How to get from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine with photos! 5 patterns by via

This blog introduces access (how to get there) to major sightseeing spots in Hiroshima starting from JR Hiroshima Station.

Hiroshima Castle from Hiroshima Station / Mazda Stadium from Hiroshima Station / Peace Memorial Park from Hiroshima Station

I suddenly realized that I had not written “Miyajima (Itsukushima Shrine) from Hiroshima Station”. (^^;)

(^^; I didn’t write “Miyajima Shrine” because it seemed too obvious to me as a local.

But it may be confusing for those who have never been to Hiroshima before, and there are several other possible routes, including via Hiroshima.

In this article, as in my other articles, I will try to make it as easy as possible for first-time visitors to Hiroshima to get to Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine from Hiroshima Station by showing you the pictures I have taken.

Please refer to the diagram below for reference.

We have drawn a diagram of the area to be covered in this article for your reference. Circular numbers (1) through (5) indicate each of the five patterns (chapters). *Please enlarge the image if you are using a smartphone.

(1) Take the JR Sanyo Line to JR Miyajimaguchi Station, and then take the ferry from there.

This is the basic or usually almost the only choice (laugh).

Advantages and disadvantages of this pattern

Here are the advantages of using this pattern (route).

Then, the disadvantages of using this pattern are…

Below is a detailed explanation of how to get there, along with photos.

Changing trains at Hiroshima Station

The Sanyo Main Line down train for Miyajima-guchi is on platform 1.

From the Shinkansen, you can go through the “transfer gate” on the right side toward the exit , and go through the station premises to platform 1.

This is a shot of the Shinkansen concourse. The conventional line transfer ticket gate is on the right.

This is the exit from the conventional line transfer ticket gate. There is a coin locker just to the right of this picture. If you are returning to Hiroshima Station on the same day, you can leave your luggage here.
Click here for an article on coin lockers⇒There are a total of 8 coin lockers and temporary storage facilities in JR Hiroshima Station and the surrounding area! How to get there

You can go to platforms 1 to 9 through the passageway. The one for Miyajima-guchi direction (1) is the innermost one.

Go down at the end of the corridor to platform 1. You can see “Iwakuni” on the signboard.

I accidentally forgot to take a picture of the train at Hiroshima Station (sweat), so I took a picture of the train when it arrived at Miyajimaguchi.

From JR Miyajimaguchi Station to Miyajimaguchi Ferry Terminal

It takes about 30 minutes to arrive at JR Miyajimaguchi Station. From Hiroshima Station, the fare is 420 yen for adults and 210 yen for children.

There is a main street in front of the station. The ferry terminal is 200 meters straight down the street. It is about a 3-minute walk.

Looking back for a moment, I took this photo of JR Miyajimaguchi Station.

On the way, you cross Route 2, which used to be crossed by a pedestrian crossing, but now there is only an underground walkway. There is also an elevator for those who are not able to use the elevator.

Follow the signs and go down to the underground passage.

The entrance has a Miyajima-like atmosphere.

Go straight down the passage.

A short walk after exiting the underground passageway, you will see a statue of “Ranryo, the King of Bugaku” (a reference to the tradition of bugaku at Itsukushima Shrine). Beyond it is the Miyajima-guchi Ferry Terminal building.

Looking to the left is Hiroden Miyashimaguchi Station.

The front of the Miyajimaguchi Ferry Terminal.

At the Miyajimaguchi Ferry Terminal

There are two ferry companies that cross to Miyajima : JR Nishinippon Miyajima Ferry and Miyajima Matsudai Kisen. The Matsudai Kisen ticket booth is in front of the entrance, and the JR Nishi-Nippon Miyajima Ferry ticket booth is to the right of it.

The fare for both companies is 200 yen one-way for adults (junior high school students and older) and 100 yen for children (elementary school students). Non-residents of Miyajima are charged an additional 100 yen Miyajima visitor’s tax (Miyajima-guchi→Miyajima).

The round-trip fare is simply double this amount, so the total is 500 yen round-trip for adults and 300 yen round-trip for children. (There is no discount if you buy a round-trip ticket, but the ticket office may be crowded on the way back, so it is better to buy the ticket first.

The two companies generally depart every 15 minutes, and the trip takes about 10 minutes.

JR or Songda Kisen, the price is the same and the arrival point is the same, so honestly either is fine, but if you are a first time visitor, you may enjoy this more as JR’s outbound flight takes a course closer to the Otorii gate for tourists.

The Matsudai Steamship is slightly faster than JR in exchange for not having it (though this does not change much either).

Aquanet Hiroshima has a Miyajima-guchi – Miyajima route, but the fare for Miyajima-guchi – Miyajima alone is considerably higher than the other two (400 yen one-way), so it is basically better to consider it as a set with the route from Peace Memorial Park.

This is the entrance to the terminal. In front is the ticket office of Matsudai Kisen, and to the right is the ticket office of JR Nishi-Nippon Miyajima Ferry.

There are many information boards like this, so you will not make a mistake.

This is the ticket office and ticket gate of Miyajima Matsudai Kisen.

This is the ticket office of JR Nishi-Nippon Miyajima Ferry.

This is the boarding gate of JR Nishi-Nippon Miyajima Ferry.

This is the arrival exit.

There is no round-trip discount, so you may buy a one-way ticket and use different companies for going and returning.

(2) From Hiroden Hiroshima Station, take a streetcar to Hiroden Miyajima-guchi, and then take the ferry from there.

The second pattern is to use the Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden) city tram (streetcar). This will take you from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima-guchi in a single train without changing trains.

Hiroshima Station on the Hiroden Line is at the south exit of the station. There, board a train bound for [No. 2] Miyajima-guchi. This will take you there.

The tram has many stops and the speed is very slow. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima-guchi.

Aside from the time, there are one-day tram passes and one-day boat passes available from Hiroshima Dentetsu (Hiroshima Electric Railway). Using these tickets has some advantages over JR trains.

Advantages and disadvantages of this pattern

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this pattern…

How to get there in this pattern

Let me explain how to get there in this pattern with photos.

Hiroden Hiroshima Station is located at the south exit of the station. The South Exit is currently undergoing major construction for redevelopment, and you will have to go through a temporary passageway from JR Hiroshima Station (scheduled for completion in spring 2025). (Scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2025)

You will start from the central ticket gate of Hiroshima Station.

With your back to the ticket gate, the South Exit is on the right.

(^^; You can’t make a mistake because the name “South Exit” is written on the ticket gate. (^^;) There is a stairway to the temporary passageway.

When you go down the stairs, you will see a temporary passageway. Follow the path.

On the way, you will see “South Exit Underground Plaza” on the left, but go straight here (in the direction of the streetcar).

For the streetcar, turn left at the end of the street.

You will come to a tram stop. Here you will board a tram bound for Miyajima-guchi (#2).

There is a “tram information desk” at the back of the boarding area, where you can purchase a one-day tram ticket and a one-day boat ticket.

Although the display is not well taken, this is the train bound for Miyajimaguchi that came during the interview. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

The photo shows Hiroden Miyajima-guchi Station.

When you exit the ticket gate, you will see the ferry terminal on your left. (Hiroden Miyajima-guchi Station was completely reconstructed and moved near the ferry terminal in July 2022.)

Please refer to the explanation in (1) below for more information about the ferry terminal.

(3) From Hiroshima Station, stop by Peace Park on the way to Miyajima

As the third pattern, we assume that you want to go to Miyajima from Hiroshima Station, but also want to stop by Peace Memorial Park on the way.

For this kind of purpose, you would use the city train. It is like a variation of (2).

Advantages and disadvantages of this pattern

In this case, the Hiroden one-day boat ticket is definitely more economical.

Depending on the JR connection, you may be able to arrive at Miyajima-guchi earlier than by city train.

How to get there in this pattern

You will get off at “Genbaku Dome-mae”, so you can take a train bound for “Miyajima-guchi”, “Nishi Hiroshima”, or “Eba” as well as “Miyajima-guchi”.

It takes about 20 minutes from Hiroden Hiroshima Station to the “Atomic Bomb Dome-mae”.

Please visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims, and Peace Memorial Museum.

Return to “Genbaku Dome-mae” and take the Hiroden bound for “Miyajima-guchi”. It takes about 55 minutes from here to Miyajima-guchi, and the fare is 270 yen for adults.

For more information on Hiroden Miyajima-guchi Station and the ferry terminal, please refer to the descriptions in (1) and (2) below.

(4) Stop by Peace Park on the way from Hiroshima Station, and then take a boat to Miyajima.

The route is the same as the previous one, stopping at the Peace Memorial Park on the way, but there is another route that takes you to Miyajima by boat from right next to the Peace Memorial Park.

This is the “Hiroshima World Heritage Route” service operated by Aquanet Hiroshima.

The official page of “Hiroshima World Heritage Route” is here.

Although it costs a little more, it is very pleasant to be able to go directly to Miyajima with a view of the river and the sea in Hiroshima.

If you wish to return to Hiroshima Station from JR Miyajima-guchi, you can take the Aquanet Hiroshima boat to Miyajima-guchi for 2,300 yen (100 yen more), which is a good deal.

How to get there in this pattern

The following is an explanation of how to get there from “Atomic Bomb Dome-mae”.

Cross the street at the traffic light and go to the Peace Memorial Park.

Walk south along the river (Motoyasu River) next to the Atomic Bomb Dome.

This photo was taken from the opposite side (Motoyasu River).

After walking along the Motoyasu River for about 3 minutes, you will come to a bridge called “Motoyasu Bridge. The boarding area is across the road here.

This photo was taken from the top of Motoyasu Bridge.

A few steps down are the ticket office and the boarding area.

Unlike the other two companies (Miyajima Pier), the arrival at Miyajima is at “Pier No. 3”. It is a short walk north from Miyajima Pier.

5) Take a cab from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima-guchi

Finally, the fifth pattern… This was not in my mind at all at first (laugh).

(Laughs) There is another pattern: take a cab from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima-guchi! (This was not in my mind at all at first.) If you take a taxi, it is usually on Route 2.

If you take a cab, you will usually take National Route 2. It takes about 40 minutes, depending on the traffic. The fare is about 6,500 yen, or a little over 2,000 yen per person for three people, or 1,600 yen per person for four people, so it is not extremely expensive.

If you are in a group or have someone with a disability, I think it is possible to take a cab for the entire trip.

One cab stand is located at the North Exit and the other at the South Exit

Cab stands are located at both the North and South Exits. However, as of July 2023, the South Exit of Hiroshima Station is under construction for redevelopment (scheduled for completion in spring 2025) and is temporary. We will provide an introduction to both, but we recommend the cab stand at the spacious North Exit.

Temporary cab stand at the south exit

There is a small circuit breaker at the top of the train platform, and when the circuit breaker is up, you can cross over to the platform on the other side.

The area circled in red is the temporary cab stand at the south exit, which can accommodate two cabs.

Here is a photo from a slightly different angle.

North Exit Taxi Stand

From the free passageway on the 2nd floor of Hiroshima Station, take the stairs down to the North Exit on the 1st floor.

At the bottom of the stairs. Walk to the left in front of the EKIE Dining entrance on your right.

The cab stand is in front of Nippon Ryoko.

The cab stand at the north exit is large and many cabs will be coming, so it is recommended.

Please refer to the explanation in (1) below for more information about the ferry terminal.

Finally, I have included a map of the area around Hiroshima Station and Miyajima-guchi Station.