We visited Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima (Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture) with our 8-year-old son on the last day of Japan’s Silver Week holidays in September 2026 — a bonus stop on our Kyushu & Hiroshima castle tour. With the vermilion Great Torii, shrine buildings standing over the sea, deer everywhere and a lively shopping street, it’s a place full of that special “this is sightseeing!” feeling. In short: we spent about 1 hour on the island (a quick visit because of our return shinkansen). Including the round trip from central Hiroshima, allow half a day (about 3 hours).
Key points
Time needed: about 1 hour on the island (quick visit), about 3 hours including the round trip. Half a day or more if you want to stroll and snack
Access: about 10 minutes by ferry from the pier near JR Miyajimaguchi Station (¥200 one way, children ¥100)
Miyajima Visitor Tax: ¥100 per person when crossing to the island (paid together with the ferry fare)
Shrine admission: adults ¥300 / high school students ¥200 / elementary and junior high students ¥100
With kids: meeting the deer and looking for crabs and hermit crabs under the shrine are fun
TOC
1. Basic information before you go
Name
Itsukushima Shrine (Miyajima) / UNESCO World Heritage Site
Location
Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Access
About 10 minutes by ferry from the pier near JR Miyajimaguchi Station (JR West Miyajima Ferry / Miyajima Matsudai Kisen)
Fees
Ferry ¥200 one way (children ¥100) + Miyajima Visitor Tax ¥100 / shrine admission: adults ¥300, high school students ¥200, elementary and junior high students ¥100
Time needed
About 1 hour on the island (quick visit) / half a day for a relaxed visit
Checked
As of September 2026. Check each official website for the latest information
2. How long does Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine take?
That day our return shinkansen was fixed, so our stay on the island was a quick one hour. We went into the shrine to pray, played with the deer, bought souvenirs and headed back.
Quick (about 1 hour): ferry → enter Itsukushima Shrine → souvenirs on the Omotesando shopping street
Normal (2–3 hours): the above plus snacking along the street and visiting nearby shrines
Relaxed (half a day or more): take the ropeway up toward Mt. Misen for the amazing views
3. Access: ferry and the Miyajima Visitor Tax
Miyajima is about a 10-minute ferry ride from the pier near JR Miyajimaguchi Station. There are two operators, JR West Miyajima Ferry and Miyajima Matsudai Kisen, and both cost ¥200 one way (children ¥100). Since 2023, everyone crossing to the island pays a ¥100 “Miyajima Visitor Tax.”
The ferry ride is only about 10 minutes. Step out on the deck to enjoy the view of Miyajima getting closer and closer.
4. Highlights and our visit
The Great Torii and shrine: changing with the tides
We arrived a little late, so the shrine buildings weren’t surrounded by water — only the Great Torii was standing in the sea. The scenery changes with the tides, so if you want to see the “shrine floating on the sea,” check the tide table in advance and go at high tide.
Looking for crabs and hermit crabs under the shrine
After entering the shrine and walking along the corridors, look down from the buildings and you’ll find crabs and hermit crabs. It really feels like you’re at the sea, and it’s a spot kids can enjoy too.
Praying for academic success at Tenjin-sha
Tenjin-sha, a small shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane a little off Itsukushima’s main route, seems hard to find and had few visitors. We prayed wholeheartedly that our son would do well in his studies.
Deer all over the island
Right after getting off the ferry, our son spotted the deer and got excited. There are deer everywhere, and the fawns trying hard to keep up behind their mothers were adorable.
A true tourist spot, bustling with international visitors
There were lots of international tourists and plenty of food stalls — so lively it made us forget everyday life. The scenery is beautiful, and it’s a fun place to take photos.
There is also a statue of Taira no Kiyomori by the sea. At the end of the Heian period, it was Kiyomori who shaped Itsukushima Shrine into the buildings we see today, which seem to float on the sea. It’s a spot where you can feel a different kind of history from castle touring.
5. Local treat: Taikō no Chikara-mochi
On the way back, drawn by its connection to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, we bought “Taikō no Chikara-mochi.” It’s rice cake covered with plenty of kinako (roasted soybean flour) and was delicious.
Back at Hiroshima Station, we got takeout okonomiyaki from “Micchan Sohonten” and had it for lunch on the shinkansen home. If you order by phone or online about 30 minutes before boarding, you can pick it up without waiting in line.
6. What we’d like to do next time
Ride the ropeway to see the stunning view from above
Take more time to stroll and snack at a relaxed pace
7. Where to stay if you’re combining it with other sights
We stayed the night before at the Hilton Hiroshima in the city and headed to Miyajima in the morning. If you’re visiting Hiroshima Castle, the Atomic Bomb Dome and Miyajima together, staying in central Hiroshima is convenient.
About 1 hour on the island if you only visit Itsukushima Shrine and buy souvenirs. Allow 2–3 hours if you also want to snack around, and half a day or more if you take the ropeway.
Q. How much is the ferry to Miyajima?
¥200 one way (children ¥100). There is also a separate Miyajima Visitor Tax of ¥100 per person (as of September 2026).
Q. How much is admission to Itsukushima Shrine?
Adults ¥300, high school students ¥200, elementary and junior high students ¥100.
Q. When does the Great Torii appear to float on the sea?
At high tide. When we visited, only the Great Torii was in the water. Check the tide table in advance.
Q. Is it fun for kids?
Yes. Meeting the deer and looking for crabs and hermit crabs under the shrine are very popular with kids.
9. Summary
Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine are the perfect finale for a Kyushu & Hiroshima castle tour. Even a quick one-hour visit is enough to pray and buy souvenirs, but next time we’d like to take more time for the ropeway and snacking.
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