Hotel Miyajima Villa is on the main waterfront strip of Miyajima at 1165 Miyajima-cho, in the historic district near the beach and across the road from the ferry terminal. It is a three-and-a-half class property, and guests rate it very highly. Its location is the draw: the Omotesando shopping arcade is a minute away, the five-storey pagoda about eight minutes on foot and Itsukushima Shrine and its great torii around ten, so you can walk everywhere on the island without effort. Rooms are generous for Japan, at roughly thirty-one to thirty-seven square meters for most types, and include sea-view twins and triples, a four-bed family room, a queen double and a large suite with a view bath for up to four. Rooms have air conditioning, a safe, a fridge and a bidet, and there is a restaurant on site serving breakfast and dinner.
Location and getting around
The hotel sits where most visitors arrive, so you can leave the ferry, cross the road and be at the front desk with your bags in minutes. That is a big advantage after the day-trippers leave, because the island turns quiet and atmospheric at dusk, and you can walk to the shrine when the tide is in and the torii seems to float.
Deer wander the streets, so keep snacks and paper maps out of reach. Momijidani Park, famous for autumn colour, is about a quarter of an hour on foot, and the ropeway to Mount Misen is reached by a pleasant uphill walk or a shuttle bus.
Rooms, meals and facilities
The rooms are practical and spacious, with a choice of ocean-style and mountain-style outlooks. Family travelers will like the triple and four-bed rooms, and the suite with a view bath suits a special occasion. The hotel has an indoor public bath, which is not a mineral hot spring but is a comfortable place to soak after a day of walking, along with a terrace, a garden, laundry facilities, a small shop and a lobby with free tea or coffee.
Breakfast is a buffet for an additional charge, and the on-site restaurant also serves dinner, which is worth considering because many island restaurants close early. Wi-Fi is free, and self-parking is free, which is useful if you drive to the ferry port on the mainland and ride across.
Who it suits and what to know: couples, families and anyone who wants to wake up on the island and see it without the crowds. Check-in is in the afternoon and runs into the early evening, so tell the hotel if you will arrive late, and check-out is before eleven. Pets are not allowed, though service animals are welcome. Rooms are in demand in the autumn leaf season, over Golden Week and on summer weekends, so book early and compare room types and cancellation rules.
The island has fewer shops open after dark than the mainland, so eat before you head out, and carry a little cash for small stalls. If you prefer a traditional ryokan with a hot spring, look at the other island options in this guide.
Why stay here
- ✓Opposite the ferry terminal
- ✓Sea-view rooms
- ✓Indoor public bath
- ✓Terrace and garden
- ✓On-site restaurant
- ✓Free self-parking
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
- ✓Laundry facilities
Good questions
How far is it from the ferry terminal?+
It is just across the road, so you can walk from the ferry to the front desk in a few minutes with luggage.
Can I walk to Itsukushima Shrine?+
Yes, the shrine is about ten minutes on foot and the five-storey pagoda about eight.
Does it have a hot spring?+
It has an indoor public bath without hot-spring minerals. For a mineral onsen, choose one of the other Miyajima options in this guide.
