Miyajima Day Trip versus Overnight Stay: Which Is Better?

Is Miyajima better as a day trip or overnight stay? This is a common question travelers ask – including myself, when I was planning my 3 weeks in Japan.

The short answer? Both are worthwhile trips, depending on what you’d like to experience, the pace you want to move at – and what else is on your Japan itinerary.

Miyajima Day Trip versus Overnight Stay: Which Is Better? The iconic Itsukushima floating torii gate — The iconic floating torii gate

Taking a day trip to miyajima island From hiroshima

Timing:

how much time do you need on miyajima island?

If you’re doing a self-planned day trip, carve out 6-8 hours of your day to make room for the main highlights on the island. Most day-trippers leave well before sunset, so this should leave you back in Hiroshima with plenty of time for dinner and night time activities.

How much time do you need to book in advance?

One perk of taking a day trip to Miyajima Island, is that it requires less advanced planning.

Trains and the ferries do not need to be booked in advance and there are plenty of day trip tour options available if you want to join a guided tour.

Accommodations will up fast on the island, so if you’re making a last minute trip – a day trip is likely a better option.

Crowds:

Crowds generally peak between 0900 – 1700, as this is when the ferry is the most frequent. Typically spring and fall are among the favorite seasons to visit – so expect more crowds during these seasons.

For me, the day time crowds are biggest drawback of taking a day trip to Miyajima Island.

Costs:

You’ll spend about 420 yen to take the JR Line train and 300 yen for the ferry and Miyajima Island tax (about $4.5 USD total).

👉 Read more on How To Get To Miyajima Island From Hiroshima

Accommodations are much cheaper and more readily available on the mainland. Taking a day trip to Miyajima from Hiroshima will definitely save you money.

Itinerary tips:

A typical day or half day trip starts with a late morning ferry, a photo shoot with the Itsukushima Shrine and the torii gate, and then strolling the main shopping streets before heading back.

If visitors are feeling ambitious, Mount Misen and the Miyajima Ropeway can be added on to the itinerary as well.

👉 If choosing a full day trip from Hiroshima, I would highly recommend this tour as it gives you all the highlights without the hassle – Itsukushima Shrine, tasting regional specialties, Daisho-In temple and Miyajima Ropeway

Pros of a day trip

Easy to fit into a Hiroshima itinerary
Covers major highlights
No accommodation booking required
More late night food and drink options available in Hiroshima

Cons of a day trip

Heavy crowds late morning through afternoon
Little time to explore beyond the main sights
Misses the island’s quietest moments

A day trip works if you’re short on time and comfortable with crowds.

Miyajima Day Trip versus Overnight Stay: Which Is Better? Cherry blossoms on Miyajima Island — Peaceful parks in Miyajima Island with cherry blossoms in bloom

Staying Overnight on Miyajima Island

Timing:

how much time do you need on miyajima island?

You can easily spend two full days on Miyajima Island, but some people stay longer. When I was initially planning my trip, I thought about 24 hours or less would be enough time to see everything. I ended up enjoying walking around the quiet streets and parks of the island and actually stayed almost a second full day before heading on to Hiroshima.

Having an overnight stay will leaves you feeling less rushed and allows you to explore beyond the highlights.

How much time do you need to book in advance?

You should book your accommodations at minimum 4-5 months in advanced. This is one of the major drawbacks of staying on island, last minute overnight trips are hard to book and generally more expensive

Crowds:

From my experience, staying overnight was well worth it. As stated before, crowds generally peak between 0900 – 1700 daily.

Once the ferries slow down, streets become emptier, and the deer roam more freely.

The crowds hovering around Itsukushima Shrine and torii gate dissipate, and the island becomes calmer and reflective. It was perfect!

👉 One of my favorite parts of the island was to view the torii gate for sunrise and sunset as the light shifts over the landscape, without the crowds.

Costs:

You’ll have the same travel costs as day trippers – about 720 yen from Hiroshima Station.

Miyajima is also known for having several ryokan’s on the island, which is an experience in itself. However, these can come with increased costs – especially since accommodations on the island are limited.

I stayed in a private ryokan and loved my calm street and private onsen.

Itinerary tips:

My favorite part about taking a 2 day trip on Miyajima, was that it allowed me to slow down and explore areas that felt “hidden” as they were more tucked away from the crowds.

👉 Read my in depth 2 day Miyajima Island itinerary for all the tips

Staying overnight is also more ideal for a flexible schedule if you plan to head to Mount Misen, which may take several hours.

Pros of staying overnight:

Peace and quiet!
Exploring beyond the highlights – slower travel
Experiencing a traditional ryokan

Cons of staying overnight:

Accommodations are expensive and tend to fill up quickly
Last-minute planning may leave you scrambling to find dinner
Lugging around luggage for one or two nights can be frustrating to some

Is day trip to miyajima island or staying overnight a better option?Low tide during sunset at Itsukushima Shrine — Low tide at Itsukushima Shrine

So, A Miyajima Day Trip versus Overnight Stay – which is a better option?

From my perspective – both options can have benefits and will come down to your personal preferences, timing and budget.

If taking a day trip, I highly recommend booking a guided tour so you are able to move quickly and see everything the island has to offer.

In order to stay overnight on Miyajima Island – book in advance!

Regardless of which option you choose, I hope Miyajima will bring you the same peace it left with me.

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.