A Comprehensive Guide on How to Get from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima and How to Ride the Ferry!

Hello! This is Mikuni from the Pecomag editorial team.

Today, as a resident of Hiroshima, I’ll be sharing a detailed guide on how to get from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima!!

How to get from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima-guchi

There are two main ways to get from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima-guchi.

• Go by JR.
• Go by Hiroshima Electric Railway (streetcar).

If you prioritize speed, JR is the best choice.

The most common way is to take the JR line.
It takes about 30 minutes to get there, making it very convenient!

If you want to travel cheaply and enjoy the cityscape of Hiroshima, take the Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden)!

You can also take a streetcar bound for Miyajima-guchi directly from the rotary just outside the ticket gates at Hiroshima Station.

Hiroden (known locally as “Shiden”) is particularly appealing for its affordability!

Compared to JR, it’s 150 yen cheaper.

Additionally, since the streetcar runs through the heart of Hiroshima, you can enjoy the city views along the way. It passes through Hiroshima’s downtown area, including Hondori and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Atomic Bomb Dome.

However, keep in mind that it takes more than twice as long as JR, so plan accordingly.

From JR Miyajima-guchi to the ferry terminal.

When you arrive at JR Miyajima-guchi Station and exit through the ticket gate, you’ll see the words “Welcome to Miyajima!”

From here, you’ll walk to the ferry terminal.

In front of the station, there is a rotary, and beyond that lies the ferry terminal.

At the intersection leading to the ferry terminal, there is no crosswalk, so you’ll need to use the underground passage via an elevator or stairs.

After passing through the underground passage…

…you will emerge above ground.

In front of the ferry terminal, you’ll find the Hiroden Miyajima-guchi Station.

It was newly renovated in 2022, and it’s spacious and very clean!

If you arrived by streetcar, this is the station where you’ll disembark!

Take the ferry to Miyajima! IC cards are also accepted.

rriving at the ferry terminal!

There are two ferry options to get to Miyajima: the JR Miyajima Ferry and the Miyajima Matsudai Kisen Ferry.

Both operate at 10 to 15-minute intervals.

If you head to the left, you’ll find the boarding area for the Miyajima Matsudai Kisen Ferry.

The right side is the JR Miyajima Ferry boarding area.

The JR Miyajima Ferry operates a route that passes close to the Great Torii Gate of Itsukushima Shrine, making it a great choice for those who want to see the Torii Gate from the ferry!

Both ferry terminals have electronic display boards in front of the gates showing the next departure times. If you’re in a hurry, check the board and take the ferry with the earliest departure.

Hiroshima’s local IC card, “PASPY,” can be used, but of course, various other transportation IC cards are also accepted, including:

ICOCA, Kitaca, PASMO, Suica, manaca, TOICA, PiTaPa, Hayakaken, nimoca, and SUGOCA.

By the way, the facility housing the ferry terminal, “etto,” features conveniences like a convenience store, souvenir shops, and restrooms.

Since there are no convenience stores on Miyajima Island, it’s a good idea to visit the one here if you need anything before heading over!

係員さんの誘導にしたがって、フェリーに乗り込みます。
JRは宮島に渡ってからお金を払うシステム、宮島松大汽船は乗る前にお金を払うシステムです。

Follow the staff’s instructions to board the ferry.

For the JR Miyajima Ferry, you pay after arriving on Miyajima, while for the Miyajima Matsudai Kisen Ferry, you pay before boarding.

You’ve arrived at Miyajima!

Arrived at Miyajima!

If you head to the right, you can reach Omotesando Shopping Street and Itsukushima Shrine.

By the way, there’s a convenience store ATM available at the Miyajima ferry terminal!

If you find yourself needing extra cash while on Miyajima, you can withdraw it here. Many shops on the island only accept cash, so it’s a good idea to prepare some before heading over to Miyajima.