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Day trips from Hiroshima

Hiroshima’s classic day trip is Miyajima, the island of Itsukushima Shrine and its torii standing in the sea: a JR train to Miyajimaguchi and a 10-minute ferry put you there in about 45 minutes. Eastward, the Sanyō shinkansen reaches Himeji, Japan’s finest original castle, in about an hour. Each has free Mappu audio guides with a map.

Where to go

Miyajima: Itsukushima Shrine

The island of Itsukushima, known to everyone as Miyajima, is worshipped as a god, so its shrine reaches out over the tidal flats instead of standing on the island: vermilion halls on stilts, joined by long corridors in the style of Heian-period noble houses, with the great torii offshore. Taira no Kiyomori shaped it in the twelfth century. Above it, at the foot of Mount Misen, Daishō-in is the island’s great Buddhist temple, said to have been founded by Kūkai in 806.

Getting there
JR Sanyō Line from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi, about 25 to 30 minutes, then a JR or Matsudai ferry to the island in about 10 minutes. Tram line 2 also runs to Miyajimaguchi, in about 1 hour 10 minutes, and boats from the Peace Memorial Park take about 45 minutes. The shrine is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the pier; Daishō-in is about 10 minutes further, uphill.
Time
About 45 minutes each way; half a day, a full day with Mount Misen.
Listen to the free Itsukushima Shrine guideMap of Itsukushima Shrine

Also free: Daishō Temple

Himeji Castle

Japan’s finest original castle, white-plastered and nicknamed the White Heron, with Okiku’s Well inside its walls. In 1993 it became one of Japan’s first UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Beside it, Kōko-en is nine walled gardens built in 1992 in the spirit of the Edo period.

Getting there
Sanyō shinkansen from Hiroshima to Himeji, about 1 hour on the fastest trains. The castle is a 15 to 20 minute walk straight up the avenue from the station.
Time
About 1 hour each way; allow half a day for the castle and the gardens.
Listen to the free Himeji Castle guideMap of Himeji Castle

Also free: Kōko-en Garden

How to plan the day

  1. Check the tide table before Miyajima: at high tide the halls and the torii seem to float, and at low tide you can walk out to the torii across the sand.
  2. Miyajima fills up from late morning; an early ferry gives you the shrine at its calmest.
  3. A visitor tax of 100 yen is charged on the ferry to Miyajima, collected with the fare.
  4. Miyajima and Himeji lie in opposite directions: give each its own day, or stop at Himeji on the way on to Osaka or Kyoto.

Check opening hours and tickets on the official sites before you go:

Tours and tickets

From Mappu’s partners, if you would rather have a guide. The free audio guides above work without them.

Partner links (Airalo, Amazon, Booking.com, GetYourGuide, Klook, Tiqets, Trip.com, Viator, Welcome Pickups): if you book or buy through them, Mappu may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Questions travellers ask

How do I get from Hiroshima to Miyajima?

Take the JR Sanyō Line from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi, about 25 to 30 minutes, then the ferry across in about 10 minutes. The JR ferry is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Is Himeji a day trip from Hiroshima?

Yes. The fastest shinkansen take about an hour, and the castle and Kōko-en fit in half a day, so you are back in Hiroshima by the evening.

How long should I allow for Miyajima?

Half a day for Itsukushima Shrine, Daishō-in and the shopping street; a full day if you also climb Mount Misen, 535 metres, on foot or by ropeway.

Listen to the free Itsukushima Shrine guideListen to the free Himeji Castle guide

Travel times are typical timetable times from the rail operators; check the day’s timetable. The facts about each site come from Mappu’s guides and the sites’ official websites. JR West, Miyajima Tourist Association. Last checked on .