2 day Miyajima Island itinerary from Hiroshima

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Miyajima Island is a popular day trip from Hiroshima – but it’s well worthwhile to stay overnight. During my overnight trip to Miyajima, I explored hidden trails to find cherry blossoms, watched the sun go down over the Itsukushima Shrine, took the ropeway to Mount Misen and soaked in my own private onsen.

This 2 day Miyajima Island Itinerary will walk you through the perfect 2 day plan and give you insight about staying overnight on this iconic island.

👉 For more on how to get to Miyajima – check out how to get to Miyajima Island from Hiroshima

day one – Morning:

Grab the ferry to Miyajima Island – arrive by late morning.

During the day, you’ll likely find the deer roaming on the island looking for food. Many people will feed them, but I recommend watching and not engaging with them. In general, it’s best to observe wildlife and leave them alone.

Additionally, the deer can be aggressive and will eat even non-edible items, which can be hazardous for them and for the bystanders they may show aggression toward.

Unfortunately, there were food scraps and trash in this area that the deer were rummaging through.

👉 If you enjoyed viewing the deer, check out this Nara Day Trip – famous for sitka deer!

Day one – Afternoon:

Miyajima Omotesandō Shopping Street

This is the main shopping street on the island. It’s filled with small snack shops and souvenir stores. Many shops start to open around 11 am and, like many small towns, may close earlier than advertised (I found this out the hard way).

You’ll quickly notice a theme in the area – oysters.

Oysters are a specialty on Miyajima Island, and I highly recommend you try some if you like seafood!

I had oysters at KAKIFUKUMARU (かきふくまる). They offered different flavors of á la carte oysters. You order at the window and eat on the street, unless you order something to drink then they’ll allow you to sit down at the table.

Besides oysters, the area is also known for Momiji manju (maple-leaf-shaped sweets) and anago (conger eel) over rice.

Overall, you can plan to spend about one hour shopping and tasting on Miyajima Omotesandō Shopping Street

Itsukushima Shrine & Torii Gate

Itsukushima Torii Gate is worth seeing at both low and high tide. But, you’ll want to be inside Itsukushima Shrine during high tide. Plan to be in the shrine about 15 minutes before peak high tide (about 3 meters) – check the tide table for the most accuracy. This usually occurs mid afternoon and late evening or early morning.

At the end of the street, you’ll see a Starbucks. If it’s high tide, continue to go straight down the path toward the Itsukushima Shrine.

If it’s low tide you can turn right and head toward Mikasa Beach, to walk along the beach and up to the famous torii gate.

During mid-day the lines will be the longest and crowds will be crazy. But, if you arrive to the shrine during high – tide, I’d recommend you go inside to see the floating torii gate from this viewpoint.

What is the cost to get into Itsukushima Shrine?

300 yen for adults
200 yen for high schoolers
100 yen for younger kids

Is re-entry into the shrine allowed?

They allowed me re-entry when I went.

Credit: Itsukushima Shrine opening hours via offical website (https://www.itsukushimajinja.jp/jp/admission.html)

Wandering further

If you’re done at the torii gate and still have some daylight, check out local streets and trails.

Walk to Okonomi-yaki Matochan restaurant. Behind it, you’ll see a small park. If you’re there during cherry blossom season, the blossom are beautiful. If you move to the back of the park you will climb up to a trail.

If you’re facing away from the park, turn toward the right and you’ll end up at 見晴展望休憩所, a park with an overlook of the torii gate. Turn the opposite way and you’ll end up near Daishoin temple.

Daisho-in Temple

The temple closes at 1700. If you’re arriving later than this, no worries – you can add this part on to the itinerary tomorrow.

It’s often quieter than the Itsukushima shrine area and is worthwhile stop. I enjoyed visiting and photographing the small statues with knit red hats (they’re worn help ward off evil spirits). Head all the way to the back of the temple to see Henjo Cave – a cave filled with Buddhist statues.

Stop at Rokaku Tea House (六角茶房) on your way in or out of the temple. Unfortunately, they were busy when I went, so I didn’t end up staying for tea.

Looking back onto Itsukushima Shrine in the evening

day one – Evening

Dinner & Itsukushima Shrine

Consider an early dinner or making reservations. After spending sunset near the torii gate, I found it unexpectedly difficult to find dinner – many spots closed earlier than advertised, and others became busy. I really wanted to check out Niwa Cafe Miyama – but they were full and required reservation.

I ended up heading toward the ferry terminal and one of the restaurants here had some availability to seat me. If you failed to get a reservation like me – as a last ditch effort, Lawson (konbini) is here and reliably open.

Make sure you stop by the shoreline of Itsukushima Shrine to view the torii gate at night without the crowds. If there’s scattered clouds, make sure to get there for an epic sunset!

day two – Morning:

Itsukushima Shrine & Mount Misen

Stop by the shrine early morning to see if you can get a glimpse at the gate without the crowds – even better if it’s high tide! – remember they open at 0630!

Next, head to Mount Misen. It’s the island’s highest peak, offering panoramic views over the Seto Inland Sea and Hiroshima Bay.

You can hike shaded forest trails or take the ropeway partway up.

Early mornings are best to avoid congestion. I arrived a little later than I had planned on and ended up having to wait in line for about one hour.

Overall, this was a fun adventure. I would recommend taking the ropeway up and hiking down!

👉 Check out my full guide to Mount Misen & the Miyajima Ropeway

Miyajima Island downtown — Local road leading toward Daisho-In

day two – Afternoon:

Parks, shopping street, and Daisho-In (if you missed it!)

On your way down from Mount Misen, check out Momijidani Park. If you didn’t get a chance to visit Daisho-In temple, this is your chance!

Regardless, stroll back toward Daisho-In and explore the local streets in the daytime. Try Miyajima Base for some Japanese fried chicken, or Ruuju next store for their anago.

Next, walk to Machiya Street – another shopping street that runs parallel to Miyajima Omotesandō Shopping Street.

Before heading back to the boat dock, wander the local streets to Mount Yōgai. This was a pleasant spot, with few people and couple of cherry blossoms.

Where to Stay on Miyajima Island

Accommodations on Miyajima Island are limited and book quickly, especially during cherry blossom season, fall foliage, and weekends. Try booking your accommodations 4-5 months in advance!

The main part of the island is extremely walkable, so your location doesn’t matter as much. You can walk from one end of town to the other in about 30 minutes and accommodations are scattered through out.

I stayed at Istumoya, which is up the road from the Lawson across from the ferry terminal. This locally owned Ryokan was beautiful and so peaceful. I really enjoyed my own private onsen as well!

Larger ryokans and hotels will offer dining, which may be particularly beneficial for dinner if you don’t make reservations.

Ryokan on Miyajima Island — Istumoya Ryokan

Miyajima Accommodation Comparison

Accommodation	Style	Best For	Why Stay Here
Hotel Miyajima Villa	Modern hotel with an onsen	Comfort-focused travelers	Sleek, modern rooms steps from the ferry terminal. Features onsen baths and a polished feel. Not a ryokan, but very comfortable and convenient.
Kinsuikan	Traditional ryokan	Cultural immersion, easy dining	Tatami rooms and classic ryokan hospitality. Kaiseki dinner and breakfast are available, making this one of the easiest overnight options.
Hotel Kikunoya	Ryokan-style hotel	Quiet, relaxed stays	A blend of hotel comfort and traditional elements, often quieter than ferry-adjacent options. Good middle-ground choice.
Backpackers Miyajima	Hostel/guesthouse	Budget and solo travelers	Technically NOT on the island, but it is located on the mainland near the ferry terminal. It’s one of the only true budget options in the area.

Is it worthwhile to stay 2 days in miyajima?

With enough time and a little thoughtful planning, Miyajima Island becomes more than a “check list” destination. It was honestly one of my favorite spots in my three week Japan trip.

There are so many small corners of the island that make it worthwhile for an overnight trip. This was the perfect destination to slow down a little!

If you’re visiting Hiroshima – check out my guide to Hiroshima next!

Hi, I’m Amber —

A Michigan native now living in Washington with a deep love for travel and the outdoors. What started with church mission trips and traveling across the U.S. as a nurse has grown into a passion for exploring the world through hiking, food, culture, and the beauty of God’s creation. Sometimes I’m joined by my goldendoodle, Millie, but I’m always traveling with my camera. My goal is to help you feel inspired and confident that travel is possible — no matter where you’re starting from.