# Mount Misen, Hiroshima > Mount Misen is Miyajima's sacred mountain, 535 metres high. From the summit among granite boulders you look out over the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. A ropeway goes most of the way — about ¥2,000 return, running roughly 9:00–16:00 — then it's 30 minutes on foot. The hiking trails are free and take 1.5–2 hours. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/mount-misen - City: [Hiroshima](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima), Japan - YesGo score: 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 3 h - Entry: trails free; ropeway ≈ ¥2,000 return - Opening hours: Ropeway roughly 9:00–16:00; trails open in daylight - With kids: Fine with kids - Ropeway: ≈ ¥1,100 one way, ¥2,000 return - Ropeway hours: Roughly 9:00–16:00 - On foot: Free; three trails, 1.5–2 hours - Ropeway to summit: About 30 minutes on foot - Height: 535 metres - Time needed: Half a day - Coordinates: 34.27972, 132.31972 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **535 m** — height — the island's highest point (source: en.wikipedia) - **806** — by tradition, the monk Kukai practised here (source: en.wikipedia) - **UNESCO** — the mountain is within the Itsukushima Shrine site (source: en.wikipedia) - **Primeval forest** — on the north slope, protected by the prefecture (source: en.wikipedia) - **3 trails** — Daisho-in, Momijidani and Omoto (source: japan-guide.com) - **≈ 20 minutes** — by ropeway, with a change (source: japan-guide.com) - **7 wonders** — old legends of Mount Misen (source: en.wikipedia) - **≈ ¥2,000** — ropeway return (source: japan-guide.com) ## What is Mount Misen? **Mount Misen** is the sacred mountain of **Miyajima** island and its highest point, at **535 metres**. It lies within the UNESCO site of Itsukushima Shrine and the Seto Inland Sea National Park. The north slope is covered in **primeval forest** protected by the prefecture. By tradition the monk **Kukai** began Buddhist practice here in **806**, and the mountain has been a place of pilgrimage ever since. Near the summit stand halls of Daisho-in temple, and the top itself is crowned by huge **granite boulders** and an observation deck looking out over dozens of Inland Sea islands. > **The ropeway doesn't reach the top** From the upper ropeway station it's still about 30 minutes on foot to the summit, up a steep trail with steps — you need comfortable shoes and water. The ropeway sometimes closes for maintenance and in strong winds, so check before you go. The last ride up is around 16:00; don't miss the way down. ## The ropeway and the trails The **Miyajima Ropeway** starts in **Momijidani Park**, about 10 minutes on foot from Itsukushima Shrine. The ride takes about **20 minutes**, with a change from small cabins to a large car. According to guides, a ticket is about **¥1,100** one way and **¥2,000** return; it runs roughly 9:00 to 16:00. **Three trails** lead to the summit on foot — Daisho-in, Momijidani and Omoto; any of them takes **1.5–2 hours** and is free. The most popular starts at **Daisho-in** temple and climbs stone steps through the forest. Many people ride up and walk down. ## What to see - **The observation deck** on the summit. - **Granite boulders** near the top. - **The Misen Hondo hall** of Daisho-in. - **Shishiiwa observatory** by the upper station. - **Primeval forest** on the slopes. - **A view of the Inland Sea islands.** ## How to get to Mount Misen 1. **To the island** — JR from Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi, about 30 minutes, then a 10-minute ferry. 2. **To the ropeway** — about 10 minutes on foot from Itsukushima Shrine through Momijidani Park. 3. **Ropeway** — about 20 minutes with a change to the upper station. 4. **From the upper station** — about 30 minutes on foot to the summit. 5. **On foot** — the trail from Daisho-in temple, 1.5–2 hours. ## Ropeway or on foot | | Ropeway | Hiking trail | | --- | --- | --- | | Time | 20 minutes + 30 on foot | 1.5–2 hours | | Cost | ≈ ¥2,000 return | Free | | Effort | Steps near the top | Uphill all the way | | View | Forest and sea from the cabin | Forest and temples on the way | ## How long do you need? Allow **half a day** for the mountain: getting to the ropeway, the ride, the walk to the summit and back, and queues in high season. Walking both ways takes about 4 hours. A good plan: Itsukushima Shrine in the morning, then Daisho-in temple and the climb up Misen, and down to the pier by evening. Clear weather is best — in haze the sea view suffers. In autumn, in November, the slopes and Momijidani Park at the foot turn red with maples — the park's name means 'maple valley'. The Reikado hall near the summit, where a flame said to have been lit by Kukai is kept, is being rebuilt in 2026. ## Is Mount Misen worth the climb? Yes, if you have a full day on Miyajima: the view from the summit over the Inland Sea islands is one of the finest in Japan. The YesGo take: many people think the ropeway goes all the way up and are surprised by another half-hour climb on steps. Allow the energy and the time. If you only have half a day on the island, it's better to see the shrine and Daisho-in calmly and save Misen for another visit. On the way up you'll meet deer wandering the forest trails. As down on the island, you mustn't feed them, and it's best to keep food in a closed backpack. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Comfortable shoes — steps - [ ] Water - [ ] Is the ropeway running today? - [ ] Last ride up around 16:00 - [ ] Clear weather ## Views: compare and choose Observation decks and viewpoints rated by YesGo. - [Mount Misen](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/mount-misen) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · trails free; ropeway ≈ ¥2,000 return ## Miyajima in a day Itsukushima Shrine and the gate in the sea in the morning, Daisho-in temple at midday, and the ropeway up Mount Misen in the afternoon. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Itsukushima Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/itsukushima-shrine) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ¥300 2. [Daisho-in Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/daisho-in) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free 3. [Mount Misen](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/mount-misen) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · trails free; ropeway ≈ ¥2,000 return ## Good to know Mount Misen on Miyajima is not the mountains of the same name elsewhere in Japan. ## Tips - The ropeway doesn't reach the very top. - Last ride up around 16:00. - Ride up, walk down. - You need clear weather. - Trail start: [Daisho-in](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/daisho-in). ## Questions ### How much is the Mount Misen ropeway? About ¥1,100 one way and ¥2,000 return — according to guides. ### What are the ropeway hours? Roughly 9:00–16:00; it sometimes closes for maintenance. ### Does the ropeway reach the summit? No, it's another 30 minutes on foot from the upper station. ### Can I hike up? Yes, three trails, 1.5–2 hours, free. ### How high is the mountain? 535 metres. ### How long do you need? Half a day. ### What can you see from the top? The islands of the Seto Inland Sea. ### Where does the trail start? The most popular one starts at Daisho-in temple. ## How we checked Height, forest, status, Kukai and the legends are from Wikipedia. Ropeway prices, hours and the trails are from japan-guide.com and marked 'being checked'. Climbing time is the YesGo estimate. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Mount Misen — height, forest, UNESCO, Kukai, the 'seven wonders' - japan-guide.com — ropeway prices, hours, change; walk to the summit; trails (via curl 09.11.2026; unofficial) - Wikidata Q3109237 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.