Miyajima Ferry Guide: Which to Choose & How to Get to Mt. Misen

Miyajima Ferry Guide & Access to Mt. Misen Ropeway

If you prefer reading in Japanese, you can check it here:

A solo trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima – Part 3.

If you’re new to this series, feel free to check out Part 1, where I share some recommended spots in Hiroshima.

This article is based on my trip in 2020. Please check official sources for the latest information.

There are two ferry companies that take you to Miyajima: Matsudai Ferry and JR West Ferry.

Which one should you take?
Is there any difference in price?
Are there any discounts for the ropeway?

These are the small but confusing questions you might have before heading to Mt. Misen.

In this article, based on my actual experience, I’ll explain:

・ The differences between the two ferry companies

・ The ropeway discount ticket options

・ Walking time from Uguisu Path to Momijidani Ropeway Station

・ Free shuttle bus information

This is Part 3 of my solo trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima.

I hope this helps clear up any small uncertainties before your trip.

You can also check the previous part here:

Miyajima Ferry Terminal

Miyajima Ferry Options: Matsudai vs JR West (Which Should You Choose?)

On the second day of my trip, I woke up early, had breakfast at the hotel, and headed to the ferry terminal around 9 AM.

There are actually two ferry companies operating between Miyajimaguchi and Miyajima:

・ Matsudai Ferry

・ JR West Miyajima Ferry

Both cost the same and take about 10 minutes.

Here’s a quick comparison:

If you don’t plan to take the ropeway, the JR ferry might be a better choice.

I chose the Matsudai Ferry because of the ropeway discount set ticket.

Matsudai Ferry

Miyajima Ropeway Discount Ticket: Is It Worth It?

I wanted to go up Mt. Misen, so I chose Matsudai Ferry because they offer a set ticket including the ropeway.

The round-trip set cost was 1,800 yen (as of 2020).

If you buy separately:

・ Ferry round-trip: 360 yen

・ Ropeway round-trip: 1,840 yen

Total: 2,200 yen

So you save about 400 yen.

If you plan to take the ropeway, this set ticket is definitely worth it.

Ferry Ride to Miyajima

The ferry ride takes only about 10 minutes.

It goes by quickly, and the view is really refreshing—especially on a sunny day.

Walking from the Ferry Terminal to Itsukushima Shrine

After arriving at Miyajima, you can walk toward Itsukushima Shrine.

If you walk straight with the sea on your right, you’ll eventually reach the shrine.

Along the way, there are many souvenir shops, and you might start seeing deer wandering around.

They’re cute—but be careful, they can be surprisingly aggressive.

Walk toward Itsukushima Shrine with the sea on your right

How to Walk to Miyajima Ropeway via Uguisu Path (40–50 min)

Most people head straight to the ropeway station, but I decided to take a longer route and walk along the “Uguisu Path.”

Bottom left: ferry terminal / Left side: Uguisu Path (along the 🌸 icons)
Center: Momijidani Park Entrance bus stop

It’s a peaceful route surrounded by nature, and I enjoyed walking while occasionally stopping to take photos of deer.

It took me about 40–50 minutes to reach Momijidani Ropeway Station, but I took my time and made a lot of stops along the way.

If you want a relaxing nature walk, I highly recommend this route.

Deer spotted along the Uguisu Path

Free Shuttle Bus Option

If you prefer not to walk, there is a free shuttle bus from Momijidani Park Entrance to the ropeway station.

・ Travel time: about 3 minutes

・ Runs every 20 minutes

Personally, I chose to walk because I didn’t want to wait, but if timing works out, the bus is the fastest option.

Hiking Mt. Misen Without the Ropeway

For those who prefer hiking, there are three main routes:

When I asked at the ferry terminal, I was told it takes about 1.5 hours to hike up.

That was enough for me to give up immediately 😂

But for experienced hikers, it could be a great option.

Mt. Misen hiking routes
From left to right: Momijidani Course, Daisho-in Course, Omoto Course

Summary: Choosing the Right Ferry & Access to Mt. Misen

There are two ferry companies to Miyajima, and the price and travel time are almost the same.

・ Choose Matsudai if you want the ropeway discount

・ Choose JR if you prefer shorter wait times and less crowd

You can walk to the ropeway station, take a scenic route, or use the free shuttle bus.

Just knowing these small details in advance can make your trip much smoother.

If you have time, I highly recommend walking—it was one of the most enjoyable parts of my trip.

Next time, I’ll finally start hiking Mt. Misen—follow along here.

Thanks for reading!

You can also read the Japanese version here: