Rain started just as I left Itsukushima Shrine. Umbrellas bloomed, tour groups scattered, and a cartoon sea lion on a sign pointed down a side lane. I followed, shoes squeaking on wet stone. Ten minutes later I stepped into Miyajima Aquarium—warm air, soft tank light, filters humming like a low lullaby.
Outside, a deer nosed a souvenir bag; inside, a puffer fish stared back like a grumpy neighbor. Islands can feel slow in the rain. This one felt calm, almost cozy.
I arrived with zero research. I thought it would be shrine → snack → ferry. Surprise: Miyajima easily fills a day. Also, if you want the classic “floating torii” photo, you really do need morning high tide. Lower tide later is great too—different mood, more textures, fewer reflections.
The aquarium isn’t huge. I walked the whole thing in under an hour. But most tanks feature creatures from the Seto Inland Sea, which makes it feel local, not corporate.
Miyajima works best when I lean into the weather. Sunny? Wander lanes and shorelines. Rainy? Slow lap through the aquarium, catch the otter show (mine was 15:00, about 30 minutes), then snack my way back toward the ferry. And yes—oysters. I saved stomach space for raw and fried.
Local tips (practical)
Getting there — From Itsukushima Shrine it’s about 10 min on foot. Follow the sea-lion signs. Ferries run frequently between Miyajimaguchi ↔ Miyajima; once on the island, it’s walkable.
Time & crowds — Aquarium in 45–60 min (or 60–90 min if you linger). Otter shows usually 3/day; I saw 15:00 (~30 min). Rain pushes people indoors; mornings are quieter.
Tickets & hours — Adults around ¥1,400–1,500 (≈ €8–9). Check the booking page for current hours (often late-afternoon close, varies by season).
Tide & shrine photos — Floating look = morning high tide. Close-up textures = lower tide later.
Money & basics — Many snack counters are cash-first; bring ¥1,000 notes + coins. Few bins: carry a small trash bag. Deer are cute but wild—don’t feed, zip your bags.
Photo prompts — Puffer fish face close-up; doctor fish hands-in-water ripples; otters mid-splash; koi swirl; neon tropical tank reflections.
Picks (tickets / food / stay)
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Plan ahead or keep a rainy-day backup:
→ Miyajima Aquarium tickets (e-tickets, bundles)
Oyster stop—raw with lemon, then kaki-furai later. Seats go fast at peak:
→ Oyster Farm Experience near Miyajima
Simple stay near the ferry or Hiroshima Station—business hotel, late check-in, coin laundry:
→
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See hotels near Hiroshima Station (Rakuten Travel)</a>
When I stepped back outside, the rain softened to mist. A deer trotted past a tea shop, the smell of sweet momiji batter drifted out, and somewhere a fryer crackled. Miyajima turned from an island detour into a day I didn’t plan—shrine, sea life, snacks, slow walking.
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