1-Day Miyajima Sightseeing Tour
Description
Located only a short ferry ride away from the mainland, Itsukushima, popularly known as Miyajima, is a breathtaking island which has long been regarded as one of the three most scenic spots of Japan. While the island itself is fairly small, it is brimming with otherworldly scenic spots, and a relaxing atmosphere which is nearly second to none. On this full-day tour of the island, appreciate all the different things that Miyajima has to offer, from its beautiful shrines and temples to its abundant nature. Gain a better understanding of Japanese religion by visiting the Senjokaku Pavilion, Itsukushima Shrine, and Daisho-in temple. Admire the iconic “floating” O-torii gate during both high and low tide. Take in the beauty of the entire island on the ropeway to the top of Mt. Misen and the hike to the summit. Enjoy local delicacies and create wonderful memories as you stroll along the streets of this beautiful island.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This tour will begin at Hiroshima Station at 9:00 AM. Your guide will meet you by the Shinkansen Gates under the Tourist Information sign. Your guide will lead you through the train and ferry ride necessary to reach Miyajima. As you travel, the guide will provide you with some context and information about the island. After arriving at the pier, we will walk to the first destination, Senjokaku Pavilion. This pavilion is actually a shrine whose construction was never completed and still remains unfinished to this day. This shrine is unique in its spaciousness and lack of proper entrances or exits, unintentionally creating a building in which beautiful views are accessible from all sides. Your tour guide will provide an explanation of the history and different elements found within the shrine. You will also have the opportunity to relax and take in the beautiful scenery of the island.
Next, you will make your way to Itsukushima Shrine. Your guide will provide insights about Shintoism (Japan’s indigenous religion) and the history of the shrine. As you make your way through the temple, observe the different worship halls, the unique architecture of the “floating shrine,” and the iconic O-torii gate located in the Seto Inland Sea. Your guide will then lead you on a walk to the Daisho-in temple, a prestigious Shingon Buddhist temple located not too far from Itsukushima Shrine. Throughout the temple grounds you will be able to observe a myriad of Buddhist figures, with different statues greeting you anywhere you go. Multiple halls are also located throughout the temple grounds, but none is as stunning and breathtaking as the Daishi Hall, with its 88 statues representing the Shikoku Pilgrimage of 88 temples. The room is lit by golden lanterns which hang from the ceiling, creating a stunning and unique scenery.
The next stop on the itinerary will be Omotesando Shopping Street, lined with multiple shops and restaurants. Here, you will enjoy around two hours of free time in which you will be able to have lunch and purchase souvenirs or other goods. This might also be a good time to get some good pictures of the many deer around the island or take a short stroll along the seaside! The last main destination of the tour is Mount Misen, the highest point of Miyajima. Together with your guide, you will ride the Miyajima Ropeway all the way to the top of the mountain. Inside the cabin of the ropeway, you will be able to enjoy marvelous aerial views of the island.
Once at the top, you will have the option of staying behind at the Shishiiwa Observatory next to the ropeway station or making the trek to the Mt. Misen Observatory at the summit. Your guide will accompany you on this hike, highlighting the different landscapes, natural formations, and multiple halls. This hike is a steep and arduous walk towards the summit, but the magnificent view from the top with no obstructions whatsoever is most certainly worth it. Your guide will allow for plenty of breaks along the way and there will always be an opportunity to turn back and wait at the ropeway station while others complete the hike. In the end you will be given a short period of free time to roam around before heading back to Hiroshima Station
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Tour Availability Disclaimer: All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.
Reviews(5)
As a solo traveller I’ve had tour companies cancel on me when no other visitors were booked on the tour. But not this tour company. Koh, my guide for the day led me to the beautiful island of Miyajima, sharing her knowledge & expertise with me. I learnt a lot from Koh which helped enhance my understanding behind the many temples & shrines one the island. She also pointed out tasty food options. Great trip & Miyajima is definitely a must see when visiting Hiroshima.
This tour was for me and my husband with a tour guide using public transportations: bus, train, cable car, etc.. Itinerary is good! Communication with the tour operator was okay. It could take over a day or more sometimes to get a response. I also requested to use WhatsApp to correspond with the tour guide as I did with all others, but this was not done, so we had a need on the day of the tour and it was difficult to connect. A few things for improvement: 1. Meeting location. After getting off the taxi, we didn't realize we had to go upstairs at the train station, not at the entrance of it below the information center. The direction didn't mention to go upstairs (unusual for dozens of tours we have taken). We wasted 20 minutes looking for the guide. 2. The guide had a trainee, but we weren't informed of it in advance. We didn't get much attention from the guide initially who was busy chatting with the trainee until I pointed it out to the tour operator. 3. We nearly missed the cruise ship due to inadequate timing management: we skipped an one-hour hike and shopping altogether, but we had little time to spare when getting on the taxi from the drop-off point to the port. The guide didn't help tell the driver our destination. Though we had the address in Japanese, the driver was confused at first about it. I cleared it up with him using a translation app. He sped to the port. We were the last one to board the ship with only 3 minutes to spare.
I had an amazing experience on the 1-Day Miyajima Tour! Our guide, Isabella, was absolutely fantastic. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly organized, making the entire day feel smooth and enjoyable. Isabella shared so many interesting stories and historical insights that really brought Miyajima to life. She also made sure everyone was comfortable, helped us find great photo spots, and offered helpful tips throughout the tour. The island itself was breathtaking, but having such a warm and engaging guide made the experience unforgettable. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area and especially recommend going with Isabella. She made the day truly special!
This was an excellent tour, well documented by our guide Simar (I think that was how he spelt his name). He was very informative and certainly knew the history, and he was a very confident young man. From the cabin of the Miyajima Ropeway, one can enjoy beautiful aerial views of the island. I didn't think I would complete the climb of 590M (about 2000 feet) but I did. Making our way to the summit Simar would call out how many more minutes to the top, which helped greatly. On this steep hike and arduous walk, along the way Simar would highlight the different landscapes and the natural formations. Certainly making the trek to the Mt. Misen Observatory at the summit, but the maginificient view from the top with no obstructions was well worth the arduous climb. I have to mention that we had a "trainee guide", a lady by the name of Mickey, who was very helpful and friendly and who too knew the history of Miyajima island. She kept checking on me to ensure that I was doing okay with the climbing. She will be a lovely guide someday.
A nice tour that allows you to explore the island in more detail, including seeing the famous Torii Gate at high tide (standing in water) and low tide (when the water has receded and you can walk right up to it). Going up Mt Misen using the ropeway gives you nice views of the surrounding area. However, the ropeway closes around 4pm to 4:30pm so there may not be enough time to walk from the top of the ropeway to the highest point or indeed see some of the shrines near the top of the mountain. Our tour guide Isabella was great and her enthusiasm was infectious.
