Three days in Hiroshima: where should I spend the middle day?
Two options stay two nights in Hiroshima, visiting either Miyajima or Onomichi on day two. Choose Miyajima for a seaside shrine and shopping streets, or Onomichi's Senkojiyama for hilltop city and island views. The Miyajima itinerary finishes at Shukkeien; the Onomichi itinerary finishes at Peace Memorial Museum.
Choose a 3 days, 2 nights itinerary
Museum, island and garden
Stay two nights near Hiroshima Station. Separate your first-day exhibits from the island round trip on day two, then keep travel within the city for the garden on your last day.
Museum, island and garden →3 days, 2 nightsGarden, Onomichi and museum
Stay two nights near Hiroshima Station. Choose an Onomichi day trip instead of Miyajima, with museum exhibits on your last day. Search JR times and fares to Onomichi for your date.
Garden, Onomichi and museum →Museum, island and garden
Stay two nights near Hiroshima Station. Separate your first-day exhibits from the island round trip on day two, then keep travel within the city for the garden on your last day.
Day 1 · Hiroshima Station → park and museum → Hiroshima Station
After the museum and park, go to your booked Hiroshima accommodation. Leave the Miyajima round trip for the next day.
- Hiroshima Station → Museum and park
Depart from the station building's second floor, usually route 2 platform D or route 6 platform C. Take a westbound route 2 or 6 tram to Genbaku Dome-mae. Some services may use other platforms; check on-site destination and platform signs for your departure.
Hiroden platform changesHiroden route 2 stops and directionHiroden route 6 stops and directionHiroden current platform diagram: route 2 D and route 6 C
- Museum and park entrance → Museum, park and meal
Enter the park from outside the dome, walk to the East Building entrance, then spend two hours at the museum. Walking from the dome to the museum and back to Genbaku Dome-mae afterwards is extra to exhibit time. If the museum is closed, you can swap its day with the garden, but compare both facilities' closing days.
Open Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum official informationMuseum official information
- Museum and park → Hiroshima Station
If eating in Hondori, check the route from your restaurant back to Genbaku Dome-mae. Return from there on route 2 or 6 towards Hiroshima Station. Leave Miyajima for tomorrow rather than adding island travel tonight.
Open Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum official informationHiroden route 2 stops and directionHiroden route 6 stops and direction
Day 2 · Hiroshima Station → Miyajima shrine and shopping streets → Hiroshima Station
Spend a day on the island with the shrine and shopping streets. Check your return ferry and JR connection to Hiroshima first.
- Hiroshima Station → JR Miyajimaguchi Station
Take a JR Sanyo Line train towards Iwakuni to Miyajimaguchi Station. This differs from the Hiroden tram stop at Miyajimaguchi. Check outward and Hiroshima-bound return trains together in the JR timetable for your date.
Walks between station, pier and shrineSailing timetableFerry faresJR Hiroshima Station official timetable and station map entry page
- JR Miyajimaguchi Station → JR ferry passenger terminal
Walk about ten minutes from the station to the JR Miyajima Ferry passenger terminal. With a JR pass, distinguish this operator from other ferries to the same island. Waiting to board is extra to walking time.
Walks between station, pier and shrineSailing timetableFerry faresJR Hiroshima Station official timetable and station map entry page
- JR ferry passenger terminal → Miyajima pier
Take the JR Miyajima Ferry to the island. The ride takes about ten minutes. Standard adult fare is JPY 200 one way or JPY 400 return, with a separate JPY 100 visitor tax. Choose your return ferry first and check that you have time to finish the shrine visit.
Walks between station, pier and shrineSailing timetableJR Miyajima Ferry standard fares and visitor tax
- Miyajima pier → Itsukushima Shrine
Walk about 15 minutes from the pier to the shrine. Visits follow a one-way route, so check the direction back to the port from the exit. Views change with the tide; you cannot always walk beneath the torii gate.
Walks between station, pier and shrineSailing timetableFerry faresJR Hiroshima Station official timetable and station map entry page
- Itsukushima Shrine and shopping street entrance → Shrine, shopping streets and meal
After the ferry, follow the coastal path to the shrine. Allow around three hours for corridor visits and lunch in the shopping streets. Distinguish coastal scenery outside the shrine from its interior corridors.
Open Itsukushima Shrine official informationOpen Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street official informationFerry fares
- Shrine and shopping streets → Miyajima pier
Return to the pier after the shrine and shopping streets. Allow the roughly 15-minute walk from the shrine and boarding waits separately. Adjust shopping street time around your return ferry.
- Miyajima pier → Mainland terminal and JR Miyajimaguchi Station
After returning to the mainland by JR ferry, walk about ten minutes to JR Miyajimaguchi Station. Do not treat ferry arrival as your train departure time. Choose a connection allowing the walk to the station and train waiting.
Walks between station, pier and shrineSailing timetableJR Miyajima Ferry standard fares and visitor tax
- JR Miyajimaguchi Station → Hiroshima Station
Return on a JR Sanyo Line train towards Hiroshima. Check stops and departures in your date's station timetable. Stay at your booked Hiroshima accommodation tonight.
Walks between station, pier and shrineSailing timetableFerry faresJR Hiroshima Station official timetable and station map entry page
Day 3 · Hiroshima Station → Shukkeien morning walk → station
Keep the last morning to the city garden. If departing early, move the garden to an earlier sightseeing day or omit it.
- Hiroshima Station, second floor → Hatchobori
Take a westbound tram from the usual route 2 platform D or route 6 platform C to Hatchobori. Some departures may use different platforms; check on-site destination and platform signs.
Hiroden route 2 stops and directionHiroden route 6 stops and directionHiroden platform changesHiroden current platform diagram: route 2 D and route 6 C
- Hatchobori → Shukkeien-mae and Shukkeien
Cross at the pedestrian crossing to the Hakushima Line platform, then take route 9 towards Hakushima to Shukkeien-mae. Walk from the stop to the entrance. With cash, obtain a transfer ticket when first getting off and hand it in at your next alighting. With IC, tap at each boarding and alighting, transferring within 60 minutes of first getting off.
Hiroden route 9 stop order and directionHatchobori transfer diagramHiroden transfer tickets and IC validity periodsGarden access and current opening hours
- Shukkeien entrance → Garden visit and meal
Allow 60–90 minutes for the garden after opening. Today chooses just the garden rather than another island round trip on the last morning.
- Shukkeien entrance → Hatchobori
Return to Shukkeien-mae after your visit and take route 9 towards Hatchobori. Add the walk to the stop and tram waiting to your visiting time. The return is in the opposite direction and needs a new fare.
Hiroden route 9 stop order and directionHiroden transfer tickets and IC validity periodsGarden access and current opening hours
- Hatchobori → Hiroshima Station
Cross at the pedestrian crossing to the Hiroshima Station-bound platform and take route 2 or 6. Check your return service in the timetable for your date. Standard adult fare, meeting transfer conditions, is JPY 240 one way or JPY 480 return.
Hiroden route 2 stops and directionHiroden route 6 stops and directionHatchobori transfer diagramHiroden standard faresHiroden transfer tickets and IC validity periods
Included: Museum and return trams JPY 680 + shrine, ferry and visitor tax JPY 800 + garden and return trams JPY 830.
Extra costs and conditions: JR return travel between Hiroshima and Miyajimaguchi, airport transport, accommodation, meals and luggage storage cost extra.
With a valid pass covering the JR ferry, subtract the JPY 400 return ferry fare from the subtotal above. The JPY 100 visitor tax still applies.
Free-admission days, JR passes and ropeway discounts are not applied to this total. Check prices, opening and reservations for your date.
Museum official admission, hours and reservationsHiroden standard faresHiroden transfersOpen Itsukushima Shrine official informationFerry faresShukkeien official admission and hours
Garden, Onomichi and museum
Stay two nights near Hiroshima Station. Choose an Onomichi day trip instead of Miyajima, with museum exhibits on your last day. Search JR times and fares to Onomichi for your date.
Day 1 · Hiroshima Station → Shukkeien and prefectural art museum → station
See the garden and adjoining art museum on the same day. Check that both open and collection exhibits are available.
- Hiroshima Station, second floor → Hatchobori
Take a westbound tram from the usual route 2 platform D or route 6 platform C to Hatchobori. Some departures may use different platforms; check on-site destination and platform signs.
Hiroden route 2 stops and directionHiroden route 6 stops and directionHiroden platform changesHiroden current platform diagram: route 2 D and route 6 C
- Hatchobori → Shukkeien-mae, Shukkeien and prefectural art museum
Cross at the pedestrian crossing to the Hakushima Line platform, then take route 9 towards Hakushima to Shukkeien-mae. Walk from the stop to the entrance. With cash, obtain a transfer ticket when first getting off and hand it in at your next alighting. With IC, tap at each boarding and alighting, transferring within 60 minutes of first getting off.
Hiroden route 9 stop order and directionHatchobori transfer diagramHiroden transfer tickets and IC validity periodsGarden access and current opening hoursTram access
- Shukkeien and prefectural art museum entrances → Garden, art museum and meal
Choose 60 minutes in the garden followed by 90 minutes at the adjoining museum's collection exhibits, using the JPY 660 standard combined ticket. Leave extra time between these visits for walking from garden to museum, lunch and entry queues at each facility. Special exhibition admission is excluded. If either facility closes, use individual admission at the open facility rather than buying on the assumption of a combined visit.
Prefectural art museum admission and closuresGarden access and current opening hours
- Shukkeien and prefectural art museum entrances → Hatchobori
Return to Shukkeien-mae after your visit and take route 9 towards Hatchobori. Add the walk to the stop and tram waiting to your visiting time. The return is in the opposite direction and needs a new fare.
Hiroden route 9 stop order and directionHiroden transfer tickets and IC validity periodsGarden access and current opening hoursTram access
- Hatchobori → Hiroshima Station
Cross at the pedestrian crossing to the Hiroshima Station-bound platform and take route 2 or 6. Check your return service in the timetable for your date. Standard adult fare, meeting transfer conditions, is JPY 240 one way or JPY 480 return.
Hiroden route 2 stops and directionHiroden route 6 stops and directionHatchobori transfer diagramHiroden standard faresHiroden transfer tickets and IC validity periods
Day 2 · Hiroshima Station → Onomichi Senkojiyama → Hiroshima Station
Visit Onomichi's Senkojiyama, then return to the same Hiroshima accommodation. Plan your downhill ride and return JR train separately.
- Hiroshima Station → JR Onomichi Station
Choose a JR Sanyo Line train towards Mihara/Fukuyama that stops at Onomichi. If not direct, transfer at the station shown in the official search. This is different from Shinkansen Shin-Onomichi Station. For a round trip, check Onomichi Station's return services towards Mihara.
JR Hiroshima Station official timetable and station map entry pageJR Onomichi Station official timetable and station map entry pageJR Shin-Onomichi Shinkansen and connecting station information
- JR Onomichi Station → Senkoji Ropeway lower station
Walk about 15 minutes from Onomichi Station to the lower ropeway station. Choose the operator's route along the railway, Hondori or the coast.
- Lower ropeway station → Summit station
Buy a return ropeway ticket and board. The one-way ride takes about three minutes; ticket purchases and boarding queues take extra time. Standard adult return fare is JPY 700; a JR pass does not provide free rides.
Open Senkoji Ropeway official informationAdditional transport and operating informationSenkoji Ropeway ordinary tickets and JR pass presentation discount
- Summit station → Senkojiyama Park views
Allow 60–90 minutes for park views and 60 minutes for lunch below the hill. Regular operating hours run until 17:15. Check the last downhill ride for your date, and finish with time for the walk to the station and return JR train.
Open Senkoji Ropeway official informationAdditional transport and operating informationOfficial ropeway hours
- Summit station → Lower station
Use your return ticket for the downhill ropeway. Regular operating hours run until 17:15; check your date's last downhill ride and service notices before choosing. If suspended, choose sights below the hill instead of hilltop views.
Official ropeway hoursOpen Senkoji Ropeway official information
- Lower station → Onomichi Station area
Walk about 15 minutes back towards Onomichi Station along the same route. Allow extra time for meals, rest and finding your way.
Ropeway operator access from each stationOpen Senkoji Ropeway official informationJR Onomichi Station official timetable and station map entry pageJR Hiroshima Station official timetable and station map entry page
- JR Onomichi Station → Hiroshima Station
Check Hiroshima trains and any transfers in JR Onomichi Station's timetable towards Mihara. Do not treat arrival at the lower ropeway station as your JR departure time; allow the walk to the station and boarding waits.
JR Onomichi Station official timetable and station map entry pageJR Hiroshima Station official timetable and station map entry pageRopeway operator access from each station
Day 3 · Hiroshima Station → Peace Memorial Museum → station
See museum exhibits in the morning before leaving. First check whether reservation times, queues, exhibits and the return to the station fit your departure.
- Hiroshima Station → Peace Memorial Museum
Depart from route 2 platform D or route 6 platform C on the station's second floor. Get off at Genbaku Dome-mae, then walk through the park to the East Building entrance. Some services may use other platforms; check on-site destination and platform signs for your departure.
Hiroden platform changesHiroden route 2 stops and directionHiroden route 6 stops and directionHiroden current platform diagram: route 2 D and route 6 C
- Peace Memorial Museum entrance → Museum visit and meal
Allow two hours for morning exhibits. This day does not include a long walk to the park's south end or shopping in Hondori. If reservation slots, queues and the station return leave too little time for departure, move the museum to day one and reduce either the garden or art museum visit.
Open Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum official informationMuseum official information
- Peace Memorial Museum → Hiroshima Station
Afterwards, walk from the East Building exit through the park to Genbaku Dome-mae and take route 2 or 6 towards Hiroshima Station. Add park walking, tram waiting and reaching your departure platform to exhibit time. A museum admission reservation does not secure your return transport connection.
Open Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum official informationHiroden route 2 stops and directionHiroden route 6 stops and direction
Included: Garden and collection exhibition combined ticket JPY 660, plus return trams JPY 480 + return ropeway JPY 700 + museum and return trams JPY 680.
Extra costs and conditions: JR return travel between Hiroshima and Onomichi, airport transport, accommodation, meals, luggage storage and special exhibitions cost extra.
Uses the JPY 660 combined ticket for the garden and collection exhibits on the same day.
Free-admission days, JR passes and ropeway discounts are not applied to this total. Check prices, opening and reservations for your date.
Prefectural art museum admission and closuresHiroden standard faresHiroden transfersOpen Senkoji Ropeway official informationMuseum official admission, hours and reservations
Frequently asked questions
Is the cost table a total including transport and accommodation?
No. The Miyajima itinerary adds museum and garden admission and return trams, plus shrine admission, return JR ferries and visitor tax. The Onomichi itinerary adds the garden and collection combined ticket and return trams, return Senkoji Ropeway, and museum with return trams. JR travel to Miyajimaguchi or Onomichi, airport transport, accommodation, meals, luggage storage and special exhibitions cost extra.
Museum official admission, hours and reservationsHiroden standard faresHiroden transfersOpen Itsukushima Shrine official informationFerry faresShukkeien official admission and hoursPrefectural art museum admission and closuresOpen Senkoji Ropeway official information
Should I search Shin-Onomichi Station for an Onomichi visit?
The starting point is JR Sanyo Line Onomichi Station. Walk about 15 minutes to the lower Senkoji Ropeway station, allowing return walking and JR waiting. Shinkansen Shin-Onomichi is separate; if using it, check extra transport to the lower ropeway station. For your return, search direct trains or transfers to Hiroshima from Onomichi's Mihara-bound services.
JR Onomichi Station official timetable and station map entry pageRopeway operator access from each stationJR Shin-Onomichi Shinkansen and connecting station information
Official sources and check dates
- Museum official information ·
- Hiroden standard fares ·
- Open Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum official information ·
- Open Itsukushima Shrine official information ·
- Ferry fares ·
- Sailing timetable ·
- Walks between station, pier and shrine ·
- Open Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street official information ·
- Open Senkoji Ropeway official information ·
- Additional transport and operating information ·
- Prefectural art museum admission and closures ·
- Tram access ·
- Hiroden transfers ·
- Hiroden platform changes ·
- Hatchobori transfer diagram ·
- Ropeway operator access from each station ·
- Garden access and current opening hours ·
- Hiroden route 9 stop order and direction ·
- Hiroden route 2 stops and direction ·
- Hiroden route 6 stops and direction ·
- JR Shin-Onomichi Shinkansen and connecting station information ·
- Hiroden current platform diagram: route 2 D and route 6 C ·
- Museum official admission, hours and reservations ·
- Shukkeien official admission and hours ·
- Official ropeway hours ·
- JR West Kansai–Hiroshima pass coverage, price and eligibility ·
- JR West Sanyo–San'in pass coverage, price and eligibility ·
- Kansai–Hiroshima pass official coverage map ·
- Sanyo–San'in pass official coverage map ·
- Senkoji Ropeway ordinary tickets and JR pass presentation discount ·
- Hiroden transfer tickets and IC validity periods ·
- JR Miyajima Ferry standard fares and visitor tax ·
- JR Onomichi Station official timetable and station map entry page ·
- JR Hiroshima Station official timetable and station map entry page ·