Miyajima with Kids: A Family-Friendly Guide By Locals (+ Tips)
Last Updated on June 27, 2025 by Kay
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Wondering if you should visit Miyajima with kids and looking for advice from someone who’s been there more than once with their child?
I used to live less than 30 minutes away from Miyajima Island, and my husband was born and raised in Hiroshima Prefecture, so needless to say, we’ve been on day trips to Miyajima (specifically Itsukushima) countless times. And naturally, we’ve taken our daughter there as well every year ever since she was two years old.
So in this article, I’ll share my family’s experience of what it’s like to go to Miyajima with kids, including the best things to do and what to keep in mind when visiting.
Table of Contents
Is Miyajima a Good Place to Visit with Kids?
Miyajima Island, also known as Itsukushima, is one of the most famous places in Japan, celebrated for its stunning views (one of the three most celebrated in the country, in fact) and rich culture and history.
That might sound boring for kids, but my daughter always has a great time when we visit the island. There are a ton of things for curious kids to see and do as well as lots of delicious food to try out.
How to Get to Miyajima With Kids
Miyajima Island, also known as Itsukushima, is super easy to visit as a day trip from Hiroshima city. Depending on your preferred mode of transport, it takes less than an hour to reach, and part of that includes a quick ferry trip!
I go into more detail about the ferries in this article but to sum it up, there are two ferry companies that charge the same amount. You can use an IC Card to board, so you don’t need to purchase a ticket. They run about every 15 minutes from 8 AM to 6 PM, so you don’t have to rush to catch one. (A relief for all parents, especially those traveling with kids on toddler-time or those who need to use the bathroom last minute.)
You might feel a bit overwhelmed when you see all the people lined up to ride the ferry, but the lines move quite quickly.
These ferries are also huge, so they can accommodate all passengers. Usually, we’re able to find a seat inside the ferry if we need it but if you’re worried about having to stand, feel free to wait for the next ferry since they run often.
For those of you with babies and toddlers, you might be wondering if you can bring your stroller onto the ferry — yes, you absolutely can! Just be prepared to haul it up a flight of stairs.
My daughter is always super excited to ride the ferry from Miyajimaguchi to the island. We chose whether or not to sit on the deck or inside the ferry, depending on the weather. If you’re on the dock, make sure to keep a close eye on your child, especially if they’re very young. When our daughter was a toddler and we sat on the deck, my husband kept her on his lap.
What to Do In Miyajima With Kids
When we arrive on Miyajima Island, we usually follow the same game plan.
First, after exiting the ferry station, we turn right and head straight towards Itsukushima Shrine’s famous torii gate, called the Great Torii Gate. This is beautiful whether it’s high tide or low tide. My recommendation is to try to see the gate during both.
We like to avoid the crowds and walk along the coast to the gate, which my daughter enjoys because she loves the sea, and we get to take beautiful photos like this one.
If you visit the Great Torii Gate during low tide, which you absolutely should, you get to go straight up to the gate and touch it. It’s believed that touching the Great Torii Gate gives you good luck!
A note of caution, though. The ground will be very wet and your shoes will likely get dirty and potentially soaked. Due to this, I don’t recommend wearing sandals and perhaps carry an extra pair of socks (maybe even shoes) just in case. We always make sure to avoid little rivets of water, so we don’t bring extra shoes, and our daughter is more of a cautious type who doesn’t go off on her own.
You’ll also notice throughout the island, and probably right after you leave the ferry station, that there are tons of wild deer. This is undoubtedly very exciting for kids, it certainly is for my daughter, so make sure to tell your child about them beforehand. If your child does not have experience seeing wild deer, teach them to be very gentle and approach them with caution.
The deer in Miyajima are sacred, and although they’re usually not aggressive, they’re still unpredictable. I’ve had them nip at me and try to eat my map once, so this goes without saying but please stay close to your child, and under no circumstances should you give them food.
Personally, my family takes a “look but do not touch” policy with wild animals. The last thing you want is for your child to get injured during vacation!
After we marvel at the Great Torii Gate and take a load of pictures, we head towards Itsukushima Shrine. This shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to 593, and it’s absolutely stunning, especially during high tide. Unlike most shrines in Japan, there are no stairs here, so you can take a stroller inside!
If there’s a long line to get in, we usually just skip this and head straight to the Miyajima Ropeway so that we can see the view from Mount Misen. This is considered one of the three most beautiful views in Japan, so it’s a must in my humble opinion. I’ve seen it so many times, but I’m always taken away by how stunning it is.
You can hike up Mount Misen if you really feel up to it, but I don’t recommend this for families that are not experienced with hiking. I talk more about hiking Mount Misen in this article, but to keep things short, there are three routes, and the shortest takes about 1.5 hours one-way.
I’ve hiked Mount Misen a few times on my own, and I think it’s too intense for young kids. I’ll consider doing the hike with my daughter when she’s in upper elementary school and if (only if) she wants to do it.
So, needless to say, we take the Miyajima Ropeway up to Mount Misen. The Miyajima Ropeway runs from Momijidani Station, and it’s a bit of an uphill walk to get there. There is a shuttle bus as well that runs every 20 minutes, so you might consider using that, but the walk up to Momijidani Station is absolutely beautiful, though, and my daughter enjoyed it despite being tired.
There’s also a little pond where you can see carp fish, which my daughter always gets so excited about.
If you’re hungry, there’s a small restaurant here called Momiji-so that sells hot meals such as udon noodles (my daughter’s favorite) and Japanese desserts.
The fare for the Miyajima Ropeway costs 1100 yen one-way for adults (ages 12 and up) and 2000 yen for a round-trip, while the fare for kids ages 6-12 is half.
You can purchase tickets at the ticket machine or window located at Momijidani Station, but during busy periods such as the beginning of January or national holidays or Golden Week, you can make a reservation online.
Keep in mind that the ropeway can be crowded, and your child might not be able to sit down. Strollers are not allowed, and you also need to transfer to another line halfway through. The first line, the Momijidani Line, takes 10 minutes, and the second line, the Shishiiwa Line, takes 4 minutes, although you need to wait a bit to board. So in total, it takes about 20 minutes to go up to the first part of Mount Misen, Shishiiwa Observation Deck.
Now, the best place to see the famous view is the Mount Misen Observation Deck. This is about a 30-minute hike from Shishiiwa Station, the first half consisting of a 10-minute hike down and the latter half of a 20-minute hike up. However, when we asked the staff if they thought our daughter could hike there, they thought it would be too difficult.
So, we just watched the view from the Shishiiwa Observation Deck, which was good enough, and we got some great family photos.
There is also a waiting space at Shishiiwa Station where you can sit inside and enjoy a vending machine drink while looking at the view, use the washroom, or change a diaper and breastfeed if you need to!
However, I decided to hike to the Mount Misen Observation Deck on my own while my husband and daughter took the ropeway down, and boy, am I glad I didn’t take my 5-year-old!
I hadn’t done this hike in a few years, so I had forgotten how intense it was! There are lots of stairs and narrow paths, as well as large tree roots and rocks, so if you’re not careful, you can easily injure yourself.
But the view from the Mount Misen Observation Deck is oh so worth it.
I’m looking forward to going on this hike with my daughter when she’s older.
After Mount Misen, I recommend going to the Miyajima Aquarium. It’s small and can easily be done in an hour, but it’s very beautiful and features local marine life from the Seto Inland Sea, as well as beluga whales. My daughter loves marine animals, so this aquarium is always a must for us.
Note that it is cash only!
After this, we like having a late lunch and shopping along Omotesando Shopping Street. My daughter loves having fried momiji manju (check out Momijido Nibanya 揚げもみじの紅葉堂 弐番屋) and other street food like kamaboko on a stick (fried fish cakes).
A note of caution, though — fresh oysters are very common and popular in Miyajima. I recommend you try it with caution because you can get food poisoning from them. I have been fortunate enough to never have gotten sick but I can’t say the same for my friends and family. Whenever we head to Miyajima, my mother-in-law (born and raised in Hiroshima) always warns us not to give any oysters (called kaki) to our daughter.
Other notable places to see along Omotesando Shopping Street are the Sumikko Gurashi and Rilakkuma stores, which are filled with original Miyajima-themed goodies featuring these popular characters. The outside of these stores is super cute, too — I love taking photos of my daughter in front of them, and they offer free props to use, too!
If you have time, check out the giant rice paddle. It’s believed that Miyajima is home to the first rice paddle, called shamoji, so you’ll find lots of rice paddle items such as souvenirs and a huge one displayed at the Etto Miyajima Community Center.
Make sure to also take the elevator to the 3rd floor to see the view from the observation deck here.
There’s also a large shamoji inside Hokoku Shrine, located near Itsukushima Shrine, as well as old paintings.
You can see a lovely scenic view of Itsukushima from Hokoku Shrine as well:
Note that there are a lot of stairs to climb to get here, so it’s not the most stroller-friendly.
Although it’s not that popular, one temple my daughter likes on Miyajima is Gomado because she enjoys hopping around in this area:
Where to Eat in Miyajima With Kids
As mentioned earlier, my family usually snacks while we explore Omotesando Shopping Street. But one sit-down restaurant we really enjoy is Cafe Lente.
This is a family-owned business during weekends and holidays, you might find the young children of the owner at a table coloring away. The food here is fantastic and they specialize in a local Hiroshima dish, dan dan noodles, as well as offer vegan and gluten-free food).
Best of all is the view of the Grand Torii Gate from the window!
If you walk a little further down from the entrance, you’ll find a vending machine with diapers and baby wipes! How convenient is that?!
Tips for Visiting Miyajima with Kids
Here are some tips that will hopefully make your visit to Miyajima with your children easier.
Bring a baby carrier if possible
Although Miyajima is relatively stroller-friendly, I think it’s much easier to get around with a baby carrier, especially if you want to ride the ropeway and see the Grand Torii Gate during low tide.
Check the tide schedule
The Grand Torii Gate and Itsukushima Shrine are worth visiting during both low tide and high tide. Refer to the tide schedule to plan accordingly.
Don’t arrive too late
Although Miyajima is easily doable as a day trip, there is a lot to do so I recommend arriving at around 8:30 AM to make the most of your day. The ropeway will also be considerably less crowded during this time.
Better yet, stay overnight if you can.
Don’t visit during the first week of January
Many people go to pray at Itsukushima Shrine during the New Year. We do as well but found it was crazy busy this year, much busier than usual. Whether this is because of social media I have no clue but avoid if possible.
Pack extra socks just in case
If your child goes down to see the Grand Torii Gate up close, there’s a chance their shoes down to their socks will get wet. Have extra socks ready just in case.
Don’t wear sandals
This might be hard to avoid during summer, but sandals are probably not the best footwear for Miyajima Island. Your feet will get covered in deer poop and sand. This especially goes for if you want to hike to Mount Misen Observatory.
Don’t snack while walking outside of Omotesando Shopping Street
Remember the deer I mentioned earlier? If you’re eating outside of a crowded place like Omotesando Shopping Street, they will find you and try to take your food. So if you have a hungry child and want to give them a snack, go to an enclosed space like Starbucks or the Omotesando Shopping Street where you will be safe.
The Starbucks also has a really nice view!
Is Miyajima Worth Visiting With Kids?
I always love taking my daughter to Miyajima Island, and she enjoys it as well (when it’s not crowded). So I absolutely think it’s worth visiting Miyajima with children.
They will not only be able to see unforgettable scenery and marvel at deer, but the entire family have a memorable experience as well as stunning photos.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about visiting Miyajima with kids and my answers.
Is it worth staying overnight on Miyajima with kids?
I’ve stayed overnight on Miyajima with my family once. We stayed at Miyajima Hotel Makoto and although this was not as fancy as the ryokan we usually stay at, we still enjoyed our time there (especially for the price!).
There is a lot to do on Miyajima Island, so if you want to take a more leisurely pace and enjoy the beauty of Itsukushima in the evening and early morning with few tourists, I recommend staying overnight.
One important thing to note is that many places, including restaurants and cafes, close early and don’t open until about 8-9 AM, so make sure you choose a hotel plan that comes with dinner at least. For breakfast, consider buying something from the convenience store the night before or paying for breakfast as well at your hotel.
For more details, read this article.
Is Miyajima stroller-friendly?
Miyajima is relatively stroller-friendly. However, you won’t be able to bring it down to see Itsukushima’s torii gate during low tide, nor will you be able to use it on the ropeway.
There are also lots of deer that might come up to your stroller, and it may be harder to get away if there’s a particularly aggressive deer near you.
Personally, I have never brought my daughter’s stroller to Miyajima.
Can kids have oyster in Miyajima?
Every time we go to Miyajima, my mother-in-law reminds us not to give oyster to our daughter under any circumstances. This is because you can get food poisoning from the oyster very easily, and this is especially true for small children.
It’s up to you whether you want to let your child have an oyster. My husband and I have tried it many times, and we’ve never gotten sick, but we don’t want to take chances with our daughter.