Miyajima island (Hiroshima, Japan) highlights tour

** BEFORE booking here, please get in touch (via message or email) to secure your travel tour dates before paying for this tour booking to make sure that the dates are available email: [email protected] ** 

The sacred island of Miyajima is naturally and culturally beautiful with a rich history and over 1000 year history as one of Japan's top sightseeing and pilgrimage destinations.

This is a half-day tour of Miyajima island (Itsukushima UNESCO) that takes in the key sights and important themes of peace, history, resilience, culture, traditions, heritage, locally-made products and natural beauty. We can finish this tour in 4 hours depending on our walking pace, level of interest and stops. I am happy to stay with the group for up to 6 hours if you prefer a leisurely paced tour with stops along the way to rest, eat and drink.

The fee for this tour covers the guiding and translation during the tour as well as my own transportation, entry and food or drink costs. 

Guests should plan to cover their own travel, entry fees and transportation costs- please plan to have 1, 000 yen per person (in cash) to cover the basic tour expenses for donations, entry and travel. 

Please plan for an additional 2, 000 per person to cover any food and drink. Please let me know what foods you like or dislike as well as any dietary preferences (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, halal, or allergies) so I can make great recommendations for you.

If you have the JR pass - it covers train and ferry. If you do not have a JR train pass, it costs about 600 yen each way to Miyajima and back to Hiroshima city.

ITINERARY
+ Meet at your hotel (or Hiroshima station)
+ Travel to the island of Miyajima by train and ferry (up to ~1 hour)
+ Visit the stunning Otori - giant "floating" tori gate and "floating" Itsukushima shrine UNESCO sites (60-90 minutes)
+ Visit one of Japan's most significant Buddhist temples Daishoin (1 hour)
+ Coffee / tea break at a beautiful, interesting cafe on the island (30~60 minutes)
+ Thousand mat hall and 5-story pagoda visit (30 minutes +)
+ Interesting local shops and eateries (30 minutes +)

Depending on your interests, there are other options of places to see and explore on the island together. 

* Finish the tour on the island (in about 4 hours) so you can explore on your own or travel back to Hiroshima city together (in 5-6 hours). I will give suggestions for things you may want to do on your own after the tour that suit your travel style.

+ Please be aware that the order, length of each visit and destinations will depend on the weather as some of the locations will close in the case of heavy rain or lightening storms and your safety and enjoyment are my utmost priority

MEETING POINT + TOUR DURATION
Meeting Point Options: Rail or Bus Station, Cruise Ship Port, Hotel, Monument/Building

Duration: 5 hours

If the weather is poor, we may have to adjust and see more things under cover. Most tours last 4 hours if I leave you on the island to enjoy exploring and make your own way back (recommended), but I am happy to stay with the group and return together up to 6 hours.

TRANSPORTATION
If you enjoy walking and the weather is fine, we can do this tour by train, ferry and on foot.

The cost of transportation roundtrip for those without a rail pass is between 600~1000 yen per person.

WHAT’S INCLUDED
Guiding Services
ESTIMATED LOCAL CASH NEEDED
3000 JPY - Japan is still a cash based society, so its a good idea to have at least 3000 JPY per person available for any extras along the way.

WHAT’S EXTRA
Personal Expenses
Souvenirs
Public Transportation Tickets
Food, Drinks, Snacks