Miyajima Visitor Tax: The 100 Yen Ferry Fee for Miyajima (Hiroshima), Explained
Taking the ferry to Miyajima (Hiroshima) to see the "floating" torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine? Since October 1, 2023, almost everyone who goes to the island by boat pays the Miyajima Visitor Tax: 100 yen per person per visit. It is small, and for most visitors it happens automatically with the ferry ticket. But there are a few cases where you have to pay it separately, and one option that can save money if you visit often. This short guide covers them, based on Hatsukaichi City (Hiroshima)'s official pages (Miyajima is part of Hatsukaichi City (Hiroshima), Hiroshima Prefecture).
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- How much it is and who pays
- How it's collected: ticket machine, IC card, or a tour voucher
- Who doesn't pay
- What the money is used for
The basics
- What: the Miyajima Visitor Tax (宮島訪問税, homon zei, visitor tax), a local tax created by Hatsukaichi City (Hiroshima) under the Local Tax Act, approved by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
- When: from October 1, 2023.
- Who: people who visit (enter) Miyajima (Hiroshima) by boat.
- How much: 100 yen per person, per visit. Or, if you choose, 500 yen per person for one year.
How you pay
Hatsukaichi City (Hiroshima) explains that the 100 yen tax is, in principle, collected by the ferry companies together with the fare, and paid to the city later. In practice:
- Ticket machine or window: the tax is added to the ferry ticket.
- IC transit card at the automatic gates of JR West Miyajima Ferry and Miyajima Matsudai Kisen: the fare and the tax are deducted automatically.
- Travel agency voucher or a transport company's package ticket: show it at the ferry company's window and pay the tax separately. Some package tickets already include the tax, so the city recommends checking when you buy.
If you go by a chartered boat, the operator adds the tax to the charge. The city also sets rules for people arriving by private boat; if that's you, check the city's overview page linked below.
The 500 yen yearly option
Instead of paying 100 yen each time, you can pay 500 yen for one year. You apply in advance at the city hall of Hatsukaichi City (Hiroshima) or its branch offices on Miyajima (Hiroshima) and in Ono (Hiroshima), or through the city's official LINE account, and receive a certificate to show when boarding. The city's page on applying asks for official ID at the counter, and says the LINE route uses identity verification with a My Number Card (Japan's resident ID card) and payment by credit card or PayPay only. For a short trip with one visit, the 100 yen per visit is simpler.
Who doesn't pay
- Preschool children (before entering elementary school)
- Students on school trips or other school activities (not university), and the teachers and attendants with them, with a certificate from the school principal
- Holders of Japan's disability certificates (physical, intellectual or mental health), who show the certificate
- Residents of Miyajima (Hiroshima), and people who commute to work or school there (with conditions)
Where the money goes
The city says the tax helps keep Miyajima (Hiroshima) sustainable, with examples such as tourist information and toilets, management of the Mt. Misen observatory and trails, preserving cultural properties and historic buildings, and eco-tourism, including water refill stations. The island is part of the Setonaikai National Park and was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1996.
Quick checklist
- Buying a ferry ticket or tapping an IC card? The tax is taken care of.
- Have a tour voucher or package ticket? Check whether it includes the tax; if not, pay 100 yen per person at the ferry window.
- Traveling with young children? Preschoolers don't pay.
Japan's other new travel charges are explained here too: the 3,000 yen departure tax and the new tax-free refund from November 1, 2026.
Last reviewed: October 4, 2026. Hatsukaichi City (Hiroshima) plans to review the tax around five years after it started. Please confirm on the official pages below.
References
- Hatsukaichi City (Hiroshima): To everyone visiting Miyajima (Hiroshima) (Japanese)
- Hatsukaichi City (Hiroshima): Overview of the Miyajima Visitor Tax (Japanese)
- Hatsukaichi City (Hiroshima): How to apply for the one-year payment (Japanese)
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Consent to the new Miyajima Visitor Tax (Japanese, PDF)
