By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 27 May 2024 | Updated: 26th January 2026
Two major tourist destinations in Japan that feature on nearly every first-time trip to Japan are Hiroshima and Miyajima. One with a modern rebuilt city and the other an island full of historic shrines and deer, but both are equally worth visiting. So how do you get from Hiroshima to Miyajima?
Getting Around Japan
By far the best way to get around Japan is via public transport. Having visited Japan a couple of times now, we opted for taking the train or local buses over driving on both trips and didn’t regret it at all. You get more of a chance to see the beautiful Japanese countryside that way!
The most popular option for getting around is the Japan Rail Pass, an all-in-one pass which includes most public transport across Japan. With this pass, you just exchange the voucher at a station within Japan for a JR Pass, then keep it with you for your trip so you can show it if asked for it. You can book all of your onward trains and seats for your entire trip right away, saving time and hassle!
How to get from Hiroshima to Miyajima
Hiroshima to Miyajima by Local Train and Ferry
There is only one way to get from Hiroshima to Miyajima, which is via train and then ferry.
From within Hiroshima, you need to take the train to either Miyajimaguchi (JR line) or to Hiroden-Miyajimaguchi Electric Railway, then transfer to the JR West Miyajima Ferry.
🚢 The first ferry crossing is at 06:25 am, and the last ferry crossing to Miyajima is at 22:00 pm 🚢
Both the JR Pass and the JR West Rail Pass can then be used on the ferry, with a one-way ferry trip costing between 300 and 200 yen for an adult, (depending on which boat you take), and 100 yen for a child.
Top tip: If you sit on the right-hand side of the ferry whilst on the way to Miyajima, you get an amazing view of the floating Itsukushima Jinja Shrine!
Hiroshima to Miyajima Tours
There are a few tours between Hiroshima and Miyajima, with this Full Day Hiroshima & Miyajima Tour coming highly recommended. We, however, chose to spend a few nights on the island so found that doing dedicated tours in each location was best. These are our favourites for each:
Where To Stay In Hiroshima & Miyajima
Where to stay in Hiroshima
🏨 Budget – APA Hotel Hiroshima Ekimae Ohashi
🏨 Mid-range – Mitsui Garden Hotel Hiroshima (The Mitsui Garden Hotels across Japan are fantastic to stay in!)
🏨 Luxury – Hilton Hiroshima
Where to stay on Miyajima
🏨 Budget – Sakuraya
🏨 Mid-range – Miyajima Seaside Hotel (We stayed here, and it was perfect, with deer literally walking past our balcony!)
🏨 Luxury – Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto
How To Get From Hiroshima To Miyajima FAQs
Is 1 day enough for Hiroshima and Miyajima?
1 day is not enough for both Hiroshima and Miyajima. You can see the main sights in Hiroshima in a day, but you should spend at least 2 or 3 days on the island of Miyajima. It is especially lovely when all the day-tripper tourists have gone back to the mainland!
Is Hiroshima and Miyajima worth visiting?
Both Hiroshima and Miyajima are worth visiting not only for the history of both locations, but for the beautiful parks and gardens and, in Miyajima’s case, the incredible temples and shrines.
How long is the ferry ride to Miyajima Island?
The ferry ride from Hiroshima, more specifically the ferry station, which is Hiroden-Miyajimaguchi Station, to Miyajima lasts approximately 30 minutes. When travelling from Hiroshima’s main station, it takes an additional 30 minutes to get to the ferry station.
What is the best way to travel from Hiroshima to Miyajima?
The best way to travel from Hiroshima to Miyajima is via train and then ferry, which takes approximately one hour from Hiroshima Station.
How far is it from Hiroshima to Miyajima?
Hiroshima is located approximately 50 km / 32 miles north of Miyajima.
Conclusion: How To Get From Hiroshima To Miyajima
Getting from Hiroshima to Miyajima is super easy via public transport, with numerous JR trains and the Hiroshima Electric Railway which then connect to the ferry. We would recommend either the JR Trains or the Electric Railway to get to the ferry as they both take similar times and cost a similar amount.
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.