Hiroshima to Miyajima Ferry: Routes, Schedules & JR Pass Tips

Three Ways to Ferry from Hiroshima to Miyajima

Miyajima (宮島), officially known as Itsukushima (厳島), is one of Japan's most visited islands — home to the UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shrine and its famous floating Great Torii gate (大鳥居). The island sits in Hiroshima Bay and is only accessible by ferry. There is no bridge.

You have three ferry options, and which one makes sense depends on where you are starting, whether you have a Japan Rail Pass, and how much time you want to spend on the water.

Option 1: Miyajimaguchi ferries (10 minutes) — The standard route. Take the JR Sanyo Line from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi Station (25 minutes), walk 5 minutes to the ferry terminal, and board a 10-minute crossing. Two operators run this route: JR West (covered by JR Pass) and Miyajima Matsudai Kisen (not covered).

Option 2: Aqua Net Hiroshima ferry (45 minutes) — A direct ferry from Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to Miyajima. Slower and more expensive, but convenient if you are sightseeing at the Peace Memorial Park and want to skip the train transfer.

Option 3: JR West Great Torii ferry (10 minutes) — A special JR ferry service running 9:10 AM to 4:10 PM that takes a route circling closest to the Great Torii gate. Same price as the regular JR ferry, different route.

For most visitors, Option 1 using the JR West ferry is the right choice — especially with a JR Pass.

Ferry Operators Compared: JR West, Matsudai Kisen, and Aqua Net

JR West Miyajima Ferry (Miyajimaguchi)

The JR West Miyajima Ferry is the most popular choice, primarily because it is free with a valid Japan Rail Pass. According to the JR West Miyajima Ferry official site, the crossing takes approximately 10 minutes from Miyajimaguchi to Miyajima Pier.

Without a JR Pass, the fare is ¥200 (~$1.30) one way. Ferries depart approximately every 15 minutes during daytime hours. No reservation is needed — you simply show your JR Pass at the counter or purchase a ticket and board.

For a detailed look at the JR West service, see our JR West Miyajima Ferry complete guide.

Miyajima Matsudai Kisen (Miyajimaguchi)

Miyajima Matsudai Kisen (宮島松大汽船) operates from the same Miyajimaguchi terminal, offering the same 10-minute crossing for the same ¥200 one-way fare. The key difference: it is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

If you do not have a JR Pass, both operators are equivalent in price, time, and frequency. The Matsudai Kisen terminal is adjacent to the JR ferry terminal — just look for the different signage. On a busy day, if the JR ferry has a queue, the Matsudai Kisen may have shorter waits.

Aqua Net Hiroshima (Peace Memorial Park)

Aqua Net Hiroshima operates a direct ferry from Motoyasu Pier near the Atomic Bomb Dome to Miyajima. The crossing takes approximately 45 minutes and is not covered by the JR Pass.

According to Japan Highlights, the fare is approximately ¥2,200 (~$15) one way. Departures run approximately twice per hour during daylight.

This option makes sense in one specific scenario: you are already at the Peace Memorial Park and do not want to backtrack to Hiroshima Station for the train-and-ferry route. The 45-minute cruise through Hiroshima Bay is scenic, but it costs roughly 10 times more than the Miyajimaguchi ferry and takes 4.5 times longer.

Operator	Terminal	Crossing Time	One-Way Fare	JR Pass
JR West Miyajima Ferry	Miyajimaguchi	10 min	¥200 (~$1.30)	Covered
Miyajima Matsudai Kisen	Miyajimaguchi	10 min	¥200 (~$1.30)	Not covered
Aqua Net Hiroshima	Peace Memorial Park	45 min	~¥2,200 (~$15)	Not covered

Using the JR Pass on the Miyajima Ferry

The Japan Rail Pass covers both the JR Sanyo Line train from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi and the JR West Miyajima Ferry itself. This means the entire journey from Hiroshima to Miyajima is free with a valid pass.

To board the JR ferry, simply show your JR Pass at the ticket counter at the Miyajimaguchi ferry terminal. No separate ticket is needed. Look for the large JR sign to distinguish the JR West terminal from the adjacent Matsudai Kisen terminal — visitors on TripAdvisor frequently note that the two operators are close together and easy to confuse.

Regional passes including the JR West Sanyo-San'in Area Pass and the Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass also cover this route. For a detailed breakdown of which passes cover the ferry and how much you save, see our JR Pass ferry cost savings breakdown.

The Great Torii Ferry: Best Views from the Water

Between 9:10 AM and 4:10 PM, selected JR West ferries take a special route that swings closer to the Great Torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine. According to the JR West official site, this service is included in the standard ¥200 fare and is covered by the JR Pass — no extra cost.

The Great Torii ferry provides the closest water-level view of the gate, and many visitors specifically time their departure to catch this service. The torii is most photogenic during high tide when it appears to float, and the ferry route takes you directly past it.

Regular JR ferries outside this window take a more direct route and do not pass as close to the torii. If seeing the gate from the water matters to you — and it should, since the traditional pilgrimage approach to Itsukushima was always by sea — check the schedule board at the terminal for the next Great Torii departure. For more on approaching Itsukushima Shrine by sea, see our dedicated guide.

Schedules, First and Last Ferries

Regular Daytime Schedule

According to the JR West ferry timetable, the service operates as follows:

Direction	First Ferry	Last Ferry	Frequency
Miyajimaguchi → Miyajima	6:25 AM	10:42 PM	Every ~15 min
Miyajima → Miyajimaguchi	5:45 AM	10:14 PM	Every ~15 min

The 15-minute frequency means you rarely need to plan around the ferry schedule during daylight hours. Early morning and late evening departures are less frequent — check the official timetable if you need the first or last boat.

Important: The last ferry from Miyajima departs at 10:14 PM. After this, there is no way off the island until the next morning. If you are staying for the evening illumination of the shrine, keep this time firmly in mind.

New Year and Holiday Schedules

According to GetHiroshima, JR ferries run all night on New Year's Eve/Day for visitors attending the shrine's New Year ceremonies. Between 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM, frequency drops to 2 departures per hour. December 29-30 operates under a heavy traffic schedule with increased departures.

Getting to Miyajimaguchi Ferry Terminal

Miyajimaguchi (宮島口) ferry terminal is the embarkation point for both JR West and Matsudai Kisen ferries. The terminal is a 5-minute walk from JR Miyajimaguchi Station.

From Hiroshima Station: Take the JR Sanyo Line local train to Miyajimaguchi Station — approximately 25 minutes. This train is covered by the JR Pass. Exit the station, follow signs for the ferry terminal, and walk approximately 5 minutes to the pier.

From central Hiroshima: The Hiroden streetcar also runs to Miyajimaguchi (Hiroden-Miyajimaguchi stop), taking approximately 60-70 minutes. The streetcar is not covered by the JR Pass but offers a scenic alternative if you are not in a rush.

The terminal area has shops, restaurants, and lockers if you want to leave luggage before boarding.

From	Transport	Time	JR Pass
Hiroshima Station	JR Sanyo Line	~25 min	Covered
Central Hiroshima	Hiroden streetcar	~60-70 min	Not covered
Miyajimaguchi Stn	Walk to terminal	~5 min	N/A