Explore more curated experiences in Hiroshima

View all Hiroshima tours

Miyajima by Rickshaw: Private Ride to Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima

Top rated
5.0
Activity provider: AsiaByLocals
Miyajima by Rickshaw: Private Ride to Itsukushima Shrine
Miyajima by Rickshaw: Private Ride to Itsukushima Shrine 2
Miyajima by Rickshaw: Private Ride to Itsukushima Shrine 3
+2
more

Enjoy a private rickshaw ride around Miyajima Island, 'the Island of the Gods.' Take in beautiful views and visit temples and other spiritual sites in traditional style.

Highlights

  • Private rickshaw ride by Ebisuya, Japan's famous rickshaw house
  • See the floating torii from angles walkers rarely find
  • Drivers narrate, pose photos and pace the ride to you
  • Roll through back lanes past shrines and dozing deer
  • Rated 4.9 by travelers, who praise drivers by name

Miyajima by Rickshaw: Private Ride to Itsukushima Shrine: Key Facts

PriceFrom $59.96 per person
Duration45 minutes to 3 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeMini Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

There is an older, slower way to see Miyajima, and it comes with two wheels, a padded bench and a runner in traditional dress. Ebisuya, Japan's best-known rickshaw company, has been pulling travelers through the country's historic districts for decades, and their Miyajima route turns the Island of the Gods into a moving panorama. From near the ferry terminal, your rickshaw driver, part athlete, part guide, part photographer, lifts the shafts and sets off along the seaside road, timing the pauses so you see the great torii of Itsukushima Shrine from angles walkers rarely find, with the gate framed against the Seto Inland Sea and the temple rooftops climbing the hillside behind. The ride threads past shrines and spiritual sites, through back lanes where the island's deer doze in the shade, with your driver narrating the history and legends as you go and hopping down at the best viewpoints to take photos of you against the scenery. Rickshaw drivers train intensively before they are allowed to pull guests, and their combination of showmanship, local knowledge and genuine fitness is half the pleasure of the experience; with a 4.9 rating across dozens of reviews, guests consistently mention their drivers by name. Rides are private to your party, and the pace is entirely yours: a compact spin along the shoreline or a longer circuit deeper into the island's lanes. It suits couples, families with children, and anyone whose legs need a rest after temple stairs. On an island built for reverence, arriving at Itsukushima Shrine the way pilgrims of another century might have is a small, memorable luxury.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

10:00 AM

Meet your rickshaw driver

Meet near the Miyajima ferry terminal, where your driver welcomes you aboard the padded two-seater rickshaw.

10:10 AM

Seaside road toward the shrine

Roll along the shoreline as the great torii comes into view, with pauses timed for the angles walkers rarely find.

10:30 AM

Itsukushima Shrine viewpoints

Stop at the best vantage points over the floating gate and shrine, while your driver narrates history and takes photos of you.

10:45 AM

Back lanes and spiritual sites

Thread through quiet lanes past temples, shrines and dozing deer, seeing corners of the island most visitors miss.

11:00 AM

Ride ends near the terminal

Return to the starting point with your driver's recommendations for the rest of your time on the island.

Detailed Itinerary

10:00 AM - Meet your rickshaw driver: Meet near the Miyajima ferry terminal, where your driver welcomes you aboard the padded two-seater rickshaw.

10:10 AM - Seaside road toward the shrine: Roll along the shoreline as the great torii comes into view, with pauses timed for the angles walkers rarely find.

10:30 AM - Itsukushima Shrine viewpoints: Stop at the best vantage points over the floating gate and shrine, while your driver narrates history and takes photos of you.

10:45 AM - Back lanes and spiritual sites: Thread through quiet lanes past temples, shrines and dozing deer, seeing corners of the island most visitors miss.

11:00 AM - Ride ends near the terminal: Return to the starting point with your driver's recommendations for the rest of your time on the island.

Includes

  • Professional local guide, all fees mentioned in the itinerary

Excludes

  • Personal expenses, meals unless specified, gratuities

Important information

Meeting point

Miyajima (details confirmed with operator on booking)

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 45 minutes to 3 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

You might also like...

Share
Main Tour Price
Starting from $59.96
$59.96
Tour Type
Mini Tour
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

5/5
based on 48 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
5/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
T
Tarana
June 14, 2026

We had a great time with our Guide Shiro-San. The ride was funny, very informative and checked all the tourist spots. It was absolutely worth the price and we would like to do this again when we’re back in Miyajima! ありがとうございます、タラ、ドイツから🇩🇪

5
M
Matthieu
December 19, 2025

This was such an amazing experience! Miyajima is walkable, but this tour made the experience of the island a thousand times better. Our guide, Kim, drove us around, told us about the island and Japanese customs, took beautiful photos, and did it all with incredible enthusiasm and humor. Fantastic!

5
B
Ben
September 18, 2025

We had an incredible experience with Jose on Miyajima Island. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the tour very fun and insightful. His storytelling brought the island’s history and culture to life, and he went out of his way to show us hidden spots we would have otherwise missed. The ride itself was comfortable and beautifully scenic. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Miyajima!

5
S
Sooz
July 6, 2025

We had such a friendly lovely guide who provided more information than we expected. His English was pretty good and when he couldn't describe what he wanted to he used Google translate. We had an amazing experience!

5
D
Deborah
April 10, 2025

Kyoto was a delight to have as our guide. She was knowledgeable and inciteful and we felt we were in good hands. She's fun, fit and loves her job. We had a great hour ride/tour. Thank you so much!

5
J
Jean-Yves
March 25, 2025

Had a great time with this young rickshaw guide who did his best to make it interesting (lots of comments to prove it) and enjoyable, with a sense of humor to boot. We'll have a great memory. I highly recommend this route and guide

5
V
Vincenzo
August 11, 2024

we had a wonderful time with Kim guiding us around Miyajima with his rickshaw, definitely worth the experience of visiting hidden spots with him around the island. 3 hours have gone flying. it's definitely a must on a miyajima day.

5
E
Edith
July 21, 2024

The guide was very friendly and funny, we often smiled at his grimaces or his sayings. We received interesting information at various stops.

5
R
Robert
April 19, 2024

Informative tour to the most important tourist highlights by two cheerful and sporty guides. Many thanks Yuma and Takumi

5
R
Rodrigo
November 30, 2023

very interesting entertaining and Kim was very friendly it was a great tour

Frequently Asked Questions

The rickshaw is an intimate private experience, and bookings cover small groups of up to 4 people, split across rickshaws as needed since each cart seats passengers in pairs. Confirm your exact group configuration with the operator when booking so the right number of rickshaws and drivers can be arranged.
Options range from a short 45-minute ride to a full three-hour tour of the island. Longer rides allow more stops at temples and spiritual sites on the way toward Itsukushima Shrine.
The ride starts on Miyajima Island, with the exact meeting point confirmed with the operator after booking. You will need to take the ferry to the island yourself before your start time.
Your rickshaw driver doubles as your guide and the tour is offered in English. As you glide past the coastal views they share stories about the sacred history of the 'Island of the Gods.'
The rickshaw carries you toward Itsukushima Shrine with stops possible at temples and spiritual sites along the way. Shrine admission is not mentioned as included, so budget for entry separately if you wish to walk through the shrine's halls after your ride.
Professional local guide, all fees mentioned in the itinerary
The duration of the Miyajima by Rickshaw: Private Ride to Itsukushima Shrine is typically 45 minutes to 3 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Late March to early April for cherry blossom (2026 full bloom landed around March 29-31), or October-November for autumn color and oyster season. August 6 brings the Peace Memorial Ceremony — moving, but the city is at its most crowded. See our best time to visit Hiroshima guide.
The Hiroden streetcar (flat ¥240) covers most sights, and the meipuru-pu loop bus is free with a JR Pass. Miyajima is a ¥200 ferry ride plus the ¥100 visitor tax. Full fares and passes in getting around Hiroshima.
Two days is the sweet spot: day one for the Peace Memorial Park, Museum and city, day two for Miyajima Island. Our 2-day Hiroshima itinerary maps it hour by hour.
Plan 2-3 hours for the park and museum together — the museum is just ¥200 and opens from 7:30 AM. Etiquette, monuments, and timing tips are in our Peace Memorial Park guide.
The torii appears to float at tide levels above ~250cm, and you can walk out to its base below ~100cm — a single day often offers both. Check tide tables before you go; the full trick is in our Miyajima Island guide.
Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki — layered, not mixed like Osaka's, with soba inside — plus winter oysters and momiji manju on Miyajima. Okonomimura's 24 stalls are the classic first stop. See the Hiroshima food guide.
Miyajima is the essential one; beyond it, Iwakuni's Kintai Bridge and Okunoshima (Rabbit Island) are both doable by train. Honest rankings and logistics in our Hiroshima day trips guide.
Starting from$59.96