Miyajima was a bit of a splurge for us compared to the rest of the places we stayed during this trip, and we built it into the itinerary on purpose. Just like Hakone, we needed an intentional slow-down day somewhere between the pace of the bigger cities, and Miyajima fit that exactly. Here’s where we stayed, where to stay in Miyajima with kids (on the island or the mainland), why we’re glad we stayed overnight, and how a typhoon rearranged our plans at the last minute.
Traveled: Late May / Early June 2026.
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Where We Stayed: Hotel Miyajima Villa
We stayed at Hotel Miyajima Villa, close to the ferry terminal on the island. It was, without question, the nicest and largest room of our entire trip: a modern take on a traditional ryokan, with a lovely view of the sea. One thing to know: the hotel’s public onsen has an age requirement, and we couldn’t use it because of that, so confirm the current age limit before booking if the onsen is a priority for your family.
Good for: families who want a splurge night with a big room and sea views, steps from the ferry, and don’t need the onsen.
Read More: Where We Stayed in Japan: Honest Reviews of Our 6 Hotels (13 Nights as a Family)
Read More: Is Hiroshima & Miyajima Good for Kids? Our Honest Take
The Honest Take: When a Typhoon Changes Your Plans
Our original plan was to hike Mount Misen the day after we arrived. A typhoon had other ideas. It pushed our whole itinerary around, and the hike got cut. Instead, we rushed to fit in the ropeway ride up the mountain and back down, then spent the rest of our time exploring the town itself.
It wasn't the plan we'd mapped out, but it worked out fine. The ropeway still gets you the views without the multi-hour hike, and having the extra time in town was a nice slowdown after a busy week spent elsewhere in Japan.
Check out what else we did during our trip here: Our 14-Day Japan Itinerary: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nara & Osaka
Why We're Glad We Stayed Overnight
Miyajima is very doable as a day trip from Hiroshima, but staying overnight gave us something a day trip can't: we saw the floating torii gate at both low tide and high tide. At high tide, it genuinely looks like it's floating on the water. At low tide, you can walk right out to it. Seeing both, without rushing to catch the last ferry back, was worth the extra night on its own.
Read More: Miyajima Gate: High Tide or Low Tide?
Or Just Do It as a Day Trip
That said, an overnight stay isn't the only right way to do Miyajima, and it's worth being upfront about the cost trade-off. A lot of visitors see Miyajima as a day trip and base themselves in Hiroshima (or elsewhere) instead, which is a genuinely easier and more affordable way to do it. Hiroshima hotels are typically cheaper than an island ryokan, you skip the splurge entirely, and the ferry ride is short enough that a day trip doesn't feel rushed. If budget is a bigger factor than the slow-down-day experience we were going for, day-tripping in from Hiroshima is a completely valid way to see Miyajima well.
Read More: What We Spent in Hiroshima & Miyajima: A Real Cost Breakdown
Where to Stay in Miyajima With Kids: Island or Mainland
Miyajima is a small island, so this isn't about neighborhoods the way Kyoto or Tokyo are. It's a choice between staying near the ferry and shrine, tucking into a quieter corner of the island, or staying on the mainland if you're treating it as a day trip instead.
On the island, near the ferry terminal and Itsukushima Shrine is the most convenient option, and where we stayed. Hotel Miyajima Villa is just steps from the ferry terminal, and Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto is about a 10-minute walk from it, with the shrine about 3 minutes' walk from the hotel.
On the island, in Momijidani Park is quieter and more nature-focused. Iwaso sits inside the park.
On the quieter seaside of the island is Miyajima Seaside Hotel, which is about a 2-minute drive from the ferry terminal and runs a free shuttle.
On the mainland, near Miyajimaguchi is the budget-friendlier option if you're not set on staying overnight on the island, with a short ferry ride over.
Family-Friendly Hotels in Miyajima, By Area
If you’re traveling with kids, here are the options we could confirm. We haven’t stayed at any of these except our own hotel. We found them while researching our trip, and these picks come from guest ratings, review volume, and family-friendly features. Ratings are Booking.com guest scores and verified review counts as of September 21, 2026, and they change over time.
Near the Ferry Terminal & Shrine
Hotel Miyajima Villa (where we stayed): rated 9.2 out of 10 from 319 verified reviews. There is a rooftop onsen with views, and a lounge with free drinks and snacks. One guest noted the restaurant's buffet items were clearly labeled for allergies.
Good to know: the public onsen has an age limit, which kept us from using it, and this has the smallest review base on this list.
Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto: rated 9.2 out of 10 from 1,595 verified reviews. It's a 4-star hotel with a Japanese-Western style room that one guest said felt large enough for four, with a tatami area. Free cribs are listed.
Good to know: one guest said the bath is not a hot spring, and guests checking in late may not be served dinner. Children 6 and above may be charged as adults, so confirm with the hotel.
Miyajima Hotel Makoto: rated 8.7 out of 10 from 1,039 verified reviews. One family with young children said the walk up the hill was fine and the kids loved the futon beds. A guest said one room could hold up to six people. The hotel offers a free ferry terminal shuttle if you contact them a day ahead.
Good to know: children's meals can't be prepared for breakfast, and there aren't many restaurants nearby.
Momijidani Park
Iwaso: rated 9.2 out of 10 from 752 verified reviews. It's a historic ryokan set inside Momijidani Park. Children of any age are welcome.
Good to know: children over 3 are charged at the adult rate, and no extra beds or cots are available. Some rooms have no private bathroom, guests with tattoos may be refused access to the bath, and dinner needs an arrival before 7 p.m. It's a premium ryokan, and the pace is more traditional than family-flexible.
On the Quieter Seaside
Miyajima Seaside Hotel: rated 9.1 out of 10 from 2,227 verified reviews. It's beachfront with a free shuttle, and listings mention kids' meals and a children's play area. Traditional rooms with futons can sleep up to six. One guest said deer roam below the balcony.
Good to know: guests describe it as older, and one said it feels far from everything. Children's breakfast options are limited, per one guest.
On the Mainland (If You're Day-Tripping Instead)
Grandvrio Hotel Miyajima Wakura: rated 8.8 out of 10 from 343 verified reviews, a smaller review base. It has a child-friendly buffet and an onsen.
Good to know: one guest said walking to the ferry takes about 15 minutes, but the sidewalk is narrow with heavy traffic, so use the hotel’s shuttle van.
Miyajima Coral Hotel: rated 8.3 out of 10 from 1,894 verified reviews. It's a budget-friendly mainland option, and one guest said it's less than a minute's walk from the Miyajimaguchi ferry terminal. A superior quadruple room is listed.
Good to know: guests describe the rooms as small in some cases and the facilities as a little old.
Practical Notes
If seeing the torii gate at both tides matters to you, staying overnight is really the only way to guarantee it. Check the tide schedule before you book so your stay lines up with both a low and high tide window.
Traveling during typhoon season (roughly June through October)? Build a little flexibility into your itinerary. Our hike became just a ropeway ride, and it still turned out to be a great day.
The ropeway is a solid alternative to the Mount Misen hike if you're short on time or the weather doesn't cooperate since you still get the summit views without the multi-hour commitment.
If a torii-gate view matters to you, confirm the room type with the hotel before booking, since not every room has one. Those rooms are limited and go fast, especially on weekends.
Bottom Line
If the budget allows, one night on the island near the ferry and shrine is worth it, since it’s the only way to reliably see the torii gate at both high and low tide. Choose Momijidani Park or the seaside if you want a quieter, more traditional stay, and stay on the mainland near Miyajimaguchi, or back in Hiroshima, if you’d rather day-trip and save money.
Where to Next
Book It (Getting Here): Shinkansen Tickets - Kyoto → Hiroshima
Book It (Next Stop): Shinkansen Tickets - Hiroshima → Osaka
Read More: Where to Stay in Osaka With Kids: Our Honest Take
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