Guide to Miyajima Island, Japan
Miyajima Island, Japan is considered to be in the Top 3 most scenic sites in all of Japan and home to the Floating Shrine a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there is no wonder why this island receives over four million visitors annually. Itsukushima is the proper name of the island but everyone knows it as Miyajima Island meaning “Shrine Island” or as I like to call it, “Deer Island” since the island is home to a small species of deer that roam around and are not afraid of humans. Miyajima is a holy place full of shrines and temples. Strict measures have been in place here to keep Miyajima authentic so locals and visitors alike can enjoy a taste of real Japan. We’ve been to Miyajima a handful of times now and each time it feels like a new experience. The town is somewhat large for being an island with a lot of great souvenir shops and restaurants, the hiking here is superb, and exploring the shrines and temples are extraordinary! In this guide to Miyajima Island, you can find information on transportation to the island, attractions, things to do and see, and the delicious street food and restaurants.
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Miyajima makes for a great day trip from either Hiroshima City or Iwakuni as it is about a 30 minute drive give or take from either city.
Miyajima is located in Hiroshima prefecture and can only be accessed by ferry. There are two ferry lines that go back and forth between Miyajima and mainland Japan, the JR Ferry and Matsudai Ferry. One way tickets are ¥180 or ¥360 Roundtrip and the time is about ten minutes. There is a ferry that leaves port about every 15 minutes, so you never have to wait long for one. Cars, motorcycles, and bikes are also allowed. Jill, myself, and some friends all rode our bikes from Iwakuni to Miyajima and they charge an extra ¥100 for the bike. I don’t really think one needs a bike to get around but there is a road that circles half of the island. Otherwise, walking is the best way to explore Miyajima.
*For more information and a ferry time table view the JR West Miyajima Ferry website and or the Matsudai Ferries website.
The Deer at Miyajima
Besides the Floating Torii Gate and Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima is known for the deer that freely walk around the island. The deer at Miyajima are the same type of deer found in Nara. These deer are Sika Deer or locally known as Nihonjika which translates to “Japanese Deer” in Japan. They are medium sized but quite small compared to deer e are used to seeing in the United States. The males do have antlers, but for safety reasons people on the island saw them off.
The deer on Miyajima can be found all over the island. They hang out in front of shops, you can find herds of them at the campground, they are even found near the top of Mt. Misen. The deer here have grown accustomed to humans and are not afraid to beg for food. Unfortunately you have so many oblivious people here that leave trash around or try to feed the deer and the deer end up eating things they shouldn’t like trash. Like always, use common sense, don’t feed the deer. There is plenty of grass and other plants for them to eat. Some of the deer can also get quite pushy and head butt you.
Top Things to Do and See at Miyajima
Being one of Japan’s most popular destinations, Miyajima is rich in culture, history, and offers plenty to do and see. Many visitors will come to Miyajima to enjoy nature and hike to the top of Mt. Misen while others simply want to shop for traditional Japanese goods and souvenirs. Regardless of your intent o visit Miyajima Island, there is something here for everyone!
Whether you are just visiting for a half day or staying the night on the island here is a guide to Miyajima Island and my most recommended sites and things to do and see in order to maximize your trip while visiting.
Itsukushima Shrine and the Famous Floating Torii Gate
Every guide to Miyajima Island will list Itsukushima Shrine as the number one attraction along with the Floating Torii Gate. This is a huge complex that was built in the year 593 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This shrine is really neat as it is built on stilts so it appears to be floating in water when the tide rolls in. There is a world famous Torii Gate here as well. The Floating Torii Gate is all over postcards and tourism adds but unfortunately it has been under renovation the entire time I’ve been here, so I have yet to really see it.
Toyokuni Shrine and the 5-storied Pagoda
This is a huge shrine built on top of the hill, it’s hard to miss. There is a beautiful 5-story pagoda next to it.
Within this complex there is a giant wooden shrine named Senjokaku. Senjokaku is the largest building or structure on the island. The pagoda is remarkable and in my opinion one of the prettiest in all of Japan. The pagoda is 27.6 meters high and was first built in 1407 but has been remodeled and reconstructed since. Since Toyokuni Shrine sits on a hill, you can get great photos of the pagoda from the streets below or numerous other locations in the area. You can walk up the hill to the shrine, I feel the temple is so big it’s tough to get decent photos of the shrine on top of the hill.
Hike the Trails to the Top of Mt. Misen
Any visitor that comes to Miyajima, the first thing I recommend is hiking to the top of Mt. Misen. It’s only 530 meters above sea level but it can be a challenging hike. There are several routes to the top, we generally like to hike up one route and take a different one down. The distance of the trails are but a few kilometers in length, the elevation gain is pretty steep though.
For those that are not as adventurous or like us, you’ve been to the top many times, there is a ropeway that goes to the top, although it doesn’t quite go to Mt. Misen, you still have to walk from the ropeway station. The views from the top are incredible. You can great views of the sea and surrounding areas, you can even see the city of Hiroshima.
Don't Have Time or Stamina to Hike? Take the Ropeway to Mt. Misen
Taking the ropeway to the top of Mt. Misen is a great way to get the same amazing views from the top without all the sweat and heavy breathing. Although, there is still a short 10-15 minute hike from the ropeway, it’s fairly flat.
The ropeway is really long and divided into two sections. It does get very busy during weekends and local holidays. I’ve seen 30 minute to 1 hour wait times.
Don't Miss Daisho-in, One of My Favorites in all of Japan
Daisho-in is kind of set back from the town so I don’t think as many people know about this temple. Daisho-in is a Buddhist temple that is definitely in my top 3 favorites in all of Japan. It is a massive complex surrounded by the mountains. One of my favorite things about this temple is the cute Buddhist statues scattered throughout the grounds.
Explore some of the WWII Ruins
On the north end of Miyajima, there is a road (route 43) that hugs the coastline of the island eventually coming to a dead end on the east side of the island. I’ve both walked and rode my bike on this road and there are some unique attractions worth seeing. Most tourists will stay around the town and shrines and few will venture further then that. Along route 43 there are a few ruins that can be seen from the road. I’ve walked to a few of the ruins and they are quite interesting. I assume they are left over structures from WWII although there are no signs and little to no information online about these ruins. They look similar to ruins on Okunoshima Island and appear to have gun turrets on top of the buildings so I am going to assume they are from the war. Whether or not they are from WWII the ruins are still really fun to explore.
Visit some of the Beautiful Beaches
Along Route 43 are several secluded beaches. I think beaches in Japan, especially mainland Japan are so under rated. As you can see in the photo above, the beach is stunning with its white sand and turquoise water. Now, I don’t think you can really snorkel here or see much marine life, but relaxing on the beach on a hot summers day is definitely an ideal way to spend some time. Like the ruins, these beaches are far from town and accessible only with some sort of vehicle or bike, unless you really like walking and don’t mind spending a whole day walking just to get here. I mean, I’ve done it and would say it is worth it!
Stop by Miyajima Public Aquarium
For an island the size of Miyajima they have a really nice aquarium. Many of the marine wildlife here are from the region. They have a display showing a small sample of the oyster farms and they even have a giant salamander. I had no idea how big these salamander’s were until I actually saw it. This aquarium also has the biggest sea lion I’ve ever seen.
Street Food, Restaurants, and Miyajima Brewery
One of my favorite things to do in Miyajima is to visit the downtown area and sample the street food. There is one main street in Miyajima that has these cool awnings that open and close, weather dependent.
Either way, here you can find great little restaurants and outside vendors selling street food. Street food is not as popular as I had hoped around Japan, so it’s always a nice treat when visiting Miyajima. One of their most famous treats here are the momiji, which are kind of like fried dough pastries with some sort of filling. In Japan a popular filling is red bean paste, not our favorite but we are slowly getting used to it, I prefer custard or chocolate.
The Hiroshima area is famous for oysters and there is no shortage of them here. You can find several vendors selling freshly grilled oysters or fried oysters on a stick. I’ve tried both and they are oh so yummy! Many restaurants will also serve oysters, usually they are a bit more pricey but equally as good. One of my favorite treats is this long fish cake on a stick. I’m not sure what the correct name is but there are several stalls that sell them. You can get them with various toppings, I personally like bacon and cheese.
Last time Jill and I went, we got ice cream with hot sweet potato and it was actually very tasty. The chunks of hot sweet potato paired nicely with freshly made vanilla.
There are a lot of sit down restaurants in Miyajima as well. You can find everything from okonomiyaki and ramen to local izakaya’s and bars.
One other favorite stop of mine is Miyajima Brewery. It’s a local brewery on the island that makes great craft beer. They have a restaurant and an outside area below that only does beer. They have a lot of great seasonal beers like Yuzu flavor Weizen or Oyster Stour. Yuzu is a citrus fruit similar to a lemon.
Camping at Miyajima - Tsutsumigaura Natural Park Camping Grounds
There is a lot to see on Miyajima and sometimes a day just isn’t enough. There are hotels on the island but if you like waking up to the sounds of nature and potentially a herd of deer outside your tent then might I recommend camping on the island. The camp ground on the island is nicely maintained, has all your facilities (grills, bathrooms, etc..), and has a shop with food. I stayed here overnight once with some friends and it was great to wake up the next day, be greeted by deer, and then set off for a days hike. Camping on Miyajima Island is well worth looking into.
Conclusion
Whether you want to hike to Mt. Misen or take photos of the deer in town, Miyajima has something for everyone. Miyajima is easily accessible from both Hiroshima City and Iwakuni and is well worth a day trip or even an over night trip. Miyajima has no shortage when it comes to food to try and Miyajima Brewery pours excellent craft beers. I hope this guide to Miyajima is helpful and offers additional things to do and see that originally were not on the traditional travel guides.
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Train Travel 🚂🚊
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