Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto

We had a really enjoyable stay at Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto. The room facing the temple offered a beautiful and peaceful view, and the overall atmosphere of the hotel was elegant yet relaxing. The public bath was a highlight—spacious and clean, and it switches between men and women in the morning and evening so you can experience both setups. The kaiseki dinner was excellent, featuring a variety of local delicacies beautifully prepared and presented. Be sure to also check out the lounge area and the traditional garden—both are perfect for a quiet moment during your stay. The hotel also offers a guided night walk, but honestly, we preferred just wandering around Miyajima on our own in the evening—it’s peaceful and charming without needing a tour. Highly recommend for a comfortable, authentic, and scenic stay on the island.

I love this hotel, we stayed in a twin room with mountain view and it was WORTH IT! The beds were comfortable, the place was quiet, the tea in the room is delicious. The treat when we arrived was also lovely. The in room amenities were very nice. It is close walking distance to the famous Torii gate and shopping street. The staff are super friendly and accommodating, the free shuttle from the ferry was amazing. Dinner and breakfast was delicious and they were very accommodating with my fish and seafood allergy. Service was exceptional. They had a free tea/coffee/juice bar open until 10:00pm, it was super helpful. There is also a little garden you can walk through, it was stunning. I would highly recommend.

If you're looking to splurge on your visit to Miyajima, this is the place to do it. We got a western/Japanese room so that people who needed beds could have them and I could sleep on the floor. The futon and pillow were the right amount of firmness for me. The full-size tub is good for relaxing in private. The public baths are nice, too, with both indoor and outdoor tubs, but the right-side bath is a lot nicer than the left-side (which one is for men and which one is for women changes), which is cramped by comparison. Our meals were lovely. Instead of the standard set, we got sukiyaki for three, which a staff member cooked at our table while we chatted. Many of them do speak English, but even basic Japanese will go a long way in making things easier for you and the staff. The sukiyaki sauce sweetened everything that was cooked in it, so the vegetables, udon noodles, and beef thigh were all kicked up a notch. Breakfast was a choice between a western or Japanese plate, so for the people who don't like fish in the morning, they have you covered. For sightseeing, the location is hard to beat, as it's just around the corner from Itsukushima Shrine. You can easily pop down at night or in the morning before lots of tourists arrive, or join one of the hotel's walking tours (Japanese only). It's quite a hike from the ferry port with luggage, but they do have a shuttle you can call.