Aquanet Hiroshima is a company that operates high-speed boats for sightseeing in Hiroshima. The company operates several unique routes, including the “Hiroshima World Heritage Route” that connects the Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima, and a route from Marina Hop, a large mall, to Miyajima, although this route is currently suspended.
Last year, there was news that Aquanet Hiroshima will start a new “Miyajima-guchi – Miyajima” route in May 2022.
The Miyajima-Kuchi to Miyajima route has long been operated by two companies, JR Nishinippon Miyajima Ferry and Miyajima Matsudai Kisen. Now a third company has joined the fray!
So I went to Miyajima shortly after the start of the service to cover the event and boarded the ferry.
After that, I got busy and did not write an article about it, but since I wrote “From Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to Miyajima (article on Hiroshima World Heritage Route)” yesterday, I decided to write about my experience at that time again at this timing. Please take a look if you like.
Click here for the article I wrote yesterday about the Hiroshima World Heritage Route.
Following the JR West Japan Miyajima Ferry and Miyajima Matsudai Kisen, the third Miyajima-guchi Miyajima route is now in service!
Aquanet Hiroshima’s Miyajima-guchi Miyajima route was to start on May 21, 2022. I had heard about it on the news a few days earlier and wondered what it would be like to have a third route where two companies had been operating for so long. I was very interested in it.
I actually boarded the ship on May 25 of the same year, so it was the fifth day after the start.
Outline of the route
First of all, here is the main outline of the route.
| Route | Between Miyajima-guchi and Miyajima (Miyajima arrives at Pier 3) |
| Fare | Adults 400 yen one way, 800 yen round trip |
| Travel time | 5 min. |
| Advantages | If you are coming to Miyajima via Aquanet Hiroshima’s “Hiroshima World Heritage Route,” you can also take this Miyajima-guchi – Miyajima route for an additional 100 yen (which would be cheaper than JR and Shodai Kisen’s 180 yen). |
As I will mention later, I was surprised that 400 yen one-way is quite expensive, while the two preceding companies charge 180 yen each way.
But I guess that is because of the “Hiroshima World Heritage Route”.
I would like to share my actual experience with this route and explore ways to make better use of this new entry.
From the Miyajima-guchi boarding gate to boarding!
First of all, this is the Miyajima-guchi ferry terminal. You will come to Miyajima-guchi by either the JR Sanyo Main Line or the Hiroden Miyajima Line.
After entering the ferry terminal, turn immediately to the left and you will find the Aquanet Hiroshima ticket office.
When I tried to buy a round-trip ticket to Miyajima, the person from Aquanet Hiroshima who was there to explain to the customer said, “It’s expensive, but is it OK? He said, “It’s expensive, but is it OK?
Indeed, Aquanet Hiroshima’s one-way ticket is 400 yen, and the round trip is 800 yen! JR and Matsudai Kisen are 180 yen one-way and 360 yen round-trip, so I was honestly surprised at how expensive it was.
ExplainerIt is expensive, but is it OK?
MacckeyYes, it’s fine.
But since it was an interview job for my blog, I said, “Okay,” and bought it.
Still, I thought he was a sincere employee who clearly stated the disadvantages as well. (^_^)
As for the price, I honestly think they could do something more about it. if it costs twice as much, everyone would obviously go to JR or Matsudai Steamship.
However, I think this Miyajima-guchi Miyajima route is probably not considered as a stand-alone route. I think it is meant to be a set with the Hiroshima World Heritage route. If that is the case, I can understand. (This point will be discussed later.)
Unlike JR and Shodai Kisen, the boarding area is located behind a newly built commercial facility called “etto” on the left side of the terminal building.
The back of “etto” is a parking space, and the boarding area is located in one of the spaces. (It was one year ago, so the atmosphere may have changed a little more now.)
While we were waiting at the boarding area, a high-speed boat arrived.
It is a high-speed boat with a capacity of 100 passengers. There were two crew members.
The colorful seats in the cabins were comfortable.
The interior was nice, but I wanted to feel the breeze since I was there, and the crew told me that the second floor was a deck that I could go out on, so I quickly went out there. There are lots of chairs and it is comfortable.
And when it started running…how fast it was!
The wind was whipping around, and to be honest, it was a little scary… (laughs).
I was a little scared, to be honest… (laughs). It takes about 10 minutes by JR or Matsudai Steamship, but it’s half the time.
I uploaded a short 5-minute video, if you would like to see it. However, please note that you might get seasick if you watch the waves all the time (sweat). (^^;
We arrived not at the Miyajima Pier of JR or Matsudai Kisen, but at the “Miyajima No. 3 Pier” which is just a little bit far from there.
I didn’t study enough, but it seems that Aquanet Hiroshima’s “Hiroshima World Heritage Route” and Setouchi Sea Line’s route to Kure Port also arrive and depart from here.
Compared to the Miyajima Pier, it is quite small and unassuming, but it is a very active pier.
My impressions of the Aquanet Hiroshima “Miyajima-guchi Miyajima route
It was fast…
It was so fast that I didn’t realize how fast a high-speed boat could be (laugh). It was a little scary to be on the deck (laugh).
You can never experience this feeling on a JR or Matsudai Kisen ferry.
However, even 10 minutes is a short time, and if you ask me, what is the point of going that fast to get to Miyajima?
I am still concerned about the pricing…
I haven’t talked to anyone at Aquanet Hiroshima, so I’m just guessing…
I think it is clear that the company does not consider this route as a stand-alone service.
MacckeyNo matter how fast and pleasant it is, if there is such a big price difference, customers will be hard pressed!
This is where the link to the “Hiroshima World Heritage Route” comes in.
If you come to Miyajima from Peace Park using the “Hiroshima World Heritage Route,” you can also take this Miyajima-guchi Miyajima route for an additional 100 yen!
So, the fare between Miyajima-guchi and Miyajima is 100 yen, which is 80 yen cheaper than the 180 yen fare between JR and Matsudai Kisen.
However, I have a second thought,
Macckey But then I think, instead of “Peace Memorial Park → Miyajima → (return) Peace Memorial Park”, why not “Peace Memorial Park → Miyajima → (return) Miyajima”?
But then I wonder if there are people who go Peace Memorial Park → Miyajima → Miyajima-guchi instead of Peace Memorial Park → Miyajima → (return) Peace Memorial Park.
I am not sure about this.
I am not sure about this, but it takes about 30 minutes from Miyajima-guchi to Hiroshima Station on the JR Sanyo Line,
Peace Memorial Park → Miyajima sightseeing → JR Hiroshima Station (via Miyajima-guchi) → Shinkansen to another place
Or take the JR down train
Peace Memorial Park → Miyajima sightseeing → Iwakuni sightseeing (via Miyajima-guchi)
Such patterns are quite conceivable. It may be more common than you think. That makes sense.
The “Hiroshima World Heritage Route” seems to be very popular, especially among foreign tourists, and I wondered if there are many “set tours” that include such routes.
We talked to a tourist at the waiting area.
When I was wondering if I could talk to someone who was using the tour, I found a couple who appeared to be tourists from Southeast Asia in the waiting area. I was able to have a short conversation with them.
MacckeyAre you going to Miyajima-guchi now? Or are you going to Peace Park?
Tourist manPeace Park. We have a hotel near the park, so we are going back.
MacckeyIf you want to go to Peace Park, you can take the city train via Miyajima-guchi, which is cheaper, but you are going by boat?
Tourist womanThis boat goes directly to the immediate neighborhood, so it’s better that way.
Tourist manBesides, I’m a little scared of the crowds (of the new Corona).
At that time, although the new Corona had calmed down a little, it was still a time when everyone was still afraid of it. It is true that the JR and Matsudai Steamship ferries are always quite crowded, and I understand that the city trains are also a concern.
The Hiroshima World Heritage Route will also be crowded at times, but I thought I could understand how these two people felt.
Unfortunately, I didn’t meet anyone going from Miyajima to Miyajima-guchi on the Aquanet Hiroshima flight.
In summary, how can we use this route?
I still feel strange about the pricing, and I would like to ask Aquanet Hiroshima about it if I have a chance.
However, if you think of “this route is an option for the Hiroshima World Heritage route”, you can see the merit and how to use it.
For example…
Stay at a hotel near Peace Memorial Park,
→Visit the Peace Memorial Museum and the Cenotaph in the morning.
→Take the Hiroshima World Heritage Route to Miyajima
→Enjoy Miyajima for half a day and take a boat to Miyajima-guchi in the evening.
→Take a JR train from Miyajima-guchi to Hiroshima Station. Have dinner at one of the restaurants in Hiroshima Station…
I think there is a way to enjoy the trip like this. It is a good way to enjoy Miyajima, with fewer transfers, and it is also cost-effective.
JR West Miyajima Ferry and Matsudai Kisen are always crowded, especially with students on school excursion. In comparison, Aquanet Hiroshima is considered to be empty. Another advantage is that you can go (and return) in a relaxed and empty environment.
In addition to the Aquanet Hiroshima service, JR West Miyajima Ferry, Miyajima Matsudai Kisen, Setonaikai Kisen, and others also offer service to Miyajima. Choose the one that best suits your plans and enjoy your trip to Hiroshima!
Official website of Aquanet Hiroshima
JR West Japan Miyajima Ferry’s official website
Official site of Miyajima Matsudai Kisen
Official site of Setonaikai Kisen
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