Where to stay in Miyajima for an extra bit of romance
Miyajima – the little island in the Seto Inland Sea of Hiroshima that is full of romance, temples, and deer. It’s believed to be the place where god dwells. In this article, we want to answer your question about where to stay in Miyajima.
Miyajima is famous for its Itsukushima Shrine and the floating Torii gate. But there are many more things to do, such as visiting the Daisho-in temple or hiking Mount Misen.
Many people, us included, do a half-day trip to Miyajima, but it is a great place to stay as well. The atmosphere of the island changes completely at night, becoming a bit mysterious even. Plus, the Itsukushima Shrine gets illuminated and looks completely stunning in the dark.
If you can, I definitely recommend staying in a Ryokan in Miyajima. Getting pampered in a ryokan is something everyone should have on their Japan bucket lists.
My Top Picks: Where to Stay in Miyajima
BEST RYOKAN IN MIYAJIMA
BEST HOTEL IN MIYAJIMA
Pros of staying in Miyajima
- An incredible experience
- Beat the crowds – both in the morning and the evening
- Getting an insight into how Japanese live in the smaller villages
- Chance to stay in a ryokan in an exclusive location
Cons of staying in Miyajima
- Limited dinner options – most restaurants close around 5PM
- Far from Central Hiroshima (duh)
- A chance that a deer will eat your passport
- Hotels are a bit more expensive than in Hiroshima itself
Hotels in Miyajima
As I mentioned already in the beginning, staying on Miyajima is more expensive than in Hiroshima itself.
Luxury hotel in Miyajima – Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto, 4*
Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto looks like a ryokan but is officially a hotel.
You can choose between Western-style rooms with carpets and normal beds or Japanese style rooms with tatami mats and futon beds. Or there’s a western room with a tatami area available. My advice – choose Japanese, it creates a completely different atmosphere than the Western one.
Most rooms have both breakfast and dinner included in the price. You can even dine in your own room. Plus, there are very nice views from some of the rooms.
The main thing is – there’s onsen available! It contains waters from natural hot springs. Even an open-air one is available.
The hotel is located in a quiet corner a bit off the hustle and bustle of the main streets but at the same time close to most of the main attractions of Miyajima. Don’t worry if you have a big suitcase – there’s a transfer available from the port.
Check prices and reviews on booking.com
Another luxury hotel in Miyajima – Hotel Miyajima Villa, 3*
The hotel Miyajima Villa has quite a convenient location – just opposite the port. That means, you don’t have to carry your luggage too far, but at the same time, you’re close enough for exploring all the best Miyajima has to offer.
The rooms in the hotel are spacious, and some of them come with a sea or mountain view. There’s even a massage chair in the room!
There’s onsen available for guests. Since it’s on the fifth floor, you get a nice view of the sea.
Miyajima Villa has room rates that include breakfast or both breakfast and dinner. As I mentioned before, most of the restaurants close after 5PM, so I suggest that you get the half board. Plus, reviews say that the dinner includes all-you-can-drink drinks! So, y’know, a good option for trying something new.
Check prices and reviews on booking.com
Budget hotel in Miyajima- Miyajima Coral Hotel, 3*
Miyajima Coral Hotel is not located in Miyajima itself, but just by the JR Ferry terminal on the other side of the sea. Honestly, unless you want to stay in a dormitory-style room with a shared bathroom, there are no budget hotels on Miyajima Island.
This is your typical Japanese business hotel.
For a very reasonable rate, you get a nicely furnished room with a private bathroom, toiletries, slippers, etc.
The regular rates include breakfast, but you can get one that has dinner included as well.
As I said, it’s located close to the ferry. The JR train station is not too far as well.
All in all, if you don’t want to splurge to stay on Miyajima itself but still want to be close by it, Miyajima Coral Hotel is one of the best options.
Check prices and reviews on booking.com
Ryokans in Miyajima
At first, I thought of choosing the ryokans in Miyajima the same way I did the rest of the hotels on this list. But I understood pretty fast that that’s not exactly possible for a few reasons.
First, there are too many equally amazing luxury ryokans to choose just the “best” out of them.
Second, it’s almost impossible to find a mid-budget and budget ryokan that is up to my standards. I’m sorry, but if I’m paying 100 euro per night, I want to have a private bath/shower in my room. And in a place like Miyajima there better be an option for breakfast and even better – dinner.
So, the ryokans in Miyajima on this list are mostly up to the “luxury” standards – in a ryokan, it’s mostly about enjoying the luxury experience.
Iwaso, 4*, luxury ryokan in Miyajima
Iwaso is located just a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminal, in a beautiful forest.
The ryokan was built in 1854 and it has both rooms and cottages available. Some of the cottages even have a private onsen available.
Keep in mind that the rooms in the “main” building don’t have private bathtubs or showers. They do have toilets in the room, though. So, if it’s as important to you as it is to me to have a private bathroom, make sure to book a room in the “annex”, otherwise known as the new building.
The rooms are traditional Japanese with Tatami mat floors and Japanese futon beds. I suggest you get a room with half-board – a kaiseki dinner in a ryokan is something amazing. It’s possible to have your meals in your room if you wish.
The onsen with mineral waters are indoors, but the view from them is amazing – you can see the surrounding nature.
Check prices and reviews on booking.com
Kinsuikan, 4*, luxury ryokan in Miyajima
Kinsuikan is a modern ryokan in Miyajima located just 200m from the Five Storey Pagoda.
The rooms are nicely decorated in a traditional Japanese style with tatami mat floors and futon beds. Some of the rooms have single beds as well, and antique Japanese style heaths. All of the rooms have private bathrooms.
This ryokan has two private onsen, both indoors.
In Kinsuikan, some of the rooms have sea views.
An Asian breakfast and dinner are served daily. The good is made with local seasonal ingredients, and you can choose out of four menus to your liking.
Check prices and reviews on booking.com
Kurayado Iroha, 5*, luxury ryokan in Miyajima
5 minutes walk from the Itsukushima Shrine, Kurayado Iroha ryokan in Miyajima has rooms with sea, mountain, or Japanese garden views.
Some of the rooms are designed in traditional Japanese style, but still have modern facilities. Others are completely Japanese – with tatami mat floors and futon beds. All have deep-soak tubs and coffee machines available.
Kurayado Iroha ryokan has an onsen available, of course. It is on the roof of the hotel with an incredible view of the Miyajima Strait and even the Floating Torii Gate.
The vermilion O-Torii Gate of Itsukushima Shrine can be seen from the seaside tables of the ryokan’s restaurant Café & Dining Yoimosezu. The meals, including the kaiseki dinner, are made from fresh seasonal ingredients.
