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San Francisco to Japan's Inland Sea: Hiroshima, Miyajima and Naoshima

San Francisco → Hiroshima → Miyajima → Naoshima

Hiroshima
"Atomic_Bomb_Dome_and_Motoyaso_River,_Hiroshima,_Northwest_view_20190417_1.jpg" by DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Atomic Bomb Dome and Motoyaso River, Hiroshima, Northwest view 20190417 1 (Hiroshima)
Photo: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Peace memorial, island shrine & art islands Best season (general guide): Mar–May, Oct–Nov

The Seto Inland Sea, between Japan's main islands, is dotted with islands and towns full of history and art. This route spends five nights in Hiroshima, Miyajima and Naoshima. From San Francisco you'll connect through Tokyo or Osaka, then fly or take the bullet train to Hiroshima.

How to pace it: Spend days one and two in Hiroshima: day one, Peace Memorial Park; day two, Peace Memorial Museum and okonomiyaki. Then spend day three in Miyajima: ferry to Miyajima, then the shrine and Mount Misen. Then spend days four and five in Naoshima: day four, train to Okayama, ferry to Naoshima; day five, Chichu Art Museum and the island.

Hiroshima was destroyed by an atomic bomb in 1945. Peace Memorial Park and its museum tell the story, and the Genbaku Dome, a ruined building left as it was, is listed by UNESCO. The city has since been rebuilt, and Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, a layered savoury pancake, is a local favourite.

Miyajima, a short ferry ride away, is home to Itsukushima Shrine, listed by UNESCO, whose great torii gate stands in the water at high tide. A ropeway and trails climb Mount Misen for views over the Inland Sea. Deer roam freely on the island.

Naoshima, further east, is an island devoted to contemporary art. The Chichu Art Museum, built mostly underground, holds works by Monet and others. Outdoor sculptures dot the coast.

Spring and autumn are the best seasons. Summer is hot and humid, with typhoons possible.

Hiroshima's streets are lively in the evening, with okonomiyaki restaurants and bars. On Miyajima, the shrine and torii gate look different at low and high tide. Naoshima can be explored by bicycle, and its beaches are pleasant in warm weather.

Good to know: Naoshima's museums close on certain days and some require timed tickets, so check before you go. Staying overnight on Miyajima lets you see the shrine in the quiet of the evening.

Carry a refillable IC card for trains and buses.

Ferries to Naoshima are infrequent, so check the timetable and plan your connections at Uno port.

Suggested outline

  1. San Francisco

    Start

  2. Hiroshima

    By air · 2 nights suggested

    Peace Memorial Park, the museum and the Genbaku Dome.

  3. Miyajima

    By train and ferry · 1 night suggested

    Itsukushima Shrine and its floating torii gate, with Mount Misen above.

    Miyajima
    "Miyajima_Island.jpg" by Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

  4. Naoshima

    By train and ferry · 2 nights suggested

    Art museums and outdoor sculptures on a small island.

    Naoshima
    "Beachside_Torii,_Naoshima.jpg" by Japanexperterna.se, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Hiroshima — Arrive; Peace Memorial Park· San Francisco → Hiroshima (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Hiroshima — Peace Memorial Museum and okonomiyaki
  3. Day 3 · Miyajima — Ferry to Miyajima; the shrine and Mount Misen· Hiroshima → Miyajima (by train and ferry)
  4. Day 4 · Naoshima — Train to Okayama, ferry to Naoshima· Miyajima → Naoshima (by train and ferry)
  5. Day 5 · Naoshima — Chichu Art Museum and the island
  6. Day 6 · Naoshima — Travel home from Naoshima· Naoshima → Okayama (overland), then Okayama → San Francisco (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Hiroshima

More about Hiroshima →

Plan the trip: Hiroshima

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Miyajima

Nearest airport: Hiroshima Search fares · Hiroshima ↗

Naoshima

Nearest airport: Okayama

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