Miyajima's floating torii gate is one of Japan's iconic sights — and the sight itself is almost free. The expensive part, like the snow monkeys, is the distance. Here's what the island actually costs, the new tax most guides skip, and whether to day-trip it from Kansai or base in Hiroshima.
| On Miyajima | Cost |
|---|---|
| JR ferry (Miyajimaguchi ⇄ island, each way) | ¥180 |
| Miyajima visitor tax (per visit, since Oct 2023) | ¥100 |
| Itsukushima Shrine admission | ~¥300 |
| See the floating torii for | under ¥800 |
The ¥100 visitor tax is charged when you enter the island by boat; a ¥500 one-year pass is available if you're a repeat visitor. Walking around the island and viewing the torii from the shore is free — you only pay the shrine to go inside.
The catch is the journey. From Shin-Osaka it's about ¥10,000 each way on the Shinkansen (~1.5 hours) to Hiroshima; from Kyoto a bit more. Then it's the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi (~25 min, ¥420) and the ferry. Round-trip, that's a committed near-full-day out.
| From Osaka (DIY), 1 adult | Cost |
|---|---|
| Shinkansen round trip (Shin-Osaka ⇄ Hiroshima, reserved) | ~¥20,000 |
| Hiroshima ⇄ Miyajimaguchi local (round trip) | ~¥840 |
| Ferry round trip + visitor tax + shrine | ~¥760 |
| Total | ~¥21,600 · ~10 hrs |
Don't burn a whole day and ~¥21,000 to day-trip Miyajima from Osaka or Kyoto unless it's a real highlight for you. The smart play is to stay a night in Hiroshima (pair it with the Peace Memorial Park) or route through it on a wider western-Japan trip — then Miyajima is a cheap, relaxed half-day. Budget the small extras — the ¥100 visitor tax and ~¥300 shrine — and go early to beat the crowds and the tide for the classic "floating" shot.
Mio