14 Best Things to Do in Miyajima (2026)

Best Things to Do in Miyajima

The list below is ranked by overall impact on a Miyajima visit. The first few form the practical core of any trip; later entries reward a longer stay or a repeat visit.

1. See the floating torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine
   The vermilion torii standing in the sea off Itsukushima Shrine is Miyajima's defining image and one of Japan's three officially designated "scenic views" (Nihon Sankei). The gate only appears to float at high tide; at low tide, visitors can walk out across the exposed sand to its base. Our Itsukushima Shrine guide has tide tables, ferry timing, and the best photo spots for both tide states.
2. Ride the cable car — or hike — up Mt Misen
   Mt Misen is Miyajima's sacred mountain, reachable by a two-stage ropeway most of the way up, with a genuine hiking trail covering the final stretch to the 535-metre summit. The observation platform looks out across the Seto Inland Sea toward Hiroshima. Our Mt Misen guide covers the cable car schedule, ticket prices, and the three main hiking routes up for those skipping the ropeway.
3. Visit Daisho-in Temple
   A short walk from Itsukushima Shrine, Daisho-in is Miyajima's most atmospheric temple — a hillside complex with hundreds of small Rakan statues, prayer wheels lining the entrance stairway, and a genuinely quiet, contemplative feel that contrasts with the shrine's crowds. Full visiting details are in our Daisho-in Temple guide.
4. Meet Miyajima's sacred deer — carefully
   Miyajima's deer are considered messengers of the gods and roam freely through the town and shrine grounds, protected by law and unbothered by crowds. They will, however, eat paper, food wrappers, and anything else left within reach. Our Miyajima deer guide covers the feeding rules, what NOT to carry loosely, and how to photograph them safely.
5. Walk Momijidani Park in autumn foliage season
   Momijidani ("Maple Valley") Park, at the base of the Mt Misen ropeway, is Miyajima's autumn foliage centerpiece — a landscaped valley of maple trees that turns deep red and gold through November. It is a pleasant walk year-round, but the autumn window is when it draws its own crowds. See our Momijidani Park autumn guide for peak-color timing.
6. Stop by Miyajima Aquarium
   A compact aquarium focused on the marine life of the Seto Inland Sea, with a sea lion show and a family-friendly pace that makes it a good counterpoint to a morning of temples and hiking. Details on hours and tickets are in our Miyajima Aquarium guide.
7. See the torii gate lit up at night
   Once the last day-trip ferries leave, Itsukushima Shrine and the torii gate are illuminated after dark, and the crowds that fill the approach by day thin out almost completely. It is arguably the best version of Miyajima, and it requires staying overnight. Our night illumination guide covers lighting times and where to view from.
8. Eat your way down Omotesando shopping street
   The main pedestrian street between the ferry terminal and the shrine is lined with food stalls, souvenir shops, and grill counters — the easiest place on the island to snack through an afternoon. Our Omotesando guide maps the street and its standout stalls.
9. Eat fresh-grilled oysters
   Hiroshima Bay is one of Japan's major oyster-farming regions, and Miyajima's grill stalls and restaurants serve them raw, grilled, and fried, often shell-to-mouth at street-side counters. Our Miyajima oysters guide ranks the best places to eat them.
10. Try momiji manju, the maple-leaf cake
    Momiji manju — small maple-leaf-shaped cakes filled with sweet red bean paste, custard, or chocolate — originated on Miyajima and are sold fresh (some cooked to order in shopfront griddles) all along Omotesando. Our momiji manju guide covers where to get them hot off the griddle.
11. Tour a Miyajima sake brewery
    Hiroshima Prefecture is a respected sake-producing region, and a handful of breweries on and near Miyajima offer tastings and tours. Our sake brewery guide covers which are open to visitors and what a tasting costs.
12. Soak in a Miyajima onsen
    Several ryokan and a public bathhouse on the island offer hot-spring bathing, a relaxing way to close out a day of walking and hiking. Our Miyajima onsen guide covers day-use access for visitors not staying overnight.
13. Try a traditional craft workshop
    Miyajima is the historic home of the shamoji, the wooden rice paddle now sold as a good-luck souvenir across Japan, and several workshops let visitors carve or paint their own. Our traditional crafts guide covers the shamoji workshops and other local craft experiences.
14. Kayak to the island
    For a different arrival than the standard ferry, guided kayak tours cross to Miyajima from the mainland, timed around the tides. Our Miyajima kayak guide covers tour operators, tide planning, and routes.

Two often-overlooked sights near the Five-Storied Pagoda are worth adding to your itinerary: Senjokaku (Toyokuni Shrine), the massive unfinished wooden pavilion built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and the adjacent Five-Storied Pagoda, originally constructed in 1407.

Where to Stay on Miyajima

Staying overnight on Miyajima — rather than day-tripping from Hiroshima — is what makes the night illumination and the early-morning quiet possible. Ryokan on the island range from simple inns to high-end properties with private onsen baths. Our where to stay in Miyajima guide ranks the best options by area and budget.

The Complete Island Guide

For a single reference covering ferry access, getting around the island on foot, opening hours across the main sights, and general planning notes, see our Miyajima complete visitor guide.

Miyajima as a Day Trip from Hiroshima

Most visitors see Miyajima as a half-day or full-day add-on to a Hiroshima trip, combining the ferry crossing with the Peace Memorial Park on the same day or the day before. Our Miyajima day trip from Hiroshima guide covers timing and logistics, and our 1-day Hiroshima and Miyajima itinerary and 2-day Hiroshima and Miyajima itinerary lay out complete combined routes for travelers building a longer Hiroshima-area trip.