Miyajima Ferry: JR or Matsudai, Last Ferry, Tickets, and the Peace Park Boat

Which ferry to Miyajima should you take? JR and Matsudai cost the same from Miyajimaguchi, but the schedules, torii route, car-ferry rules, and Peace Park boat change the best choice.

The simple answer

If you are already at Miyajimaguchi, do not overthink it.

Both main ferries cross the same short waterway, both take about ten minutes, and both charge the same basic passenger fare. The best ferry is usually the one leaving next.

What the 100 yen tax means

The part that confuses visitors is that the ferry fare and the island visitor tax are separate.

For a normal adult passenger from Miyajimaguchi to Miyajima:

• Ferry fare: 200 yen one way
• Miyajima visitor tax: 100 yen when entering Miyajima
• Total to enter the island: 300 yen

Coming back from Miyajima to Miyajimaguchi, the visitor tax is not charged again for the same entry. You are just paying the return ferry fare.

JR or Matsudai?

Take JR if you care about the torii view

JR West Miyajima Ferry promotes its daytime route that passes closer to Itsukushima Shrine’s giant torii. On the normal timetable, the official page marks Miyajimaguchi departures from 9:10 to 16:10 as the torii-view service.

That does not mean Matsudai is bad. It means JR has the clearer tourist hook if this is your first visit and you want the classic approach photo from the boat.

Take Matsudai if the timing is better

Matsudai’s timetable is not identical to JR’s. If you arrive at the pier and Matsudai is leaving sooner, it is usually fine to take it.

This is especially true on the way back. After a long day on Miyajima, the best ferry is often the one that gets you off the island without waiting.

Last ferry is late, but do not plan around it

JR’s normal timetable runs late enough for evening returns: the official table shows Miyajima departures continuing into the 22:00 hour. Matsudai also publishes late evening departures on its regular and special timetables.

Still, the last ferry should be your backup, not your plan. Restaurants, shrine areas, ropeway access, and local buses do not all run as late as the boat.

If you are staying in Hiroshima city, leaving Miyajima before dinner is the safer default. If you want the quiet evening atmosphere, stay on the island or near Miyajimaguchi.

Compare hotels in Hiroshima

Should you take the Peace Park boat?

The Peace Park boat is different from the local Miyajimaguchi ferries. It connects central Hiroshima and Miyajima directly, using the river and Hiroshima Bay, and the operator lists a normal travel time of about 45 minutes.

It is the easiest choice when your day looks like this:

1. Peace Memorial Museum in the morning
2. Walk to the Peace Park pier
3. Direct boat to Miyajima
4. Return by ferry and train, or by boat if the schedule fits

It is not always the cheapest choice. It is a convenience route: fewer transfers, more direct, and better when you value time over fare.

Book Miyajima tickets and tours

Peace Park boat vs train plus ferry

Dive! Hiroshima’s access guide lists the common public-transport routes from Hiroshima Station and Peace Memorial Park to Miyajima. Use that as a reality check: there is no single best route for everyone. The right answer depends on where your day starts.

Can you take a car?

Yes, but most tourists should not.

Both ferry companies publish vehicle fares, and Matsudai has a dedicated car-ferry timetable section. The problem is not whether it is possible. The problem is whether it is useful.

Miyajima is not a place where most first-time visitors need a car. Parking and narrow streets make it more trouble than it sounds. Leave the car at Miyajimaguchi unless you have a specific reason to bring it over.

Which route should you book?

For a simple Hiroshima day trip:

1. Use JR or Hiroden to reach Miyajimaguchi.
2. Take whichever local ferry leaves next.
3. Use JR if you want the torii-view route and the timing works.
4. Consider the Peace Park boat if you start at the museum and want fewer transfers.
5. Do not build your day around the last ferry.

For guided Hiroshima and Miyajima tours, compare whether the ferry and transport are included before booking.

See guided tours in Hiroshima

Before you go

Check the official timetable on the day you travel. Ferries may add temporary services, use special timetables, or change routes because of tide, events, weather, or crowding.

The numbers in this guide were verified from Japanese official sources on 25 August 2026. They are a planning baseline, not a guarantee for your exact travel date.