Reviewed 23 July 2026 · Some links are affiliate links; recommendations are chosen for relevance, not commission.
TL;DR — Yes, you can do both in one day. Spend the morning at Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park and Museum (¥200 entry), then take the JR Sanyo line to Miyajimaguchi (~30 min) and the 10-minute ferry (¥200 + ¥100 visitor tax) to Miyajima island for Itsukushima Shrine's "floating" torii gate. Check the tide table first: high tide makes the gate float, low tide lets you walk to it.
01Can you visit Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day?
Yes — the two sit only 45 minutes apart, and each needs about half a day. The standard plan is Peace Park in the morning, Miyajima in the afternoon, dinner of okonomiyaki back in Hiroshima. From Osaka or Kyoto it works as a long shinkansen day trip; from Tokyo, stay at least one night.
02How do you get to Hiroshima?
| From | Train | Time | Cost (one way) | JR Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shin-Osaka | Sanyo Shinkansen (Nozomi/Mizuho) | ~1 h 25 min | ~¥10,600 | Sakura/Hikari covered; Nozomi needs supplement |
| Kyoto | Shinkansen | ~1 h 40 min | ~¥11,400 | Same as above |
| Tokyo | Shinkansen (Nozomi) | ~4 h | ~¥19,700 | Consider flying or an overnight stop |
A 7-day JR Pass starts paying off precisely when you add Hiroshima to a Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka route — see our JR Pass guide.
03Morning: Peace Memorial Park (3 hours)
- Atomic Bomb Dome. The skeletal hall left standing at the hypocenter, now a UNESCO site. Free, always open; tram stop "Genbaku Dome-mae."
- Peace Memorial Park. Cross to the Children's Peace Monument, draped in thousands of paper cranes, and the Cenotaph aligned with the Dome and the eternal Flame of Peace.
- Peace Memorial Museum (90 min). Entry ¥200 — Japan's most affecting museum. Buy timed tickets online in peak season to skip the queue. The exhibits are explicit; go in prepared, and give yourself a quiet coffee afterward.
04Afternoon: Miyajima (4 hours)
- Get there: JR Sanyo line Hiroshima → Miyajimaguchi (~30 min, ~¥420), then the ferry (10 min, ¥200 one way + ¥100 island visitor tax). The JR ferry loops close to the torii on the way out — stand on the right side. JR Pass holders ride JR train and JR ferry free (tax excluded).
- Itsukushima Shrine (entry ~¥300). The vermilion shrine and its great torii stand in the sea at high tide and rise from wet sand at low tide — check the tide table and aim to see both if timing allows.
- Omotesando street. Grilled oysters and maple-leaf momiji manju cakes (get them fried, age-momiji).
- Mt Misen (optional, 2 extra hours). Ropeway ~¥2,000 round trip plus a 30-minute summit walk for Seto Inland Sea views.
- Deer note: Miyajima's deer roam free like Nara's, but feeding them is prohibited here.
05Where to eat: Hiroshima okonomiyaki
End the day with Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki — layered (not mixed) with noodles inside. Okonomimura, a building stacked with 20+ counter grills near Hatchobori, is the easy choice.
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06Hiroshima & Miyajima FAQ
Which should come first, Hiroshima or Miyajima?
Do Peace Park in the morning — the museum needs fresh emotional energy and morning slots are quieter — then Miyajima in the afternoon when the light on the torii improves toward sunset.
How much does the Miyajima ferry cost?
¥200 each way from Miyajimaguchi (10 minutes), plus a ¥100 visitor tax collected with the fare. The JR-operated ferry is covered by the JR Pass and steers closest to the great torii on outbound crossings.
When can you see the torii "floating"?
Around high tide, when the sea surrounds its base; within roughly two hours of low tide you can walk out to the gate instead. Check Miyajima's published tide table and plan the shrine visit around it.
Is the Peace Memorial Museum suitable for children?
The museum presents the bombing's human toll directly, including graphic exhibits. Many families visit with teens; for younger children, consider staying in the park's outdoor memorials, which communicate the story more gently.
Is one day enough for both?
Yes, with about 3 hours for Peace Park and 4 for Miyajima plus transit. Add Mt Misen, Hiroshima Castle or the Shukkeien garden only if you stay a night.
Is Hiroshima worth it from Tokyo?
As a same-day return, no — 8 hours on trains overwhelms the visit. Fold Hiroshima into a Tokyo→Kyoto→Hiroshima route with a JR Pass, or stay one night and return via Osaka.