Hi there!
The Mount Misen hike can be a perfect part of your one day in Miyajima when you do a day trip from Hiroshima.
Miyajima is known officially as one of the top 3 locations in Japan with the best views.
And a hike up Mt Misen will afford you amazing views at the summit that will likely make you believe that it’s well worth the hike!
Well, you can actually get the same views without walking as much. There’s a ropeway you can take, but why take the ropeway when you can hike?! 😉 (So actually I took the ropeway to get down.)
You won’t be hiking as long if you take the ropeway compared to a hiking trail all the way up, but you still need to do a short hike to reach the summit from the ropeway station at the top.
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Mt Misen hike as a part of your one day Miyajima itinerary
I went to Miyajima as a day trip from Hiroshima. In Hiroshima, I stayed at a top Japan hostel chain for backpackers.
This was what my one day in Miyajima looked like:
- Hiroshima to Miyajima by train and ferry
- See Miyajima shrine at low tide
- Visit Daisho-in Temple
- Hike to Mt Misen summit
- Eat at a restaurant on Mt Misen
- Mt Misen ropeway back down
- See Miyajima shrine at high tide
You might consider checking the Miyajima tide times before you go. If you won’t be in Miyajima for the whole day, you might want to time it out to be on the island at a certain time.
More below on how to make Mount Misen a part of your day trip from Hiroshima!
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Mount Misen hiking options
There are basically 4 main options to get those spectacular views from the summit of Mount Misen.
Once again, even the “easiest” option with the ropeway includes a little bit of hiking.
Take the ropeway up and down
- Take the Miyajima ropeway up
- Hike 30 minutes to the Mt Misen summit
- Hike 20-30 minutes back to the ropeway station
- Take the Miyajima ropeway down
Take the ropeway up, hike down a trail
- Take the Miyajima ropeway up
- Hike 30 minutes to the Mt Misen summit
- Hike 1 – 1.5 hours on a trail back down to sea level
Hike up a trail, take the ropeway down
- Hike 1.5 – 2 hours up to the Mt Misen summit
- Hike 20-30 minutes to the ropeway station
- Take the Miyajima ropeway down
Hike up a trail, then hike back down
- Hike 1.5 – 2 hours up to the Mt Misen summit
- Hike 1 – 1.5 hours back down
No matter which trail you choose, it’s about a 25-30 minute walk if you go direct from where the Miyajima ferry drops you off to the start of any of the trails.
Each of the trails are named based on the attraction that they are near.
So you can choose a trail based on which attraction you may want to see!
- Daisho-in Temple
- Momijidani Park
- Omoto Shrine
So…
How long will it take to reach the Mount Misen summit when you hike each of these trails?
According to Miyajima tourism department…
Daisho-in trail
- 3 km / 1.9 miles
- Around 1.5 – 2 hours to climb
- Stone steps on the trail
- Around 1 hour to descend
Momijidani trail
- 2.5 km / 1.6 miles
- Around 1.5 hours to climb
- Hike through a forest and along a river
- Around 1 hour to descend
Omoto trail
- 3.2 km / 2 miles
- Around 2 hours to climb
- Hike hills and stone steps
- Around 1.5 hours to descend
And…
If you want to make it a full hiking day, you can hike all 3 trails!
- Hike up the Omoto trail (2 hours)
- Hike down the Daisho-in trail (1 hour)
- Hike up the Momijidani trail (1.5 hours)
- Rest at the Mount Misen observatory
- Hike to Shishiiwa ropeway station (30 minutes)
- Eat at the ropeway station restaurant
- Take the ropeway down!
…or something like that. 😉
Grab a tourist map when you arrive at the Miyajima ferry station, and it’ll make the planning part seem much easier!
Or, you’ll find a map when you’re at the start of these trails too.
Now…
Here’s a bit of what you’ll see with a Mount Misen hike!
And specifically, by doing the Daishon-in trail to the Mt Misen summit.
Ferry to Miyajima
Walk towards the start of the trail
Walking from the Miyajima ferry station, you’ll probably pass by some deer…
Depending on the time of day you visit, you’ll pass by the floating torii…
Or you’ll pass by the non-floating torii…
For more famous torii gates, see the Fushimi Inari shrine hike through 1,000 torii gates in Kyoto!
You might pass by some more deer…
You’ll go down a small street…
And then…
Visit Daisho-in Temple grounds
Once you’re near the start of the trail, you can immediately start the trail.
But…
This is also where the Daisho-in Temple is located, so consider a quick visit around the temple grounds first!
And it can be tempting to skip the temple when you see all the stairs that it requires!
But if you like seeing little statues, then you’ll likely find it to be worth it! (But if you do skip the temple visit, you can see a few little statues on the trail to the Mt Misen summit too.)
Start the hike up to Mount Misen summit!
Be prepared for lots of stairs!
Also be prepared with plenty of water and snacks.
Around the Mount Misen trail summit!
So you’ve made it to the trail summit!
Now what?!
Rest up at the Mt Misen observatory!
Refuel with food at Shishiiwa ropeway station restaurant!
And then…
Make your way back down!
Go back down by ropeway, or go back down by taking another hiking trail!
HAPPY MOUNT MISEN HIKE IN MIYAJIMA!
