MagicalTrip · Miyajimaguchi
A MagicalTrip guide meets seven people at most outside JR Miyajimaguchi Station and walks them round the island for five and a half hours: shrine, Daisho-in temple, the Momijidani maple valley and Senjokaku hall. Pick it if you want more than the shrine and the torii, at an easy pace, with a sit-down lunch on the island.
MagicalTrip runs small-group walking and food tours in several Japanese cities, and this is its Miyajima walk. You meet in front of the coin lockers outside JR Miyajimaguchi Station, 25 to 30 minutes from Hiroshima on the JR Sanyo line, and look for the "Magical Trip" board. Then comes the ferry, which you pay yourself: 500 yen return, visitor tax included. After that it's a full loop of the island's old core on foot.
The route gives about an hour to Itsukushima Shrine, then climbs to Daisho-in, the temple with the red-capped jizo statues, prayer wheels on the stairs and a pitch-dark tunnel under one hall. It continues through Momijidani park to Senjokaku, the huge unfinished hall beside the five-storey pagoda (under conservation work until December 2026), and ends with an hour on Omotesando. Lunch is a set meal at an inn or hotel, guests report, often tempura, and an ice cream comes later. The guide also takes photos, which the company sends after the tour.
It's a lot of stairs. The listing warns against it for bad backs, heart conditions and pregnancy, and it doesn't work with wheelchairs or strollers. Food is cooked in restaurant kitchens MagicalTrip doesn't control: vegetarian and vegan meals are possible but limited, gluten-free isn't, and you must ask a day ahead. At $105 with lunch and entries, it's cheaper than the private options, and with seven guests at most, several reviewers ended up with the guide to themselves.
In front of the coin lockers outside the station; the guide holds a Magical Trip board.
Pay 200 yen each way plus the 100-yen visitor tax at the pier.
The corridors over the water, the stage and the gate offshore, entry paid.
Up the stairs to the temple, then through the maple valley at the foot of Mt Misen.
A set lunch, included, at a quiet inn or restaurant.
The big wooden hall on the hill, then the shopping street for momiji manju and oysters before the ferry back.
★★★★★We saw everything that Miyajima had to offer. Hiro was great at explaining everything. There were so many things included in the price. The lunch was at an inn in a beautiful natural setting. It was a whole set lunch that was prepared with attention. All the entrance fees were included (except the ferry). I felt it was good value for the money.
★★★★★He made it a very enjoyable day even though it rained on us most of the day. The mountains rising from the mist made for some memorable scenery and the massive torii gate was quite a sight. [...] our lunch at the hotel was delicious - definitely recommend the tempura plate.
★★★★★This is a very extensive tour with a wonderful guide (Rio) who knew how to navigate the crowds and make things easy. She also knew some places and information that felt like many others would miss.
★★★★★She did an excellent job guiding us through the island, covering so much in a very efficient and well-paced way. Her knowledge and organization made the experience seamless and engaging. We saw all the highlights without ever feeling rushed.
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No. Budget 500 yen per person for the return ferry and the 100-yen visitor tax. Lunch and every entry on the route are included.
Moderate. Daisho-in and Momijidani sit uphill from the shrine, with many stone steps, and the tour lasts 5.5 hours. It isn't suitable for wheelchairs, strollers, back or heart problems, or pregnancy.
Yes. Children aged 4 to 17 pay the child rate and under-4s book as infants; MagicalTrip says all ages are welcome.
No. The route stays around the town, the shrine, Daisho-in and Momijidani. For the ropeway (2,000 yen return) or the hike, add an afternoon on your own.
Ready to book
Five and a half hours on foot around Miyajima's shrine, temples and maple valley, with lunch included.
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