Hiroshima, Miyajima day trip and Mazda.
 

I am in Hiroshima for two nights I arrive on a Sunday in the morning and will do my Hiroshima city sightseeing the day I arrive. I am interested in visiting Miyajima on Monday. I am debating if I'll have time to visit the Mazda Museum before travelling to Miyajima, on Monday. Mazda is closed on Sundays and I need to make a reservation in advance, there is only one English tour each day which starts at 10 am and takes 90 mins. If fodorites have been to Mazda its it worthwhile? How much time should I budget for Miyajima? And, will I have enough time for both? If so, I need to make a reservation with Mazda and won't be able to change my plans later.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks.

I think that really depends on what you want to see and experience in Miyajima - just the shrine? a bit of the town and temple or two? go to the top of Mt. Misen (amazing views!)? I did all of those things, and if I recall correctly, I spent maybe 5 or 6 hours at a fairly relaxed pace. I didn't visit the Mazda Museum. Hope that helps!

I've never been to the Mazda Museum - however, according to hyperdia it looks to be about a 40 minute trip from Mukainada to Miyajimaguchi and then you would walk to the ferry and go to Miyajima - the ferry runs pretty frequently - can't find a schedule right now though. Then you would have the whole afternoon there....and you are staying that night in Hiroshima, right? I spent most of a day on Miyajima and stayed over but left early the next morning - I was able to see quite a bit including taking the cable car up to Mt. Mizen and seeing some nasty looking monkeys, as well as the equally nasty deer, imho ;-) It might work out well....

http://www.jr-miyajimaferry.co.jp/time/

Here's the schedule - the left is Miyajimaguchi and the right is Miyajima so you could stay for a good few hours depending upon what's open....

Thanks for the replies and the link.

Yes, I am staying overnight in Hiroshima on the day I would like to visit Mazda and Miyajima. I think it's hard to say what I'd like to do at Miyajima, would like to spend some time on the island and take the cable car, weather permitting.

I'll send an email to Mazda to inquire about tour availability on the Monday I'll be in Hiroshima and take it from there.

There are so many people who have helped me plan my upcoming trip to Japan, as the trip is being planned at the last minute I doubt I would have been able to organize my trip so quickly if I didn't recieve any help on this forum. Thank you, fodorites.

http://www.okonomimura.jp/foreign/english.html

Don't forget to try the okonomiyaki in Hiroshima - above link is to a building full of little restaurants....