Hidden Miyajima Exploration Course
Discover Hidden Gems on a Unique Island Adventure
Back side of Miyajima
2.5-3.0 hrs
From ¥10,000
Hidden Miyajima Exploration course is a short tour that allows you to explore the hidden side of Miyajima, where 99% of tourists never go. We highly recommend this course for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and experience something unique while relaxing.
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Discover Untouched Coastlines
Miyajima’s coastline is a pristine natural wonder, offering a blend of white sandy beaches and rugged rocky shores. Towering cliffs are adorned with lush greenery, including pine trees and camellias, creating a serene and picturesque backdrop. As you paddle along, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the Seto Inland Sea, with its many islands appearing like floating bonsai gardens in the distance.
The Beaches: Tranquility Meets Crystal Clarity
Miyajima’s beaches might not resemble tropical paradises like Hawaii, but they boast clear waters comparable to Greece or the South of France—and without the crowds. For an extra touch of seclusion, we’ll paddle to hidden beaches where tranquility reigns. Don’t worry. There aren’t any sharks!
Family Fun: Adventure for All Ages
Japan’s temples and shrines may not captivate every child, but kayaking at Miyajima is guaranteed to keep them entertained. From shell collecting to spotting crabs and climbing trees, kids can play freely while creating memories. Along the way, you might even spot wild deer, raccoon dogs, and foxes—and in autumn, maybe even monkeys or wild boars!
When to Visit: Perfect Seasons Await
◆May to October: Japan’s summers are wonderfully warm (June-Sept can be tropical!), perfect for swiming! May & Oct are also pleasant (20°C/68°F+). Pack swimwear! Free snorkel gear rental!
◆November to April: Winter and early spring bring crystal-clear waters, revealing vibrant seaweed forests and tiny fish. Sunny winter days offer breathtaking views of the islands to the south.
| When | All year |
| Duration: | 2.5-3.0 hrs |
| Start Times: | 8:30/ 12:30/ 15:30 |
| Group Size | Min 2 – Max 10 guests by one guide |
| Ages： | 4-70 yrs *a child for a tandem kayak (with an adult) |
| Weight Limit： | 250lbs for a single kayak/ 420lbs for a tandem kayak |
Tour Gallery
What You Can Expect
This tour offers the possibility to see, do and experience the following key words.
*You won’t go into Itsukushima Shrine on the tour because we want you to have more time to see it. And content is subject to season, weather and guest requirements.
# Swimming on quiet, uncrowded beaches
# Isolated shrine on the water
# Herds of wild deer
# Wild raccoons and foxes
# Clear water and white sands
# The beauty of the islands surrounding Miyajima
# Beach combing for shells
Swim in Crystal Clear Seto Sea
Paddle through beauty, then dive right in.
Enjoy calm seas, breathtaking views, and safe swimming spots in Japan’s famous Setouchi region — all in one unforgettable kayak tour.
After your adventure, freshen up with a private shower room — the perfect way to end the day.
Details
| Includes： |  All required equipment (kayak, paddle, lifejacket) Comprehensive instruction Free digital photos, taken by your guides Spectacular views of Miyajima✗ Temples entrance fee ✗ Hotel pickup and drop-off ✗ Gratuities |
| Options： | Shoes and clothing cost for 500 jpy each. Hot showers are available for 500 jpy. |
| Meeting Place: | In front of the Miyajima Pier(island side) Open in Google Maps→ |
| What to Bring： | Sandals, beverages, sunscreen. Learn More→ |
Customer Feedback
Our family of four - 2 parents and 2 teenagers - had a great couple of hours with Solène, kayaking through the Torii Gate and then on to a couple of beaches. Solène was really friendly, explaining some of the history of the island to us. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy Miyajima, especially in the August heat and I would thoroughly recommend.
We had a wonderful family explore with Miyajima Kayak on their half day Nature Enjoyment Course. Staff we very friendly and helpful. Would definitely go back again.
We had a brilliant day - huge thanks to our excellent guide Solene. The pace was just right, we loved the deserted beaches and the finish and the Torii was breathtaking. Highly recommended. Thanks again for a fantastic day
My wife and I along with our two kids took a 2-3 hour kayaking session with Solène in the afternoon, along with a Belgian couple. It was awesome. Solène was great, took some cool pictures and gave us interesting tidbits of intel about the area around Miyajima, while also giving us all the required space to enjoy amongst ourselves. The stops on the beaches were fantastic. It was just intense enough to be thoroughly enjoyable for everyone. Absolutely recommended!
We had nice time on the water and had some good conversations about Japan and live in general. Hope to see you again in Belgium!
We had an amazing adventure with Shin! He was so flexible and worked with us and the weather to maximize our time with him. Not only was he informative and attentive, he engaged with each of our family members. He runs his business well and knows what he is doing on the water!
Super fun time. Really professional and sweet guides, took us all over the highlights of Miyajima island and customized the tour to what we were looking for!
This was a wonderful experience and something we would both definitely recommend. Shin was a great host and took us on a lovely route in the kayak. It was a joy to be out on the water away from the crowds and we even stopped off at an empty beach (apart from the deer) where we could go for a swim. I could not recommend this more highly. Thanks Shin. 🦌☀️😁
We had a wonderful kayak tour with Alex! The reservation process was very easy, and we had a change of timing, the communication was great. We were lucky to be on Miyajima Island when the tide was high enough to go right up to the magnificent Torii gate. We also paddled around the bay, looking at oyster farming areas and the natural beauty of the places where tourists can’t go. We were safe and well taken care of!! Thank you for a great outing!
We recommend this experience at high tide, Alex was a great guide, knowledgeable and polite!
This is s wonderful tour of a part of Miyajima Island that most people don't visit. It's a chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery and tranquillity of being on the water. Our guide Shin was a wealth of information on so many topics. There were only two people on my tour and I was a foreigner and the other a young Japanese woman. I was very impressed with how Shin kept both of us engaged and chatted easily. Thank you for a wonderful morning on the water Shin and an excellent restaurant recommendation.
We had an amazing time kayaking with Shin. He took the time for to tide to come back in so we could kayak underneath the torri gate. In the meantime he bought us a Age-momigi and a green tea. We took the ½day tour, but we will be back for the full tour.
We spent a whole morning kayaking and it went really well. We had the place all to ourselves on the kayak and were able to explore the island in complete peace, with fantastic weather. Alex (our guide) was great. It's an activity we would wholeheartedly recommend to travelers visiting Miyajima Island. Have a great day!
We had a fantastic half day kayak tour with Shin. He was very pleasant and infomative and all our dealings with him were superb. A great experience overall.
We loved this kayaking trip and had timed it so we could paddle through the Tori gate at high tide. Shin was an excellent guide and we thoroughly enjoyed talking with him as we paddled.
Our trip was one of the highlights of our holiday in Japan. We had a lovely day and Shin was a great guide. We were lucky with the weather and saw a pod of dolphins!
Shin and Alex did a great job working around some pretty windy and cloudy weather on the day we had scheduled, originally we were going to do the nature paddle but instead we got to paddle through the torii gate which was really fun. Would recommend for kayakers of every experience level!
What a fantastic morning kayaking with Shin. So informative and helpful. An absolutely brilliant experience being able to kayak through the Tori gate at high tide and to enjoy the peace and calm off the coast while chatting about Japan and its culture. We would highly recommend - and would do it again! Rory, Jennie and Tom
Very relaxing kayaking for beginners like us. Peaceful as we were the only ones out. Alex and Shin did a great job.
Went on the Nature Exploration 1/2 day course with friends - it was the most amazing experience and absolutely would recommend this to others!!
This tour takes you to the backside of Miyajima- it was basically serene empty ocean waters with amazing views and only the occasional Japanese fishermen or family going camping. This is a perfect way to skip the busy tourist areas and explore parts of the island that very few people see. We also got to swim!
Our guides Shin and Mao spoke English with us and gave us great conversation and information about Miyajima! They were so fun to talk to and gave us so many good recommendations for food/other suggestions to visit in the area. They picked us up at Miyajima pier, gave us all the equipment/footwear etc we might need, and drove us to and from the kayaking spot. They also had showers if we needed them at the end of the kayaking and took photos for us the whole time. Amazing service and wonderful staff!
Thank you so much Shin and Mao!! We loved this experience and we loved getting to meet you!!
This tour takes you to the backside of Miyajima- it was basically serene empty ocean waters with amazing views and only the occasional Japanese fishermen or family going camping. This is a perfect way to skip the busy tourist areas and explore parts of the island that very few people see. We also got to swim!
Our guides Shin and Mao spoke English with us and gave us great conversation and information about Miyajima! They were so fun to talk to and gave us so many good recommendations for food/other suggestions to visit in the area. They picked us up at Miyajima pier, gave us all the equipment/footwear etc we might need, and drove us to and from the kayaking spot. They also had showers if we needed them at the end of the kayaking and took photos for us the whole time. Amazing service and wonderful staff!
Thank you so much Shin and Mao!! We loved this experience and we loved getting to meet you!!
It was my first time kayaking and it was a lot of fun! ! The stories told by the guide, who grew up locally, were very interesting, and since I was with a child, he searched for sea creatures on the empty beach behind Miyajima, which was a valuable experience. If I have the opportunity, I would definitely like to use it again. thank you very much!
This was our first overnight trip together as a father and son.
It was a pleasant tour with not a single cloud on the day.
While rowing or ashore, I received many loving explanations of Miyajima, and I fell in love with Miyajima more than ever.
Next time I would like to participate in a longer tour.
It was a pleasant tour with not a single cloud on the day.
While rowing or ashore, I received many loving explanations of Miyajima, and I fell in love with Miyajima more than ever.
Next time I would like to participate in a longer tour.
During my trip to Hiroshima, I learned that it was possible to canoe through Miyajima's Great Torii Gate, which was a valuable experience.
First, we were given a simple lecture, and after going out to sea, we were able to easily ride.
The instructors were very responsive and I was able to listen to various stories and learn about the history of Hiroshima.
It took about 2 and a half hours, but it was over so quickly that I had so much fun that I wanted to do it again.
I highly recommend it to anyone going to Miyajima! !
First, we were given a simple lecture, and after going out to sea, we were able to easily ride.
The instructors were very responsive and I was able to listen to various stories and learn about the history of Hiroshima.
It took about 2 and a half hours, but it was over so quickly that I had so much fun that I wanted to do it again.
I highly recommend it to anyone going to Miyajima! !
Kayaking through the Itsukushima coastline with Shin was the absolute highlight of my Hiroshima trip. He was fantastic, his excellent English made communication a breeze, very knowledgeable and will also take pictures while kayaking. Great guide in every way.
When I was having issues to reach the spot in time Shin was incredibly helpful and even picked us up to ensure we made it on time for our kayak adventure.
The calm waters around Itsukushima are perfect for beginners, so don't hesitate to give it a try! This is a must-do experience for anyone visiting Hiroshima Prefecture.
If I come back to Miyajima I'll make sure to drop Shin a message!
When I was having issues to reach the spot in time Shin was incredibly helpful and even picked us up to ensure we made it on time for our kayak adventure.
The calm waters around Itsukushima are perfect for beginners, so don't hesitate to give it a try! This is a must-do experience for anyone visiting Hiroshima Prefecture.
If I come back to Miyajima I'll make sure to drop Shin a message!
We recently went on a kayak tour, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish. The initial instructions were clear and made us feel confident about the adventure ahead. The tour itself was absolutely beautiful, with breathtaking scenery.
One of the highlights was paddling through the Torii gates, which was a fantastic and unique experience. The guides were not only skilled at kayaking but also provided interesting insights about the island, the Shrine, the natural surroundings, and the local wildlife.
Overall, it was a superlative experience that I would highly recommend to everyone. If you're looking for an adventure that combines nature, culture, and fun, this kayak tour is an absolute must-do!
Thank you Alex and companion!
One of the highlights was paddling through the Torii gates, which was a fantastic and unique experience. The guides were not only skilled at kayaking but also provided interesting insights about the island, the Shrine, the natural surroundings, and the local wildlife.
Overall, it was a superlative experience that I would highly recommend to everyone. If you're looking for an adventure that combines nature, culture, and fun, this kayak tour is an absolute must-do!
Thank you Alex and companion!
What a great experience! We visited Miyajima in mid-August this year and did an evening kayak tour around the eastern side of the island. It was very quiet and peaceful in comparison with the area around the ferry port and gate.
Shin was an excellent host and responded quickly to our (fairly last minute) request to go paddling. He picked us up from the port and dropped us back, providing all the necessary equipment. We kayaked to a small secluded beach that was otherwise inaccessible, where we had a swim, explored the rock formations and looked in the rock pools. We also saw the sun set on the way back.
Highly recommended!
Shin was an excellent host and responded quickly to our (fairly last minute) request to go paddling. He picked us up from the port and dropped us back, providing all the necessary equipment. We kayaked to a small secluded beach that was otherwise inaccessible, where we had a swim, explored the rock formations and looked in the rock pools. We also saw the sun set on the way back.
Highly recommended!
My husband and I went out with Shin yesterday and it was one of the best adventures we've had in Japan! Shin was very knowledgeable and went above and beyond to provide us with history and information about the island. He speaks very good English! He also took photos of us while we were out there, and even made us coffee on the beach while we waited for the tide to come in! 🙂 we were the only ones out on the water! Highly recommend!! Thanks Shin!
