.co.jp/en/schedule.html
Both ferries only take 10 min to cross over to Miyajima Island, and they run frequently.
Pro Tips: Japan Rail Pass and JR Kansai-Hiroshima Pass Holder can take the JR local train and JR Ferry for free!
Step-by-Step Guide: From Hiroshima Station To Miyajima
Among all the options, we choose to take the JR local train and JR ferry to Miyajima since it will covered under our JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass.
Prior the trip to Miyajima island, we took the JR Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka and arrived at Hiroshima Station. From Shin-Osaka, we catch a bullet train on the Sanyo line. Many shinkansen run on this route and it is advised allocate about 1.5 hours for the ride.
The fastest train covered by the JR pass is the Sakura train which takes about 1 hour 32 minutes. While Mizuho and Nozomi trains take 1 hour 25 minutes but are not covered by the JR pass. Glad that the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass is covered on it.
Transfer to the JR Local Train to Miyajimaguchi Station
Once arrived at Hiroshima station, in the same station, change to the Platform for Sanyo Line westbound for Miyajima-guchi and Iwakuni to take the JR local train to Miyajima island.
The trains come every 15 minutes, and it took 30 minutes with several stops before reaching Miyajimaguchi station.
Walk 5 minutes to the Ferry Terminal
Following the crowd, we walked over to the ferry terminal. Well-signed will guide you will walk through the underground walkway and restaurant street to Miyajima Ferry Port from JR Miyajima-Guchi Station. Pretty straightforward.
When you are in the ferry terminal, queue to be on board. No action is required if you are a JR Pass holder and your ferry ride is free. Else, you will need to get the ferry ticket at ¥180 for a one-way trip.
There are 2 ferry company running on this route. JR West Ferry will on the right side.
Board the JR West ferry to Miyajima Island
The ferry timetable is very frequent and did not have to wait long. It was busy with people on and off between Miyajima island and the mainland.
Though there was a huge crowd, the boarding process went smoothly and efficiently.
The ferry was very comfortable with a separate room for the elderly and an open deck on top. We choose to go up to the upper deck to enjoy the scenic view.
A very smooth 10-minute ferry ride will get you to Miyajima island. Stand on the right side and you get a great view of the massive red Tori Gate as you approach the island.
Approaching Miyajima was particularly exciting as the beautiful eye-catching floating Torii gate of the Itsukushima Shrine comes into view with Mt Misen in its background. You will possible get closer during high tides. Get your camera ready!
Overall: Getting To Miyajima Island
All in all, the transport arrangement to get to Miyajima island is very well managed. It is worry-free and well-organized by a train and a lovely ferry ride to the island of Miyajima. The entire journey was smooth and pleasant.
In short, here is a quick recap on how we get to Miyajima Island from Shin-Osaka:
- From Shin-Osaka, take the shinkansen to Hiroshima Station (広島).
- In the same station, transfer to the JR local train to Miyajimaguchi Station (宮島口)
- Walk 5 minutes to the ferry terminal
- Board the JR West ferry to Miyajima Island
- Lastly, let’s start to explore Miyajima island!
That’s it! We hope this transportation guide on how to get to Miyajima is helpful. If you need more inspiration on how to plan your trip to Miyajima and Hiroshima, feel free to read our travel stories about the Chugoku region:
- Things To Do in Miyajima Itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog
- Mt Misen Itinerary: Miyajima Ropeway & Hiking Travel Guide
- Where To Stay in Miyajima: Top Hotel and Ryokan Pick
- Things to do in Hiroshima Itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog
- Where To Stay in Hiroshima: Best Hotels Pick
- Hiroshima Food Guide: Where and What To Eat
