Hiroshima and Miyajima: A Perfect Side Trip

After three nights in Tokyo, we set off for Hiroshima, a city known for its moving history, Peace Memorial Park, and as the gateway to the beautiful island of Miyajima. Here’s how we got there, what we saw, and why this side trip was one of the highlights of our Japan itinerary.

How to Get from Tokyo to Hiroshima (and Why You Should Visit Miyajima)?

By Train

The Sanyo Shinkansen takes about 4 hours from Tokyo to Hiroshima. It’s the most straightforward route, especially if you’re using a JR Pass.

By Plane (Our Choice)

We took an early morning flight from Tokyo Haneda to Iwakuni Airport (1h40). From there:

• A 7-minute bus connects the airport to Iwakuni Station.
• From Iwakuni Station, it’s about 1 hour by train to Hiroshima Station.

It actually took us just slightly less time than the train, and the bonus was a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji from above.

The Iwakuni Airport website has exact bus + train connection details for each flight.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

From Hiroshima Station, we walked about 30 minutes to reach Peace Memorial Park, home to several moving landmarks:

• Peace Memorial Museum – documents the history of Hiroshima and the atomic bomb. A warning: the exhibits are powerful and sometimes upsetting.
• A-Bomb Dome – the skeletal remains of the Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims – dedicated to the 220,000 lives lost.

While visiting, we met Mito Kosei, one of the youngest A-bomb survivors, who now shares his family’s story with visitors “to spread seeds of peace throughout the world.” Speaking with him was an unforgettable part of our time here.

We stayed about 2.5 hours in Hiroshima.

Hiroshima to Miyajima by Cruise

From Peace Memorial Park, we took the Hiroshima World Heritage cruise (45 minutes) straight to Miyajima. It’s the most direct and scenic way to reach the island, along the river and into the Seto Inland Sea.

Miyajima Shrine Island

Miyajima (also known as Itsukushima) is famous for the Itsukushima Shrine and the Great Torii Gate, which appears to float in the sea at high tide. It’s one of Japan’s most photographed icons and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

When we arrived, we were greeted by friendly deer that roam freely across the island. Since we had only hand luggage, we walked the 15 minutes from the pier to our ryokan, enjoying the scenery and stopping often.

Iwaso also offers a free shuttle from the pier.

Staying at Iwaso Ryokan

Iwaso was our first experience of a traditional Japanese ryokan, and it was unforgettable:

• Onsen baths: from Miyajima’s natural hot springs, with separate baths for men and women and garden views (sometimes even a deer wandering by!).
• Kaiseki dinner: served at 18:30, a multi-course feast including one of the biggest oysters I’ve ever seen (Miyajima is famous for them, and they even have an Oyster Festival every February).
• Tatami rooms in the Honkan (main building), where we slept peacefully after our soak and feast.
• Traditional breakfast the next morning, after another onsen dip.

Leaving Miyajima towards Naoshima

The next morning, we took the Great Torii Ferry, passing close to the shrine and torii gate for an unforgettable view from the sea.

From there:

• Train from Hiroshima Station → Okayama Station (Sanyo Shinkansen, reserve with JR Pass)
• Local train to Uno Station
• Ferry to Naoshima

This marked the beginning of the next chapter of our trip.

Final Thoughts on Hiroshima & Miyajima in 2 Days

Visiting Hiroshima and Miyajima was one of the most memorable parts of our Japan journey. Hiroshima offers a deeply moving reflection on history, while Miyajima balances it with natural beauty, spirituality, and food.

If you’re planning a Japan itinerary, don’t miss this combination. Stay overnight in Miyajima if you can as waking up on the island is magical.