Hiroshima to Miyajima: ferry, train, tram and the boat from the Dome
The cheapest way from Hiroshima to Miyajima is the JR train to Miyajimaguchi, about 26 minutes, then a 10-minute ferry for 200 yen. The slower tram leaves from beside the Dome. The Aqua Net boat sails straight from the Peace Park to Miyajima in about 45 minutes for 2,400 yen. Everyone pays a 100 yen visitor tax.
From Hiroshima to Miyajima, the usual route is the JR Sanyo Line from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi (about 26 minutes), then a 10-minute ferry across to the island. The ferry is 200 yen, and everyone pays a 100 yen visitor tax at the ferry. If you are at the Peace Park, the Aqua Net boat leaves from beside the Atomic Bomb Dome and reaches Miyajima in about 45 minutes for 2,400 yen. The tram also runs from the Dome to Miyajimaguchi; it is cheaper than the boat but slower.
The four ways compared
Checked October 2026. Adult fares, one way.
| Route | Leaves from | Time to Miyajima | Fare | Japan Rail Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JR train + ferry | Hiroshima Station | About 26 min train + 10 min ferry | About 420 yen train + 200 yen ferry | Covers train and JR ferry |
| Hiroden tram line 2 + ferry | Hiroshima Station or Genbaku Dome-mae | About an hour or more by tram + 10 min ferry | 240 yen tram + 200 yen ferry | Not valid on the tram |
| Aqua Net boat | Motoyasu Pier, beside the Dome | About 45 min, direct | 2,400 yen (return 4,400 yen) | Not valid |
| Guided tour | Hiroshima Station or hotel | Varies | See tours below |
Add the 100 yen Miyajima Visitor Tax to every option except the Hiroden Streetcar and Ferry Pass, which includes it.
Notes on the table:
- The JR train fare and time come from route-search results (ekitan.com), not a JR page. Treat them as a guide and check the ticket machine.
- The tram time comes from route tables for the full run from Hiroshima Station (63 to 70 minutes). From Genbaku Dome-mae it is a little shorter.
- The Aqua Net fare rose from 2,200 to 2,400 yen on 1 October 2025.
Option 1: JR train and ferry
Trains on the JR Sanyo Line run from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi Station. Walk from the station to the ferry piers, which sit side by side.
Two companies run the crossing, and both take about 10 minutes:
| Ferry | Adult | Child | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| JR West Miyajima Ferry | 200 yen | 100 yen | Japan Rail Pass and JR-West Rail Pass valid. Some sailings from Miyajimaguchi pass close to the Great Torii, between 9:10 and 16:10 |
| Miyajima Matsudai Kisen | 200 yen | 100 yen | Return 400 yen. Not covered by the JR Pass |
The JR ferry’s English fare page still shows 180 yen; its Japanese page shows 200 yen, which is the current figure. If you want to see the torii from the water, take one of the JR sailings that pass close to it.
Option 2: the tram from the Dome
Hiroden tram line 2 starts at Hiroshima Station, stops at Genbaku Dome-mae beside the Atomic Bomb Dome, and runs to Hiroden-miyajima-guchi by the ferry piers. The fare is a flat 240 yen for adults and 120 yen for children; Hiroden’s own fare page uses the Dome-to-Miyajimaguchi trip as its example. Pay when you get off, by cash or IC card.
It suits you if you spend the morning at the Peace Memorial Park and want to go straight on, or if you have the Hiroden 1 Day Streetcar and Ferry Pass (1,000 yen adult, 550 yen child). That pass covers the trams and the ferry and includes the 100 yen visitor tax, but it is not valid on the JR ferry or JR trains. For tram routes and stops in the city, see how to get to the Atomic Bomb Dome.
Option 3: the Aqua Net boat from the Peace Park
Aqua Net’s World Heritage Sea Route runs between the Peace Park and Miyajima. It links Hiroshima’s two World Heritage Sites directly.
Checked October 2026, from Aqua Net:
| Ticket | Adult (12+) | Child (6 to 11) |
|---|---|---|
| One way | 2,400 yen | 1,200 yen |
| Return (valid 2 days) | 4,400 yen | 2,200 yen |
| Package (boat one way + Miyajimaguchi route) | 2,500 yen | 1,300 yen |
| Hiroshima pier | Motoyasu Pier, about 150 m south of the Dome at the foot of Motoyasu Bridge; ticket office in the pier |
| Miyajima pier | Pier No. 3, at the end of the walk from Itsukushima Shrine towards the ferry terminal |
| Sailings | 17 each way: from the Peace Park 8:30 to 17:10, from Miyajima 8:40 to 17:30 |
| Journey | About 45 minutes |
| Booking | Online up to the day before; same-day tickets only at the ticket office |
| Payment | Cash or credit card; no IC cards |
The visitor tax is extra. One child under 6 rides free with each paying adult. The route runs down a tidal river, so sailings can be cancelled or rerouted when the tide is too high to pass under the bridges or too low for the riverbed. The boat does not pass the Dome itself.
The Miyajima Visitor Tax
Hatsukaichi City charges 100 yen per person per visit, or 500 yen for a year. The ferry companies collect it: on the JR and Matsudai ferries, the ticket gates take the fare and the tax together. Preschool children, school trips, island residents and workers, and disability certificate holders are exempt. Japan Rail Pass holders still pay it.
Doing Miyajima and the Peace Park in one day
It makes a long day, but it works. Two ways to order it:
- Peace Park first. Start at the Dome around 8:00, visit the Peace Memorial Museum before its 11:00 to 15:00 peak, then take the tram or the 45-minute boat to Miyajima for the afternoon.
- Miyajima first. Some small-group tours do this, then take the tram back for the Dome, the park and the museum.
Check the tide before choosing. If the torii is in the sea in the morning, go to Miyajima first.
Guided trips
The tour picked above meets at Hiroshima Station and uses the same train and ferry, so it is a good choice if you want a guide but no coach. The half-day walk listed second checks the tide for you. The small-group day listed third does Miyajima in the morning and the Dome, the park and an hour in the museum in the afternoon. The bike-and-boat day cycles round the Peace Park and the castle before taking the train and ferry to the island.
For what to do once you arrive, read our Miyajima guide.
