Itsukushima Iroha, Miyajima — the island's only 5-star hotel, where the rooftop onsen makes every yen worth it
Ever wondered which property on Miyajima offers the highest standard the island can give? The answer is Itsukushima Iroha (also known as Kurayado Iroha) — the only officially 5-star-rated hotel on the entire island. Sitting right on Omotesando, the main promenade leading to the shrine, it is just a 3-minute walk from the ferry pier, and it has a rooftop onsen with a view of the floating Torii gate. That combination is found nowhere else on this island.
Itsukushima Iroha stands on Omotesando — the main promenade that every visitor to Miyajima walks along. It is just 3 minutes from the ferry pier and 5 minutes from Itsukushima Shrine. That location matters enormously, because Miyajima is a car-free island, and being able to walk to everything within a few minutes of checking in is genuine convenience. Step off the ferry, roll your luggage straight to the hotel, and set out on foot to explore the shrine precincts and the island's famous maple-leaf manju shops — no transfers, no waiting.
"Soaking in the rooftop onsen as the sun set behind the Torii gate, watching the red go deep amber in the last of the light — guests say again and again that this is a moment you simply cannot buy anywhere else on the island. You have to stay here to experience it."
The feature guests mention most is the rooftop onsen — especially the women's bath, which opens directly onto the Miyajima Strait with an unobstructed view of the floating Torii gate. Soaking in hot spring water while you watch the Torii change colour with the setting sun, or rising early before the day-trippers arrive by ferry, are the moments that guests return to in their reviews again and again. The men's bath faces a different direction but still enjoys open views of the Seto Inland Sea.
The guest rooms are designed in a contemporary Japanese style — keeping traditional warmth through natural wood tones and carefully chosen furnishings while adding modern comforts. The best rooms are on the upper floors facing the sea, where some rooms have a direct view of the Torii gate from the window. These sell out quickly, so if that view matters to you, specify it clearly at the time of booking and book as far ahead as possible.
Dining at Itsukushima Iroha means two in-house options: Miyajima Yohei, a kaiseki restaurant using local ingredients from the Seto Inland Sea, and Akushu, a Western restaurant. The rate of ¥40,000 per night for two guests includes both kaiseki dinner and breakfast, so when you factor in the food, the accommodation portion alone becomes quite reasonable at this standard. Staff communicate well in English and coordinate from the moment you arrive at the ferry pier — the property is well suited to couples and honeymoon travellers seeking the best Miyajima can offer.
Staying overnight on Miyajima is a fundamentally different experience from visiting on a day trip. Once the last regular ferry has gone, the island belongs only to overnight guests. The Omotesando promenade that was packed with thousands of people at midday becomes a quiet lantern-lit lane. The Torii gate that was impossible to photograph without crowds at two in the afternoon becomes a silent red silhouette standing in the dark water. These are things guests at Itsukushima Iroha experience as a matter of course — they simply cannot be seen any other way.
A few things worth knowing before booking: Itsukushima Iroha has around 210 reviews on Booking.com, which is fewer than long-established ryokan like Jukeiso (1,216 reviews) — it is clearly the newer property on the island. The rate of ¥40,000+ per night for two is at the upper end of Miyajima's accommodation range, and rooms with a Torii view are limited, which means they require early booking and a specific request. If you miss the sea-facing room, you will still have the rooftop onsen view, but the in-room experience will differ.
Put simply, for travellers who want the highest-grade stay Miyajima can offer — 5-star service, a rooftop onsen looking out at the floating Torii, two restaurants and a prime location — Itsukushima Iroha is the only option in this category on the island. Just plan ahead, book early, and specify what you want.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Only 5-star hotel on the island — the highest service standard on Miyajima
- ✓ Rooftop onsen overlooking the floating Torii gate — soak at sunset
- ✓ 3-min walk from ferry pier + 5 min to the shrine — the most central location
- ✓ Two restaurants (kaiseki + Western) · English-speaking staff
- ! From ¥40,000/night for 2 guests — significantly higher than city-centre Hiroshima hotels
- ! Fewer reviews (~210) compared with long-established ryokan
- ! Torii-view rooms are limited — must book early and specify clearly
- ✓ Couples score as high as 9.7 — ideal for honeymoons and special occasions
- ✓ Contemporary Japanese room design · carefully chosen furnishings
- ✓ Staying overnight means having the Torii and promenade to yourself after dark
- ✓ Staff coordinate ferry pick-up and handle check-in smoothly
- ! Island location means arriving by ferry — plan your journey accordingly
- ! Not all room types have a direct Torii view from the window
- ! Newer property — fewer accumulated reviews than the island's historic ryokan
- 💡If you want a Torii-view room — sea-facing rooms are limited and sell out fast → book as early as possible and explicitly request a sea-view room at the time of booking, otherwise you may be assigned to the opposite side.
- 💡If your budget is tight — ¥40,000+/night for 2 including meals is luxury-tier for this island → if you want to overnight on Miyajima more affordably, other ryokan and smaller hotels are available on the island.
- 💡If you are travelling with heavy luggage — Miyajima is car-free → arrange for hotel staff to meet you at the ferry pier in advance so they can help carry bags to your room.