Hiroshima and Miyajima in a day: trains, ferry and costs

Getting to Hiroshima

smartEX prices for a reserved seat, regular season, as of 1 April 2025. Off-peak, peak and busiest-peak seasons change the price by ¥200–400 on Sanyo-only trips such as Shin-Osaka–Hiroshima, and by ¥400–800 on trips that also use the Tokaido Shinkansen (from Kyoto or Tokyo). Journey times are typical figures, not from the operators’ pages; check the timetable for your train. Seats go on sale one month before at 10:00 Japan time.

Is the Kansai-Hiroshima pass worth it?

For a day trip from Osaka, usually yes. JR West’s Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass costs ¥17,000 for 5 consecutive days (child ¥8,500) and covers:

• reserved seats on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima (not Hiroshima–Hakata or the Tokaido Shinkansen to Tokyo; going on to Fukuoka? See Hiroshima to Fukuoka and Kyushu);
• JR trains in the pass area, which JR West shows on a map on the pass page (check that your stations, such as Miyajimaguchi, are inside it);
• the JR West Miyajima Ferry (the ¥100 visitor tax is still paid separately).

A Nozomi round trip on smartEX is ¥21,500 in regular season, so the pass saves about ¥4,500 on the train alone and leaves four more days for Kansai trips such as Kyoto and Nara. It is sold only to holders of a foreign passport. If you already have a nationwide Japan Rail Pass, you do not need it. Other JR West and JR East passes, from Kinosaki to Kanazawa and Tohoku, are compared in JR Pass vs regional passes.

A one-day itinerary (from Osaka)

1. Early morning: Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima.
2. Morning: Hiroden streetcar from Hiroshima Station to Genbaku Dome-mae (¥240) for the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Park. The Peace Memorial Museum (¥200) opens at 7:30; the early and evening slots need an online reservation, and the museum recommends a web ticket at any time.
3. Lunch in central Hiroshima.
4. Afternoon: to Miyajima (options below), the ferry across, then Itsukushima Shrine (¥300, opens 6:30; closing time varies by season) and the shopping street. Time it with the tide if you want to walk out to the Great Torii.
5. Evening: ferry and JR back to Hiroshima Station, and the Shinkansen to Osaka.

Museum hours: 7:30–19:00 March–July and September–November, 7:30–20:00 in August (to 21:00 on 5 and 6 August), 7:30–18:00 December–February; closed 30 and 31 December. If low tide falls in the morning, do Miyajima first.

Hiroshima to Miyajima

Times from Hatsukaichi City; fares from Hiroden and JR West Miyajima Ferry, checked 23 October 2026. Ferries run about every 15 minutes, operated by JR West Miyajima Ferry and Miyajima Matsudai Kisen. Add the ¥100 Miyajima Visitor Tax on the way to the island (preschool children are exempt). Hiroden’s 1 Day Streetcar and Ferry Pass is ¥1,000 and includes the visitor tax; the 1 Day Streetcar Pass alone is ¥700.

Tides and the Great Torii

The torii stands in the sea. At low tide you can walk out to it on the sand; at high tide the shrine looks as if it is floating. The Miyajima Tourist Association publishes the windows for every day. On 23 October 2026, for example, the walking window was 13:15–14:15, and the “floating” windows were 5:30–9:30 and 17:30–22:15. Check the date of your visit before choosing the order of your day.

What the day costs (from Osaka, adult)

Our sums of the published fares above, checked 23 October 2026; not an official price. Children pay less throughout.

When a tour helps

With a rail pass, Hiroshima and Miyajima are straightforward on your own. A tour is worth it when:

• You want a guide at the Peace Memorial Park, to explain the history as you walk.
• You do not want to manage the connections (Shinkansen, streetcar or JR, ferry), for example with children or older relatives.
• You are based in Osaka or Kyoto without a pass and would rather pay one price for transport and guiding.
• Not worth it if you already hold a Japan Rail Pass or the Kansai-Hiroshima pass and are happy to follow the plan above.

A bus tour from Osaka was listed from about US$115 per person, and guided Hiroshima and Miyajima days from Hiroshima from about US$85–120 per person (as seen on GetYourGuide on 23 October 2026; prices change daily). Check what is included, such as ferry, entry fees and lunch, and how long you get on Miyajima.

Quick answers

Can you do Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day?

Yes, from Osaka or Kyoto: the Shinkansen takes about 1.5 hours each way (approx.), and Miyajima is about 25 minutes by JR from Hiroshima Station plus a 10-minute ferry. Spend the morning at the Peace Memorial Park and the afternoon on Miyajima, or swap them round if low tide is in the morning.

Is the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass worth it for a day trip?

Usually yes from Osaka. The 5-day pass is ¥17,000 and covers reserved seats on the Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima, JR trains in its area and the JR ferry, while a Nozomi round trip on smartEX is ¥21,500 in regular season. Only foreign passport holders can buy it.

How do I get from Hiroshima to Miyajima?

JR Sanyo Line from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi (about 25 minutes), or the Hiroden streetcar to Hiroden-miyajima-guchi (about 60 minutes, ¥240), then a ferry of about 10 minutes. A high-speed boat also runs from the Peace Park in about 50 minutes.

How much is the ferry to Miyajima?

The JR West Miyajima Ferry is ¥200 each way for adults, plus the ¥100 Miyajima Visitor Tax when you go to the island. The Japan Rail Pass and JR-WEST passes cover the JR ferry fare but not the tax.

When can you walk to the Itsukushima torii?

Only around low tide. The Miyajima Tourist Association publishes a daily window: on 23 October 2026, for example, you could walk to the Great Torii from 13:15 to 14:15, and the shrine looked as if it floated from 5:30 to 9:30 and 17:30 to 22:15. Check the date of your visit.

Is a day trip to Hiroshima from Tokyo worth it?

Only if you have no alternative. The Nozomi takes about 4 hours each way (approx.) and costs ¥19,560 one way on smartEX. Stay a night in Hiroshima, or visit on the way between Osaka and Fukuoka.

Do I need to book the Peace Memorial Museum?

Only for the early (7:30–8:30) and evening slots, which need an online reservation. At other times you can buy a ticket on the day, but the museum recommends buying a web ticket in advance and may limit entry when it is crowded.

Moving on from Hiroshima with luggage? You can send your suitcase ahead or leave it in a locker. An IC card such as ICOCA pays JR trains and the JR ferry. Combining Hiroshima with Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka? Check whether a JR Pass pays off, and see Osaka in one or two days.

Sources

Checked against these pages on 23 October 2026. Official pages take precedence over this summary.

1. JR Central / JR West (smartEX): smartEX prices, reserved seat in ordinary cars, as of 1 Apr 2025 (PDF)
   Railway operators.
2. JR West: Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass: price, valid trains and area
   Railway operator.
3. JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group): Use of NOZOMI/MIZUHO trains: special ticket prices
   Official JR Group site.
4. Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden): Streetcar fares
   Streetcar operator.
5. Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden): 1-Day Trip Card and 1-Day Streetcar and Ferry Pass
   Streetcar operator.
6. Hatsukaichi City: Getting to Miyajima: JR, streetcar, ferry and high-speed boat times (Japanese)
   Local government.
7. JR West Miyajima Ferry: Fares (JR Pass and IC cards accepted)
   Ferry operator.
8. Hatsukaichi City: Miyajima Visitor Tax
   Local government.
9. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum: Hours and admission
   The museum’s own site.
10. Hiroshima Prefecture (Dive! Hiroshima): Itsukushima Shrine: hours and admission
    Official prefectural tourism guide.
11. Miyajima Tourist Association: Tide info: when you can walk to the Great Torii

General information. Fares, timetables and opening hours change; the operator’s own page is always right. JapanBenri is not affiliated with JR, Hiroden, the ferry operators or any tour company.