HiroshimaLeisure

Miyajima Pier (宮島桟橋)

Flow of the course

About 30 min here

About 15 min to the next stop

Next stop: Visit the oldest head temple on Miyajima, home to the Five Hundred Rakan and a grand stone staircase

About this spot

This is the gateway to the World Heritage Itsukushima Shrine, reached by a roughly 10-minute ferry ride from Miyajimaguchi or JR Miyajimaguchi in Hiroshima. The moment you step off the pier and the vermilion Great Torii Gate standing in the sea comes into view is one of the highlights of a Miyajima visit. Because the Great Torii Gate looks dramatically different depending on whether the tide is high or low, checking the times of high and low tide in advance will help you plan how to enjoy it on the day. Around the pier you will find a tourist information center and coin lockers, so you can start exploring the island without carrying much. Feeling the sea breeze here builds anticipation for the day ahead.

Tips

Ferries are operated by two companies, JR West Miyajima Ferry and Miyajima Matsudai Kisen, both taking about 10 minutes and charging the same fare. During summer vacation the ferries get crowded with visitors, so an early morning departure is recommended. Pick up the latest tide chart at the tourist information center in front of the pier to get a sense of how the Great Torii Gate will look.