Mt Misen, up and down

How much is the Miyajima Ropeway, and when does it run?

2,000 yen round trip or 1,100 yen one way for adults; 1,000 and 550 yen for elementary pupils. It runs from 9:00 to 16:00, with the last ride down around 16:30.

The ropeway has two lines. The Momijidani line climbs from Momijidani station to Kayatani in small eight-seat gondolas that run continuously. At Kayatani you change to the Shishiiwa line, a larger shuttle car that swings back and forth to Shishiiwa station; its gondolas were renewed in March 2026. Allow about 20 minutes including the change (japan-guide).

The ropeway closes for maintenance for a stretch each year, usually around February and July, and stops in strong wind or thunder. Queues build at the bottom from late morning in autumn leaf season and on holidays: go up at 9:00 if you can.

How do you get to the Mt Misen ropeway station?

Walk about 10 minutes inland from Itsukushima Shrine, or 20 minutes from the ferry pier, through Momijidani Park.

From the shrine's exit, follow the stream uphill into Momijidani Park, the maple valley. The path is paved and gently steep, with a small bridge and teahouses along the way, and deer on the lawns. In mid to late November the maples here turn red and the valley is lit at night: see the autumn leaves post for this year's dates.

Which hiking trail up Mt Misen should you take?

The Daisho-in course for views and a gentler grade (2.3 km, about 90 minutes), the Momijidani course for the shortest, steepest climb (2.5 km, about 80 minutes), or the Omoto course for quiet (2.9 km, about 120 minutes).

All three are stone steps and forest path, well marked in English (official trail page):

A popular plan: ropeway up, then the Daisho-in trail down, finishing at the temple. Going down takes about an hour and is hard on the knees. Bring water in summer: operators on the island warn of 35 to 40 °C in July and August.

What happened to Reikado Hall on Mt Misen?

Reikado Hall, home of the "eternal flame" near the summit, burned down on the morning of 20 May 2026. Monks carried the flame to safety; it returned to the hall site on 20 October 2026, and the rebuilt hall is targeted for autumn 2027.

The flame is said to have burned for more than 1,200 years, since Kobo Daishi lit it during his training on the mountain, and it was one of the sources of the Flame of Peace in Hiroshima's Peace Park. The fire took about two hours to bring under control, with fire engines and helicopters; nobody was hurt (Get Hiroshima report). The monks brought the flame back to the hall site on 20 October 2026. Rebuilding should start around April 2027, with autumn 2027 as the target.

The full story, and what you see at the site now, is in our Reikado Hall post. The Misen Hondo main hall stands about five minutes below the summit on the same path.

What is at the top of Mt Misen?

A summit observatory at 535 m with views across the Seto Inland Sea to Hiroshima on clear days, giant boulders, and small Buddhist halls along the last stretch of trail.

From Shishiiwa station it is still about 30 minutes on a steep path, with steps and some rough rock, to the top. Shishiiwa itself has a viewing deck if that is as far as you want to go. Near the summit, huge granite boulders lean together; one forms a natural tunnel you walk through. The observatory is a simple, open building that looks across dozens of islands.

Is Daisho-in worth a stop on the way up or down?

Yes. It is free, open 8:00 to 17:00, and full of details: hundreds of small jizo statues in knitted caps, prayer wheels on the steps, and a cave of lanterns.

Daisho-in is the island's oldest temple and runs the Buddhist sites on Misen, Reikado included. Spin the metal sutra wheels along the handrail as you climb the steps; each turn counts as reading a sutra. It sits at the start of the Daisho-in trail, about 10 minutes uphill from the shrine, so it slots in at either end of a hike.

Which Miyajima tours include Mt Misen?

The 888tour private walk lists an hour at the Shishiiwa viewpoint. Japan Guide Agency's private guides will add Misen if you ask. Group tours leave little or no time for it.

The 888tour private walk lists the torii, Omotesando, the Tahoto pagoda, Momijidani Park and Shishiiwa observatory. The listing includes the shrine ticket and the guide; ropeway tickets aren't listed, so budget 2,000 yen each. One guest: "Thereafter, we walked through the beautiful park to travel bij ropeway to the observatory deck. A great way to see the bay of Hiroshima!"

Japan Guide Agency's private half day lets you pick the route; one guest wrote that their guide "took us up Mount Misen, which was quite a hike but well worth it at the top!" MagicalTrip's walk covers Daisho-in and Momijidani but not the summit, and the full-day group tours spend one to three hours on the island in total.

Shrine, Tahoto pagoda, maple valley and the Shishiiwa viewpoint with a private guide who meets you at the pier.

★ 4.7 · 4 hours · from $102

Explore the 4-hour Miyajima private tour → Tour details

When is Mt Misen closed, and what about the weather?

The ropeway stops in strong wind, thunder and typhoons, and closes for maintenance for a period each year. Check its notices before you set off.

• Typhoons: peak in August and September. Ferries and the ropeway can stop for a day.
• Maintenance: usually around February and July. The trails stay open.
• Heat: July and August are hot and humid. Start early and carry water.
• Late afternoon: the last ropeway down leaves around 16:30. Miss it and you walk down, about an hour, in the dark in winter.
• Rain: the steps get slippery. Low cloud hides the view; a guest still loved the "very atmopheric photo opportunities, of cloudy mountains."

Planning a whole day around the peak? Our one-day itinerary fits it in between the tides.

Frequently asked questions