Last Updated on 14th April 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
Wild deer, a wide ranging Torii gate that look as if its floating on the water, and one of the breathtaking mountain hikes in Japan: there’s no scarcity of issues to do in Miyajima to impress even essentially the most discerning of travellers. Easy to go to over the course of a day, right here’s your information to the perfect issues to do on Miyajima Island.
Miyajima is likely one of the three prime scenic spots in Japan (I’m not making that up, it’s even a UNESCO World Heritage Site!) and is a must-see on any journey to the nation. This island has been inhabited for 1500 years and really was a spotlight of our journey.
The whole island is scattered with Shinto and Buddhist shrines, many which lie within the foothills of Mount Misen, the very best level of the island. Deer are virtually all over the place you look and it really is the vacation spot in Japan that I might most wish to return to.
Miyajima or Itsukushima?
Please notice that Miyajima is definitely a nickname for the island. It means Shrine Island and upon visiting the island, you’ll quickly realise the way it bought its title.
The official title for the island is Itsukushima, although virtually everybody will know what you’re speaking about when you say Miyajima. In this text, for the aim of readability, I’ll be referring to the little island simply off Hiroshima as Miyajima Island, or Miyajima for brief.
Is Miyajima value visiting?
Yes, I might say that Miyajima Island is certainly value visiting, and is even value going out of your strategy to go to. We solely had two weeks in Japan and spending a day dedicated to exploring Miyajima Island was considered one of our prime experiences within the nation.
Best time to go to Miyajima
You can go to Miyajima yr ’spherical. However, Japan is a rustic which has 4 clearly outlined seasons, which means that the perfect instances to go to Miyajima are within the spring and fall.
In the spring, you’ll be able to benefit from the cherry blossom (those across the Pagoda are notably breathtaking) and within the fall you’ll be able to benefit from the autumn leaves.
March till May and September to November usually supply the perfect climate and temperatures for having fun with hikes on the island.
These are the busiest instances to go to Miyajima so don’t be stunned when you see lots of people across the port space. However, very similar to Fushimi Inari, when you go additional up the mountain, you’ll discover that there are a lot fewer individuals about.
Cherry blossoms on Miyajima Island
Though there are usually not as many cherry blossom bushes (sakura) on the island as another locations in Japan, there are a number of notable locations the place you’ll be able to benefit from the blooming flowers.
This consists of subsequent to the five-storey Pagoda, alongside the river between the Ropeway observe and Itsukushima Shrine, and on the very prime of Mount Minsen (there’s a single blooming cherry blossom tree that may be seen from the mount Minsen Observatory).
Can you do Hiroshima and Miyajima in in the future?
Some articles will say ‘yes, you can do Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day,’ however I might say that this isn’t doable. If you wish to really uncover all that Miyajima Island has to supply and dedicate an excellent period of time to studying concerning the historical past of Hiroshima, you’ll be able to’t do each locations in in the future.
This is as a result of, for lots of the time you’ll be visiting Miyajima, if you wish to enter the shrines and climb Mount Minsen, you’ll spend a whole lot of time queuing, which can in flip eat away at your treasured time.
If you’re visiting as a day journey from some place else (we visited as a day journey from Osaka), you then’ll additionally should issue within the hour and a half or so prepare journey in every course to succeed in Hiroshima within the first place.
The finest plan of action can be to e-book an in a single day keep in Hiroshima. This manner, you’ll be able to dedicate a complete day to visiting Hiroshima, together with seeing the A-Bomb Dome and Peace Park (important and chilling viewing).
You’ll additionally need sufficient time to pattern the savoury dish that Hiroshisma is legendary for: okonomiyaki, a sort of savoury pancake. The dish is fairly customisable, making it an important possibility for vegetarians!
The subsequent day, spend an entire day on Miyajima Island, having fun with the island’s sights at a leisurely tempo. If you do wish to go forward and see Miyajima and Hiroshima in a day, think about reserving a guided tour like this one.
Things to do on Miyajima Island
If you wish to do the whole lot on the island over the course of a day, you then’ll wish to journey at fairly a quick tempo. We introduced a packed lunch as we knew we wouldn’t have time to cease throughout our itinerary.
There are a number of foodie specialities of the island that you just make wish to make time to attempt, and these are oysters and maple leaf muffins, that are recognized domestically as Manju! The muffins are available every kind of flavours together with cream cheese and vanilla, however the unique flavour is bean paste.
O-Torii Gate (Grand Torii Gate)
One of essentially the most spectacular websites in Japan is the Grand Torii gate which rises out of the water and stands at a powerful 16.8 metres in peak. Part of Itsukushima Shinto shrine, Torii Gates symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred on the entrance to a shrine.
Depending on the tide instances (it’s a good suggestion to spend a full day on the island as a way to see the gate at excessive and low tide) it may possibly seem as if the gate is rising out of the ocean.
At low tide, it’s doable to stroll beneath the gate. Just be warned that the tide is available in quick and so be conscious of the water when you do go to the seashore.
High tide is a favorite of many because of the truth that the Vermillion gate rises out of the ocean and seems to be floating. The finest time to go to the gate is round sundown when golden mild bathes the realm in an attractive glow.
Itsukushima Shrine
You’ll have already got seen essentially the most iconic a part of the shrine when taking a ferry to succeed in Miyajima because of the large O-Torii gate buried deep into the sand. The Shrine is definitely constructed on stilts and sits above the water of the ocean.
A UNESCO World Heritage website, the advanced contains of two most important halls and 17 different buildings, in addition to the long-lasting O-Torii gate. The shrine is devoted to the three feminine deities often called sanjoshin.
Daigan-Ji Temple
Close to the Itsukushima Shrine, the Daigan-Ji Temple is a Buddhist Temple dates again to the 1200s and is best-known for its intricate picket carvings. The Temple is devoted to Benzaiten, the Goddess of eloquence.
Daisho-In Temple
One of essentially the most iconic Buddhist Temples on Miyajima Island is the Daisho-In Temple, which was foudned by well-known Japanese Buddhist Monk Kobo Daishi in the beginning of the Ninth-century.
One of essentially the most iconic components of the temple is the a whole bunch of Buddha statues main up the principle corridor. In whole, it’s beleived that there are over 500 Buddha statues within the grounds of Daisho-In.
Five-Storey Pagoda
One of essentially the most lovely buildings on Miyajima is a surprising five-storey pagoda, which stands at 29 metres in peak and is true subsequent to the Daisho-In Temple. The Pagoda was constructed in 1407 and combines Japanese and Chinese constructing types.
Unfortunately, you’ll be able to’t enter the Pagoda. It’s nonetheless value trying out from up shut, particularly throughout cherry blossom (sakura) season when you’ll be able to seize the Pagoda and cherry blossom multi function photograph.
Take the Miyajima Ropeway as much as Mount Shinsen
It’s value noting that the Ropeway truly contains of a gondola sort elevate adopted by a bigger aerial tramway. All guests on the route should take each lifts to succeed in the highest. Halfway up, you cease on the Kayadani Station, although you’ll be able to’t get off right here.
Taking the ropeway was one of the costly issues we did in Japan when it comes to sights and price 2000 yen every (for a return ticket).
You can solely pay in money on the ropeway ticket workplace and so remember to have loads of money on you (you’ll at all times wish to have a gentle provide of yen on you anyway as a result of Japan is such a cash-based society).
Another possibility is to hike up the mountain. The hottest route is the Momijidani Course, which takes round two hours. However, when you solely have a short while on the island, I might advocate merely taking the Ropeway.
Hike at Mount Shinsen
The summit of Mount Shinsen is 535 metres above sea degree and is nicely value climbing as much as, particularly if it’s a transparent day. They say to offer your self round an hour to hike to the highest and again.
However, we had been in a rush to catch the final cable automobile again down the mountain and so did it in 40 minutes (I don’t advocate doing this as you’ll need the additional time to cease off and take a great deal of fairly photographs!) Do just remember to catch the final cablecar down the mountain although!
From the highest of the mountain, and even simply the highest of the cable automobile route when you don’t go on the hike, you’ll be rewarded with implausible views of the Setouchi Inland Sea. If you go on the hike, there are a variety of essential shrines on the best way as much as the summit.
This consists of seeing the “Kiezu-no-hi,” i.e. the everlasting flame which has been burning consistently for nicely over 1200 years. The flame was lit by Kobo Daishi, a Japanese monk who based the the Shingon faculty of Buddhism in Japan, in addition to the Daishoin Temple on Miyajima in 806.
The flame burns throughout the Reikado, which is the Spiritual Hall of flame and its hearth was truly used to mild the Hiroshima Peace Flame. You’ll have the ability to see the everlasting flame round 3/4 of the best way as much as the highest of Mount Shinsen when you’re climbing from the Ropeway exit.
Momijidani Park
If you occur to go to Miyajima Island within the fall, you then merely should take the time to go to Momijidani Park, which is usually mentioned to be one of the lovely Maple Valleys in Japan. Situated on the base of Mount Misen, this space really involves life throughout the autumn when fall turns the leaves oranges and reds.
Miyajima History Folk Museum
Those who take pleasure in visiting museums ought to be certain to not miss the History Folk Museum which showcases exhibitions concerning the historical past of the island and its environment. In some areas you’ll be anticipated to take off your sneakers so come ready and just remember to’re sporting socks!
See the wild deer
Much like in Nara, wild deer are allowed to roam across the island. In the Shinto faith, deer are thought of sacred and to be messengers of the gods and there are over 1000 deer on Miyajima island.
Therefore, they’re allowed to walk round at their very own leisure, although many favor to stay near the city (i.e. the place the vacationers with meals are).
Be positive to not feed the deer something aside from the permitted rice crackers and notice that these are wild animals- not pets. It is very essential to not go away any litter mendacity round. Though trash cans are considerably of a rarity in Japan, simply carry your garbage round with you till you get again to your lodge!
Machiya Street and Omotesando avenue
If you do wish to try some native outlets, then you’ll be able to head to Machiya Street and Omotesando avenue, which is only a brief stroll away from the port. These streets is stuffed with every kind of outlets promoting conventional snacks, in addition to some memento outlets (together with, like in Nara, deer themed souvenirs).
One of the best curiosities is to be discovered on Omotesando avenue, which holds the quite distinctive title of being residence to the O-shakushi, the world’s largest rice spoon.
How to get to Miyajima Island
It’s surprisingly straightforward to succeed in Miyajima Island from the mainland, particularly when you’ve got a Japan Rail go. If you’re visiting from one other metropolis in Japan that’s not Hiroshima, you then’ll have to take the Shinkansen to Hiroshima station. If you’ve gotten additional time, you’ll be able to even get the Hello Kitty Shinkansen.
From there, you’ll wish to hope on a JR prepare (the San-yo line) to succeed in Miyajimaguchi station. Stations are sometimes clearly introduced in English and also you’ll generally be instructed when to disembark the prepare to get the JR ferry. Keep an eye fixed out too, in case they don’t announce the station for some motive!
It’s then a ten minute stroll to succeed in the ferry terminal, all of which is clearly signposted. There are fairly common ferries to succeed in the island and so that you gained’t have to attend lengthy earlier than having the ability to board one.
Just remember to comply with the indicators for these utilizing the JR Pass and get on a JR ferry. Your go will likely be checked upon arrival on the island, and once more when leaving the island. The journey between the mainland and the island is simply ten to fifteen minutes, however have your digicam on the able to {photograph} the O-Torii gate!
Staying on Miyajima Island
If you get the prospect to, I actually advocate staying in a single day on Miyajima Island in order to expertise the true serenity of the island with out the day trippers. There are quite a lot of lodging choices, virtually all which might simply be reached on foot from the port.
Auberge Watanabe: Those who want to expertise a conventional Japanese lodge ought to think about this three-star lodge, which lies near Itsusuhima Shrine. Amenities embody a Japanese Style Room with non-public bathtub & rest room. Check particulars right here.
Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto: Situated only a stone’s throw away from the water, this four-star lodge offers luxuries reminiscent of a concierge, air-conditioning, and a scorching tub. Check costs and availability right here.
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