Sooner or later journey itinerary – You May Journey

Going from Hiroshima to Miyajima for a day journey is a incredible method to spend your time, as you’ll go to certainly one of Japan’s most picturesque islands. Miyajima is a fantastic island near Hiroshima, recognized for its massive pink torii gate that appears prefer it’s floating within the water when the tide is excessive.

Miyajima, a brief ferry experience from Hiroshima, is a peaceable place that gives a mixture of pure magnificence and cultural heritage, with its well-known Itsukushima Shrine and pleasant deer roaming the streets.

I lately took a day journey to Miyajima with my husband, and I’ve gathered all of the important ideas and highlights that will help you benefit from your journey. I need to share some recommendations on what to see and do in Miyajima to make your journey particular. This information goals to give you a sensible itinerary to see the very best components of Miyajima in someday.

Find out how to get to Miyajima from Hiroshima

There are 2 methods to get from Hiroshima to Miyajima, they usually all contain crossing by ferry or high-speed boat. To be sure to benefit from your day in Miyajima, please depart for Miyajima Island no later than 9am.

Practice + Ferry (most value efficient)

Regardless of the place you’re staying in Hiroshima, head to Hiroshima Station first. Since a number of individuals go to Miyajima day-after-day, trains can get crowded. To seize a seat, it’s greatest to start out on the most important station.

From Hiroshima Station, take the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi Station. It’s a few 26-minute experience. Use your JR Move when you’ve got one, or purchase a ticket for 420 yen.

When you’re at Miyajimaguchi Station, it’s only a 5-minute stroll to the ferry terminal.
On the terminal, you may catch both the JR Miyajima Ferry or the Matsudai Ferry to Miyajima Island. The ferry experience takes about 10 minutes.

Each ferries will get you to Miyajima in 10 minutes and cost 200 yen a method, plus the customer payment. In case you have a JR Move, you would possibly want the JR Ferry because it received’t value you further for the spherical journey.

Excessive-Pace Boat (quickest)

You’ll be able to take a ship (Aqua Web Hiroshima) straight from Hiroshima Peace Park to Miyajima. It’s a 45-minute journey and prices 2200 yen a method, or 4000 yen for a spherical journey, not together with the customer payment. Boats depart twice each hour.

There’s additionally a ship firm (Setonaikai Kisen) from Hiroshima Port to Miyajima that takes half-hour and prices 2100 yen a method, with out the customer payment, and this service runs as soon as each hour. Keep in mind, you may’t use the Japan Rail Move for these boat journeys. In the event you undergo from movement illness, do take a movement illness tablet about half-hour earlier than boarding these boats.

Miyajima customer payment

Everybody going to Miyajima must pay a customer payment. This new payment, which kicked in October 2023, is 100 yen (round 67 cents) for every go to. In the event you’re considering of going again to Miyajima just a few instances, you would possibly need to get an annual cross for 500 yen ($3.35).

The price of your ferry ticket consists of the customer payment should you’re paying with an everyday ticket or an IC card. However should you’re utilizing a JR cross, you’ll want to purchase a separate 100 yen customer payment ticket on the ferry terminal.

Miyajima Day Journey Itinerary

You’ll be able to spend the night time on Miyajima island, however extra guests (myself included) take a day journey right here from Hiroshima. It’s easy to take action, and someday is sufficient to see all of the highlights on Miyajima island. The one purpose I’d advocate staying on Miyajima in a single day, is in order for you an genuine ryokan expertise, which is one thing Hiroshima metropolis doesn’t supply. With out additional ado, let’s get began!

1) Miyajima Omotesandō Purchasing Avenue

From the primary ferry terminal, stroll for about 10 minutes in direction of the primary purchasing avenue. You’ll be able to’t miss it, virtually everybody will probably be headed in direction of it.

Miyajima Omotesandō Purchasing Avenue is a full of life space the place you store and eat. It’s filled with shops promoting souvenirs, native crafts and well-known Hiroshima snacks. My advice is to carry loads of money with you, as smaller stalls won’t settle for bank cards.

Advisable treats and meals to strive:

Momiji Manju – A maple leaf-shaped cake historically full of candy pink bean paste. These days, it is available in varied fillings like custard, chocolate, and cheese, reflecting a mix of conventional and fashionable tastes.

Miyajima Oysters – The waters round Miyajima are famend for oyster farming. These oysters could be loved uncooked, grilled, steamed, or fried and are recognized for his or her dimension, juiciness, and wealthy taste. In the event you fancy a sit down meal, we advocate Umeyama, the place we had our lunch. We ordered the fried oyster set meal which got here with rice, miso and pickles.

Anago Meshi – An area delicacy consisting of grilled saltwater eel (anago) served over a mattress of rice. It’s recognized for its tender texture and sweet-savory sauce that enhances the eel completely.

Tsukune Nabe – A sort of sizzling pot that features tsukune (rooster meatballs) as a major ingredient, together with greens and different objects. It’s a comforting dish, particularly widespread through the colder months.

Age Momiji – A variation of the Momiji Manju, this deal with is deep-fried, giving it a crispy outer layer whereas maintaining the within gentle and candy. It’s often served on a stick and comes with flavors like cheese, oyster and roe.

Miyajima Senbei – These are Japanese rice crackers that are available in varied flavors, together with soy sauce, seaweed, and squid. They’re giant, straightforward to eat and crispy.

Gentle Serve Ice Cream – Some outlets like Furaido Omotesando supply native flavors like candy potato serve (topped with a candy potato crisp).

2) Itsukushima Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine is certainly one of Japan’s most iconic and revered Shinto shrines. It’s thought of a nationwide treasure and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Website since 1996 and the primary purpose to go to Miyajima, to see its floating torii gate. The gorgeous vermilion torii gate seems to be standing in the course of the ocean throughout excessive tide.

Itsukushima Shrine dates again to the sixth century, with the present construction primarily constructed within the twelfth century beneath the patronage of Taira no Kiyomori, a robust determine in Japan’s Heian interval. The torii you see as we speak shouldn’t be the unique. The gate, usually hit by wind and floods, has been rebuilt seven instances, with the final reconstruction taking place in 1875.

Don’t fear should you don’t see the shrine at excessive tide (verify the tide instances on-line), because it’s simply as stunning throughout low tide too. You will get near it and take up shut pictures with the pillars.

The workers on the shrine have observed that some individuals began placing cash into the cracks of the gate. This harms the torii drastically, so please don’t do it should you go to artwork low tide.

The deer at Itsukushima Shrine

The sika deer (Cervus nippon) on Miyajima Island are actually pleasant and stroll round freely, even within the city, however primarily you’ll see them round Itsukushima Shrine. In keeping with Shinto faith, individuals imagine these deer are messengers from the gods, so that they’re fairly particular.

They’re enjoyable to see if you’re visiting, however keep in mind to not feed them or trouble them an excessive amount of, they’re nonetheless wild animals, and feeding them could make them sick or change the best way they act naturally.

3) Toyokuni Shrine 5-Story Pagoda

The 5-Storied Pagoda (Gojunoto) is a part of the Toyokuni Shrine and is situated close to the Itsukushima Shrine and south facet of Daiganji Temple. It’s a standout landmark on Miyajima island and one you can’t miss in your journey, because it’s seen from all angles. The pagoda, initially inbuilt 1407 and restored in 1533, reaches a peak of about 27 meters (88 toes). It’s free to admire it however you can’t enter it. It’s one of many oldest pagodas and at the moment generally known as the unique 5-story pagoda in Japan.

4) Mount Misen

Mount Misen is the best peak on Miyajima island at about 535 meters (1,755 toes) tall. The primary attraction on Mount Misen is the Mount Misen Observatory on the summit, from the place you may see the Seto Inland Sea and its smaller islands.

There are two methods to achieve the summit: by ropeway or by climbing to the highest. I’ll let you know about each so you can also make an knowledgeable determination. I foolishly determined to hike to the highest, considering it is going to be an off-the-cuff stroll within the park. Spoiler alert, it wasn’t! On the brilliant facet, the bodily exercise and the continual climbing of all these stairs did assist my knees quite a bit.

Ropeway to Mount Misen

Price: 2,000 yen (spherical journey)
Please observe, the final returning gondola is at 16:30.

Stroll to Kayatani Station by the Momijidani Park. The park is called after the Japanese phrase for maple leaves, “momiji,” and is famend for its picturesque surroundings, particularly through the autumn when the maple bushes flip vibrant shades of pink and orange.

Don’t fancy strolling in any respect? There may be even a free shuttle bus that takes you proper to the doorway of the ropeway. I do advocate the 10-minute stroll (0.1 km), because it takes you thru some stunning nature which is nice for some pretty pictures.

As soon as you might be on the ropeway station, take the the Miyajima Ropeway to the Shishiiwa Station for a scenic view.

Mount Misen Path

My husband and I really like lengthy walks and hikes, so after we came upon the climb up Mount Misen was simply 2.5 km, we determined to go for it.

There are three climbing routes:
Momijidani Route: 1.5 – 2 hours. That is by far the most well-liked and the route we determined to take.
Daishoin Route: 1.5 – 2 hours
Omoto Route: 2 – 2.5 hours

Initially of the route, we noticed an indication in English warning guests about viper snakes and wasps. As we continued, we noticed just a few extra indicators cautioning us about wasps forward and reminding us to watch out. Fortuitously, we didn’t come throughout any snakes or wasps throughout our climb.

The path begins fairly good, with a delicate stroll surrounded by pretty Japanese nature. We truthfully thought the entire path will probably be like this. A few minutes later we got here throughout some stone steps and thus beginning our ascend.

What we didn’t realise is that the entire hike to the summit was going to be similar to this: climbing steps after steps, after steps. Now as you’ll see from my photos, I used to be not ready for this, I wore a skirt and a few informal sneakers that day.

The climb did take 2 hours to achieve the summit, however truthfully, it was painful and really troublesome. There have been no vista factors all through the climb actually and barely any relaxation stops alongside the best way. I’ll say that should you determine to do the climb, you have to to carry quite a lot of water with you.

As soon as we bought to the highest it was effectively value it, because the views have been certainly excellent. Having stated all that, I actually can’t let you know the advantages of taking the painful climbing path over the ropeway.

Evidently, that on our again, we bought the ropeway! Please observe that to get the ropeway from the highest, you might want to purchase your ticket in money. There are not any card services on the prime of the mountain.

In the event you’re contemplating taking the ropeway up and climbing down, suppose once more! It may appear much less tiring, however the path has some steep steps that may actually pressure your knees, particularly because it’s 2.5 km all the best way down. In the event you actually crave the bodily train, then going up the steps will probably be simpler on you.

5) Hiroshima Lemons Drinks

No journey to Miyajima is full and not using a fast cease on the Gebura Sister, a brand new bar that specialises in drinks made with Hiroshima lemons syrup. The proprietor advised us that the syrup can’t be mass-produced which is why their drinks are so particular and proudly native.

Their drinks are very reasonably priced, with costs within the area of 700-800 yen for a cocktail. In the event you determine to have a refill, although, your subsequent drink is just 200 yen! The identical individuals function the oyster bar 50m away referred to as Kakiya.

6) Dinner on Miyajima

Most native outlets and meals stalls shut at 5pm on Miyajima however there are just a few eating places which can be open for the night. These are particularly nice if you wish to get pleasure from some native delicacies and increase the native economic system. There are two eating places we advocate on Miyajima:

Mikotoya – Syokudo and Teishoku restaurant. (Opening instances 17:00 – 20:30, closed on Mondays) Their fried oyster set is very scrumptious.

Miyajima Sushi Tensen – Excessive finish “omakase nigiri”. The phrase means you’re going to get the chef’s alternative of 10-12 items of sushi with a small appetizer and oyster soup. Costs for dinner vary from 10,000 – 17,000 yen per particular person. Reservation is required at the least 3 days prematurely. (Opening instances 17:00 – 22:00, closed on Wednesdays)

7) Again to Hiroshima

To get again to Hiroshima you should have the identical choices as coming to Miyajima.

Choice 1: Take the following out there ferry from Miyajima Island to Miyajimaguchi Station. Use your JR Move to take the JR Sanyo Line from Miyajimaguchi Station to Hiroshima Station (roughly 26 minutes).

Choice 2: Take a excessive pace boat again to Hiroshima Peace Park (Aqua Web Hiroshima) or to Hiroshima Port (Setonaikai Kisen).

Don’t fancy going again to the lodge but? There are loads of issues to do in Hiroshima, and I’m additionally together with just a few locations I like to recommend for dinner which I attempted and examined throughout my keep in Hiroshima.

Lemon&OysterGarden SANGO – Oyster bar Restaurant. Count on a wide range of oysters, uncooked and cooked as effectively should you want. Relying on if you go to, sea urchin is likely to be in season. I particularly advocate their sea urchin and salmon roe roll. I like to recommend reserving a desk prematurely for this restaurant.

Nagataya – Okonomiyaki Restaurant. This restaurant bought very busy within the night, however the wait was effectively value it. Make certain to check in earlier than taking the seat within the ready space, because the workers will name you by quantity. You will have a translator app in your telephone for this (like Google translate). You may be requested if you wish to sit down on the counter or desk. I made a decision for desk so I can have more room for making okonomiyaki.

Ekie Eating – It’s situated on the first flooring within the Hiroshima Station. There are 24 totally different eating places to choose from. There’s a flooring information which exhibits the kinds of meals out there. Dashi& Soba Suisha is very nice as a result of it specialises in my favorite Japanese meals: soba set meals.

Ultimate Ideas

I liked our time spent on Miyajima island and respect how straightforward it’s to get pleasure from a day journey there. I visited twice now, and I can let you know that whereas the vacationers visiting Miyajima have now doubled, the place is simply as stunning and nonetheless value including to your Japan itinerary.

The primary spotlight for me was seeing the Nice Torii at excessive tide, as the primary time I visited I noticed it at low tide. I additionally liked simply what number of extra varieties of retailers opened up, filled with nice and scrumptious meals. I imply, meals is all the things in Japan, proper, so attending to get pleasure from such huge types of avenue meals was undoubtedly an enormous bonus.

I can see why Miyajima is a fantastic vacation spot yr spherical. I visited each in Spring and Autumn, however loved the climate within the autumn much more. It was hotter, and the panorama was extra vibrant.

In the event you’re considering of visiting Miyajima from Hiroshima, please achieve this! You’re going to find it irresistible.

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