Miyajima: the ¥100 visitor tax, the two ferries and Itsukushima Shrine's hours
Before you go: three things that change your plan
- The visitor tax is collected with your ferry fare. Most visitors pay the Miyajima visitor tax automatically when they buy a ferry ticket, so budget it as part of the crossing, not a separate stop (children under school age do not pay it).
- Itsukushima Shrine closes earlier than you might expect, and the time changes with the season. It opens at 6:30; closing is 18:00 from 1 March to 14 October, 17:30 from 15 October to 30 November, 17:00 in December, and 17:30 from 4 January to the end of February (New Year hours are longer). Plan the shrine before late-afternoon sights.
- Check the tide before you pick a time. The torii looks very different at high and low tide; decide which view you want first, then fit the ferry around it.
Checked against 7 official sources, most recently on . 4 minute read.
What to know first
Getting to Miyajima costs an adult ¥200 each way on either ferry, plus, unless you are exempt, a ¥100 visitor tax each time you arrive on the island. The ferry company adds the tax to your fare, so you pay it with your ticket. A Japan Rail Pass covers the JR ferry fare but does not exempt you from the tax. Itsukushima Shrine costs ¥300 for an adult, normally opens at 06:30 (New Year's Day differs), and closes at 17:30 from 15 October to 30 November and at 17:00 in December.
On this page
The visitor tax in one table
If columns are cut off, scroll sideways. Keyboard: focus the table, then use Left/Right Arrow keys.
| Who | Miyajima visitor tax |
|---|---|
| Adults and school-age children who are not exempt | ¥100 per person, per entry to the island |
| Preschool children | Exempt |
| School educational visits (not universities), including leaders and chaperones | Exempt with the required school certificate; preliminary inspection visits do not qualify |
| Holders of a Japanese disability certificate (physical, intellectual or mental) | Exempt on showing it; accompanying carers pay unless independently exempt |
| Frequent visitors | ¥500 per person, paid at Hatsukaichi City Hall or its Miyajima or Ono branch by the 10th of the month before your first visit; it is not sold at the ferry |
The tax is separate from the ferry fare, but if you arrive by ferry the operator collects it by adding it to the fare.
For annual payment, apply at the listed city office and pay the tax; the certificate is issued after payment is confirmed, not necessarily immediately. For a first visit in November 2026, the 10 October deadline has already passed. This guide has not verified foreign applicants’ document eligibility; ordinary per-entry tax remains a separate option.
Sources for this section: Hatsukaichi City · Hatsukaichi City: annual visitor-tax payment application
The two ferries from Miyajimaguchi
Two companies sail between Miyajimaguchi and Miyajima.
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| JR West Miyajima Ferry | Miyajima Matsudai Kisen | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, one way | ¥200 | ¥200 |
| Child, one way | ¥100 (ages 6 to 11) | ¥100 (primary school; junior-high and older pay the adult fare) |
| Preschool children free | Up to two per paying passenger | One per paying passenger |
| Japan Rail Pass | Covers the fare | — |
| Payment | IC cards go straight through the ticket gate | Cash, IC cards, contactless credit card or MOBIRY DAYS (discounted group fares and cars or motorcycles: cash only) |
Fares above exclude the ¥100 visitor tax.
From Hiroshima Station, take the JR Sanyo Line towards Iwakuni and get off at Miyajimaguchi for the ferries.
Sources for this section: JR West Miyajima Ferry Company · Miyajima Matsudai Kisen Company · JR Group / JAPAN RAIL PASS · JR West Miyajima Ferry: access page
Worked example: two adults and a five-year-old, by JR ferry
- Over to the island: 2 × ¥200 fare + 2 × ¥100 tax = ¥600. The five-year-old rides free and pays no tax.
- Back to Miyajimaguchi: 2 × ¥200 = ¥400, since the tax is charged on entry to the island.
- Round trip: ¥1,000 for the family.
- With Japan Rail Passes, the fares drop out and only the 2 × ¥100 tax remains: ¥200.
- Itsukushima Shrine, the two adults: 2 × ¥300 = ¥600.
Sources for this section: JR West Miyajima Ferry Company · Hatsukaichi City · JR Group / JAPAN RAIL PASS · Itsukushima Shrine
Itsukushima Shrine: hours and prices
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| Item | Price or hours |
|---|---|
| Adult | ¥300 |
| High-school student | ¥200 |
| Primary and junior-high student | ¥100 |
| Hours, 1 January | 00:00–18:30 |
| Hours, 2–3 January | 06:30–18:30 |
| Hours, 4 January – end of February | 06:30–17:30 |
| Hours, 1 March – 14 October | 06:30–18:00 |
| Hours, 15 October – 30 November | 06:30–17:30 |
| Hours, December | 06:30–17:00 |
These are shrine-only prices for individual visitors. The shrine is open every day of the year.
Sources for this section: Itsukushima Shrine
Which choice fits your trip
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| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You have a Japan Rail Pass | Take the JR ferry; the fare is covered, and the ¥100 tax still applies unless you are exempt |
| You are travelling with two small children per adult | The JR ferry lets two preschoolers ride free per paying passenger |
| You want to pay by contactless card | For ordinary passenger fares, Matsudai Kisen takes contactless credit cards and MOBIRY DAYS; discounted group fares and cars or motorcycles are cash only |
| You are coming back to Miyajima often in a year | Apply and pay ¥500 at Hatsukaichi City Hall or its Miyajima or Ono branch by the 10th of the previous month; wait for the confirmed certificate before relying on annual payment |
| You want the earliest shrine visit on a normal day | It normally opens at 06:30; New Year's Day differs |
Sources for this section: JR Group / JAPAN RAIL PASS · JR West Miyajima Ferry Company · Miyajima Matsudai Kisen Company · Hatsukaichi City · Itsukushima Shrine · Hatsukaichi City: annual visitor-tax payment application
Your next step
Decide your ferry by how you are paying: Japan Rail Pass holders take the JR ferry; for ordinary passenger fares by contactless credit card, take Matsudai Kisen; discounted group fares and cars or motorcycles are cash only. Aim to be at the shrine before 17:30 from 15 October to 30 November, or before 17:00 in December. Whether a rail pass pays for itself on a trip that includes Hiroshima is covered in Japan Rail Pass or individual tickets.
Sources for this section: JR Group / JAPAN RAIL PASS · Miyajima Matsudai Kisen Company · Itsukushima Shrine
Questions about this guide
Is the ¥100 tax included in the ¥200 ferry fare?
No. The fare is ¥200 and the tax is ¥100 on top, collected together by the ferry company.
Does the Japan Rail Pass cover the visitor tax?
No. It covers the JR ferry fare; the pass itself does not exempt you from the ¥100 tax.
Do young children pay the tax?
Preschool children are exempt.
What time does Itsukushima Shrine close in November?
At 17:30 until 30 November, then 17:00 in December.
Does the Japan Rail Pass cover the Matsudai ferry?
The pass covers the JR West Miyajima Ferry route; Matsudai Kisen is a different company.
Official pages for this guide
The rules in this guide come from the official pages below. Japan, Booked. does not book or submit requests on your behalf.
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Sources and how this guide was checked
Published · Based on official sources · no affiliate links
Official sources
These official sources explain the rules and conditions used in this guide. Live availability and your own booking, admission or service outcome still need to be confirmed for your trip.
- Hatsukaichi City
What this confirms: The visitor tax in one table; Worked example: two adults and a five-year-old, by JR ferry; Which choice fits your trip; FAQ
Last checked - JR West Miyajima Ferry Company
What this confirms: The two ferries from Miyajimaguchi; Worked example: two adults and a five-year-old, by JR ferry; Which choice fits your trip; FAQ
Last checked - Miyajima Matsudai Kisen Company
What this confirms: The two ferries from Miyajimaguchi; Which choice fits your trip; FAQ; Your next step
Last checked - JR Group / JAPAN RAIL PASS
What this confirms: The two ferries from Miyajimaguchi; Worked example: two adults and a five-year-old, by JR ferry; Which choice fits your trip; FAQ; Your next step
Last checked - JR West Miyajima Ferry: access page
What this confirms: The two ferries from Miyajimaguchi
Last checked - Itsukushima Shrine
What this confirms: Worked example: two adults and a five-year-old, by JR ferry; Itsukushima Shrine: hours and prices; Which choice fits your trip; FAQ; Your next step
Last checked - Hatsukaichi City: annual visitor-tax payment application
What this confirms: Counter application and payment precede certificate issue after tax payment is confirmed; not instant issue. Digital application uses MyNumber authentication. First-entry-month previous10th deadline is on the city tax information page. Foreign document acceptance and individual eligibility not verified.
Last checked
About this guide
What do I pay to reach Miyajima, who is exempt from its visitor tax, and when can I enter Itsukushima Shrine?
Sources last reviewed: 12 October 2026.
How we checked this
Where this information comes from
What do I pay to reach Miyajima, who is exempt from its visitor tax, and when can I enter Itsukushima Shrine?
If columns are cut off, scroll sideways. Keyboard: focus the table, then use Left/Right Arrow keys.
| Question | What we found | Last checked |
|---|---|---|
| You have a Japan Rail Pass | Take the JR ferry; the fare is covered, and the ¥100 tax still applies unless you are exempt | |
| You are travelling with two small children per adult | The JR ferry lets two preschoolers ride free per paying passenger | |
| You want to pay by contactless card | For ordinary passenger fares, Matsudai Kisen takes contactless credit cards and MOBIRY DAYS; discounted group fares and cars or motorcycles are cash only Source: Miyajima Matsudai Kisen Company | |
| You are coming back to Miyajima often in a year | Apply and pay ¥500 at Hatsukaichi City Hall or its Miyajima or Ono branch by the 10th of the previous month; wait for the confirmed certificate before relying on annual payment Source: Hatsukaichi City; Hatsukaichi City: annual visitor-tax payment application | |
| You want the earliest shrine visit on a normal day | It normally opens at 06:30; New Year's Day differs |
Based on official sources, linked below.
Guide updates Reviewed
When this guide was checked and what changed
- First published
- Last checked
- Check again by
- What we checked
- Hatsukaichi City; JR West Miyajima Ferry Company; Miyajima Matsudai Kisen Company; JR Group / JAPAN RAIL PASS; JR West Miyajima Ferry: access page; Itsukushima Shrine; Hatsukaichi City: annual visitor-tax payment application
- Latest update
- : Added the shrine's opening hours for the whole year from its official admission page, checked on 18 October 2026. Other sources retain their individual check dates.
The date above reflects when these checks were last run. If an individual source was rechecked later, you’ll see that date next to it below. Other copy edits are listed in the update history.
Who edits this guide
One editor looks after this guide
Japan, Booked. is run and edited from Japan. The same editor checks the Japanese and English sources, writes the traveller-facing guidance and keeps the correction history up to date.
What changed
Update history
- Year-round shrine hours
Added the shrine's opening hours for the whole year from its official admission page, checked on 18 October 2026. Other sources retain their individual check dates.
- Annual visitor-tax source
Added a seventh official source, Hatsukaichi City's page on applying for the annual visitor-tax payment.
- First published
13 October 2026: First published after checking six official pages on 12 October 2026.
If an operator, organiser or product changes in a way that affects the guide, we check it again sooner. Reader reports help us spot what to investigate, and we verify them against current official information before publishing. Read our update and corrections policy. See every guide's review schedule. Suggest an improvement to this guide.