Hi everyone, was hoping I could get your guys help regarding my wife and I’s 2-day itinerary in Hiroshima. We are coming from Osaka. I have specific questions that I will mention at the bottom! Thanks a ton!
**Wed, Oct 18th – Osaka to Hiroshima**
o Wake up 830am (breakfast at hotel)
o Leave by 10:00am
o 2.5 hrs to hotel
o Peace Memorial Museum/Park, and Atomic Bomb Dome while we wait for check In.
o Head to the hotel around 3pm or 330pm.
o Miyajima Island (1-hour 15min each way)
We aren’t the biggest history buffs but have allotted 2.5 hrs to visit peace memorial park/museum and the atomic bomb dome. I know people probably spend much longer, but this is the reason we are doing only that much time. As well as because we are potentially thinking Miyajima Island right after.
**Thurs, Oct 19th – Hiroshima/Shimanami Kaido**
o Wake up at 7am.
o Leave at 8am
• 1 hr 15 mins to Onomichi Station from Hotel
o Pick up bikes at 915am at Giant Bicycles (Have to return by 6pm latest)
• 500 Buddha’s disciples on Mt. Shirataki (20 km mark) in Innoshima Island (Island #2)
• Oyama Shrine (20 km mark) in Innoshima Island (Island #2)
• Kosanji Temple (30 km mark) in Ikuchjima Island (Island #3)
• Kosanji Caves (30km mark) in Ikuchjima Island (Island #3)
• Hill of Hope to see marble structure.
o Ferry to Onomichi from Seto port (30km from Onomichi) leaves at 3pm.
o Get to Onomichi Station at 3:45
o Back to hotel at 5pm
o At night Sake Tour at 7pm. Lasts till about 10pm.
I would like more time to bike around Shimanami Kaido but with our sake tour at 7pm, we must take the ferry at 3pm. They do have a ferry at 5pm based on the timetable but that would not work due to our tasting at 7pm.
**Overall questions:**
1) Is it worth doing Miyajima Island the first day in evening? We would get there around 5pm, but ferrys go until around 10pm.
2) Considering we do also want to enjoy Shimanami Kaido longer, would you suggest we potentially do a sake tasting on the Wednesday and skip Miyajima all together? This way we are not restricted for our bike ride and can take the ferry at 5pm. We just would not be able to do Miyajima Island at all.
3) All in all, do you guys believe it is worth doing Miyajima Island during our 2 days given our activities we already have? We could only make it work the Wednesday evening.
Thanks !
2 comments
I honestly do not think you have allocated enough time to Miyajima. When I was there I think I ended up spending around 5.5 hrs there. Also by October sunlight will not be as plentiful later in the day. It would be rough but consider leaving Osaka earlier, possibly a 7-8AM shinkansen. The peace park area can easily consume 2-3 hrs. Also coordinate with the hotel to drop your bags and don’t check in until after your trip to Miyajima.
Just went to Miyajima and Hiroshima 3 days ago. I reached Miyajima at 2:45pm and headed to the ropeway Mt. Misen – the last gondola descends at 4:30pm at the summit. Came back to the shrine area at about 5pm which was still busy. So if you reach there at 5pm in Oct, I think you have time to maybe take pictures of the sunset. There is night illumination but you’re not allowed to enter the shrine at night.
I don’t think there’s much to do after sunset, as many shops on the main shopping street were closing or closed by 6pm. I don’t see many restaurants opened either but maybe people who have stayed on the island at night could give more information.
You could start your day earlier by eating breakfast on the shinkansen and go to Miyajima directly from Hiroshima station. There is a direct ferry from Miyajima to the Atomic Bomb memorial area (45 mins), so if you leave Miyajima by mid-afternoon, you should be able to make it to the peace museum. After that, its a short walk to the downtown area for lots of dining options. I went to the museum in the morning and it was packed with visiting school groups. Note that this area isn’t close to the shinkansen station and there’s no subway in Hiroshima so it may take some time to reach the museum area.
Second the comment below that you use the luggage forwarding service to your hotel in Hiroshima so that you can travel easily and not waste time dropping off your luggage.