Photo: Jakub Hałun / CC BY 4.0Checked · Researched, not yet visited · times from official timetables and our estimates · Takumi Yamada
Itsukushima Shrine
A World Heritage shrine of roofed corridors built on piles over the tidal flat, facing the great torii: about 16.8 m high, the ninth on the site, erected in 1875 and held down by its own weight. The Miyajima Tourist Association gives the rule: above a 250 cm tide it appears to float, below 100 cm you can walk out to its foot (check the tide table in the complete guide); the gate is free at any time. The shrine is open 6:30–18:00 from 1 March to 14 October, to 17:30 from 15 October to 30 November and to 17:00 in December. Adult ¥300, or ¥500 with the Treasure Hall, a ticket sold at the shrine entrance only. A ship that anchors at 06:00 can be at the entrance when it opens.
831 m, about 10 min on foot from Miyajima Pier, our estimateFull guide: Itsukushima ShrineMiyajima Ropeway to the Shishiiwa lookout
Two legs up Mount Misen: 8-seat gondolas for about 10 minutes, then a 35-seat car for about 4. Cars go up 9:00–16:00 and the last comes down at 16:30; adult ¥2,000 return. Online booking is required on the busy days the operator lists. The ropeway takes no strollers or wheelchairs and stops in high wind or thunder. On a call that sails at noon this lookout is as far as the time allows. On the longest calls walk on to the summit, which looks over the Inland Sea and its islands; Reikado hall on the way keeps a fire the Tourist Association says has burned for over 1,200 years, the one that lit the Flame of Peace in Hiroshima. With the ropeway both ways that needs about four hours from the landing.
About 20 min on foot, uphill, from Miyajima Pier to Momijidani Station; about 15 min from the shrine exit — our estimatesFull guide: Miyajima RopewayDaisho-in
The temple at the foot of Mount Misen, up a lane behind the shrine, with stone statues along its paths and steps. Its gates open 8:00–17:00, earlier than anything but the shrine, so it fits a morning call. The temple’s own page puts it about 30 minutes on foot from the pier.
1.4 km, about 20 min on foot from Miyajima Pier; 7 min from the shrine exit — our estimatesGoogle MapsSenjokaku and the Five-storied Pagoda
On the hill above the shrine stand the vermilion Five-storied Pagoda and Senjokaku, the large wooden hall the shrine lists as Hokoku Shrine. The hall opens 8:30–16:30 and costs ¥100; the pagoda is seen from outside. It is the nearest sight to the ferry terminal after the shopping street.
730 m, about 9 min on foot from Miyajima Pier, with steps — our estimateGoogle MapsGrilled oysters at Yakigaki no Hayashi
Yakigaki no Hayashi has been on Omotesando since 1948 and calls itself the first grilled-oyster shop. It steams the oysters in the closed shell over the grill, and the cook judges them by sound and smell. Open 10:30–17:00, last order 16:30; closed on Wednesdays. On a morning call it opens too late for anything but a quick plate before the last boat.
549 m, about 7 min on foot from Miyajima Pier, our estimateGoogle MapsMomiji manju at Fujiiya
Momiji manju are small maple-leaf cakes filled with bean paste, the island’s standard gift. Fujiiya’s main shop on Omotesando opens 9:30–17:30, though the shop says hours can change, and has a tea room open 9:30–17:00.
On Omotesando, on the walk between Miyajima Pier and the shrineGoogle MapsMomijidani Park
A valley park of maples on the way to the ropeway station, free and always open. The leaves turn in mid to late November in a normal year. The path through it is the walking route to Momijidani Station.
1.4 km, about 20 min on foot from Miyajima Pier; 9 min from the shrine exit — our estimatesGoogle MapsThe shore walk and the deer
About 500 wild deer live on the island and about 200 of them in the town, mostly along the shore between the ferry terminal and the shrine. The Tourist Association asks visitors not to feed them and warns that they eat paper, plastic and cloth. Keep maps, tickets and paper bags out of reach.
From Miyajima Pier along the shore towards the shrineGoogle Maps
