Ryokan in Hiroshima: Miyajima, Onomichi & Shimanami Kaido Stays

Why Hiroshima for a Ryokan Stay

Hiroshima Prefecture is not the first place most travelers think of for a ryokan experience — Kyoto and Hakone dominate that conversation. But Hiroshima offers something those destinations cannot: ryokan stays in three distinctly different settings, all within an hour or two of each other. You can sleep on Miyajima Island with the floating torii gate visible from your room, stay in a hillside inn in the retro port town of Onomichi, or check into a modern luxury ryokan on the Shimanami Kaido cycling route.

This guide compares the three areas and helps you choose the right base for your Hiroshima trip.

Three Ryokan Areas Compared

	Miyajima Island	Onomichi	Setoda (Shimanami Kaido)
Character	Historic island inns, torii gate views	Hillside charm, retro port town	Modern luxury, cycling route base
Price range	¥25,000-60,000 (~$167-400) per person	¥15,000-40,000 (~$100-267) per person	¥50,000-100,000+ (~$333-667+) per person
Meals	Dinner + breakfast included	Dinner + breakfast typical	Dinner + breakfast included
Access	Ferry from Hiroshima (1 hour total)	JR Sanyo Line from Hiroshima (1.5 hours)	Onomichi + ferry to Setoda island
Best for	Iconic experience, first-timers	Budget travelers, atmosphere seekers	Luxury, Shimanami Kaido cyclists

All prices include dinner and breakfast (1泊2食付き). Rates are from 2025 — check current pricing when booking.

Miyajima Island: Historic Inns with Torii Gate Views

Miyajima (宮島) is Hiroshima's most famous destination, and staying overnight on the island transforms the experience. After the last ferry departs and day-trippers leave, the island becomes remarkably quiet — deer wander empty streets, and the torii gate stands in calm water without crowds.

Iwaso: Miyajima's Oldest Ryokan (Since 1854)

Iwaso (岩惣) has operated since 1854 and is Miyajima's most established ryokan. Set in Momijidani Park with maple trees and a stream running through the grounds, the property offers traditional tatami rooms, kaiseki dinner, and natural hot spring baths. Rates start from approximately ¥35,000 per person with meals.

Many visitors on TripAdvisor describe the experience of watching deer from the room window at dawn as a highlight unique to Miyajima overnight stays.

Other Miyajima Ryokan Options

Several other ryokan on the island offer the overnight experience at various price points. The general range for Miyajima ryokan is ¥25,000-60,000 per person with meals. Check-in is typically 15:00-18:00, check-out by 10:00. Book through the property's official site or Japanese platforms like Rakuten Travel.

Onomichi: Hillside Stays in a Retro Port Town

Onoichi (尾道) is a compact port town on the Seto Inland Sea coast, known for steep hillside temples, cat-filled alleyways, and a retro atmosphere that draws photographers and writers. It is also the starting point for the Shimanami Kaido cycling bridge route.

Ryokan and guesthouse options in Onomichi range from ¥15,000-40,000 (~$100-267) per person with meals. The town is more affordable than Miyajima and offers a different kind of atmosphere — less famous, more local, and with a creative energy from artists and filmmakers who have settled here.

Onoichi is 1.5 hours from Hiroshima Station by JR Sanyo Line. The compact town center is walkable from the station.

Setoda and Shimanami Kaido: Modern Luxury at Azumi

Azumi Setoda (アズミ セトダ) is a modern luxury ryokan on Ikuchijima island in the Shimanami Kaido chain, opened in 2021. According to the official site, the property was designed by Shigeru Nishizawa as a reimagining of traditional ryokan hospitality in a contemporary setting.

Rates start from approximately ¥50,000 per person and can exceed ¥100,000 for premium rooms, with dinner and breakfast included. Check-in is 15:00, check-out by 11:00. This is firmly luxury-tier — the most expensive option in Hiroshima Prefecture.

Azumi is the right choice for travelers who want the ryokan ritual (kaiseki, futon, Japanese service) in a modern architectural setting, combined with Shimanami Kaido cycling.

Booking Tips and Best Seasons

Miyajima: Book 2-3 months ahead for weekends and peak seasons (cherry blossom in April, autumn foliage in November). Midweek stays are easier to secure.

Onomichi: Easier availability than Miyajima. Book 1-2 months ahead for peak seasons. The town is at its most atmospheric in late autumn and early spring.

Azumi Setoda: Book 3-6 months ahead. Limited rooms and luxury pricing mean availability is tight, especially during Shimanami Kaido cycling season (spring and autumn).

Best season overall: October-November for autumn foliage on Miyajima and comfortable cycling weather on the Shimanami Kaido. April for cherry blossoms. Summer is hot and humid — less ideal for outdoor activities.