Miyajima: Don't Miss the Oyster Feast While Admiring Itsukushima Shrine!

When visiting Hiroshima, a trip to Miyajima is a must. Besides witnessing the beauty of Itsukushima Shrine during high and low tides, you can also take a cable car at Momijidani Park to the summit of Mount Misen and enjoy the stunning views of the Seto Inland Sea. 🚌 Transportation Options: Choose one of the following: (1) Take the JR train to "Miyajimaguchi": Fare JPY 420, travel time 27 minutes. (2) Take the No. 2 streetcar to "Hiroden Miyajimaguchi": Fare JPY 270, travel time 68 minutes. 🎟️ Miyajima Ferry Fare: (1) JR West Miyajima Ferry or (2) Miyajima Matsudai Kisen Ferry, both cost JPY 200 one-way, travel time 10 minutes, with departures approximately every 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can purchase the "Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass" for JPY 1,500, valid for two days, allowing unlimited rides on Hiroshima city buses, streetcars, and ferries to Miyajima (both ferry options included). 📌 Additional Info: While on Miyajima, you don't need to buy a separate ferry ticket, but starting October 1, 2023, you must purchase an island entry tax ticket (JPY 100) at the machine near the ticket counter. You need to present both the entry tax ticket and the pass to board the ferry. 🚶🏼➡️ Must-Visit Attractions: (1) Itsukushima Shrine: Estimated time: 1 hour Famous for its floating appearance on the sea, you can check the tide schedule on the "Miyajima Tourism Association" website. It's recommended to stay overnight here. The shrine opens at 6:30 AM, and visiting early in the morning allows you to enjoy the serene atmosphere and capture the shrine floating on the water during high tide. At night during low tide, you can walk to the sea torii gate and take photos of the illuminated gate, which is stunning. It's also suggested to skip the hotel breakfast, have a light meal, visit the shrine, and then head to Momijidani Park to take the cable car to Shishiiwa Station. From there, a 30-minute hike will take you to the summit of Mount Misen, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Seto Inland Sea. (2) Momijidani Park + Cable Car + Mount Misen Summit: Estimated time: 2.5-3 hours It takes about 10-15 minutes to walk from the base to the cable car station. Although there is a free shuttle bus to the station, it runs every 20 minutes and has limited seating, so walking is often faster. The cable car ride is divided into two sections: the first from Momijidani Station to Kayatani Station (smaller cabins, longer wait times), and the second from Kayatani Station to Shishiiwa Station (larger cabins, longer distance). Kayatani Station doesn't have much to see, so proceed directly to Shishiiwa Station for the views. If you have the energy, it's highly recommended to hike to the summit of Mount Misen. Along the way, you'll encounter (1) Reikado Hall: Home to the "eternal flame" burning for over 1,200 years, which also lit the "Flame of Peace" in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park; and (2) Kuguri Iwa: A narrow passage under a rock that fits 1-2 people. From the summit, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea and the islands, as well as a distant view of Hiroshima. These two spots are among the "Seven Wonders of Mount Misen." The other wonders are less remarkable, so I didn't specifically seek them out. 🚠 Mount Misen Cable Car Fare: One-way JPY 1,100, round-trip JPY 2,000 ⏰ Cable Car Operating Hours: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (last descent at 4:30 PM). Service may be suspended in bad weather. 😋 Must-Try on Miyajima: "Kakiya" (Oyster House): Kakiya Set Meal: JPY 2,600 (includes side dishes and soup, all featuring oysters). The set meal includes two grilled oysters, and in total, you'll enjoy about 11 oysters. The oysters are fresh, sweet, and absolutely delicious. 🏛️ Address: 539 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture (7-minute walk from Miyajima Port). ⏰ Business Hours: Opens at 10:00 AM and closes when oysters are sold out, with last orders around 4:00 PM and closing around 5:00 PM.