Okayama or Miyajima???
 

We will be stopping in Hiroshima for a day during an October cruise. Would it be better to take the bullet train to Okayama to see the black castle and the Korakuen Gardens or to visit Miyajima? This is our first visit to Japan and the only day we will spend in this area. Thank you for your help.

This is more or less a matter of personal preference. I think that Okayama might be more interesting.

Note that the shinkansen trip will cose 6000 yen each way. Going to Miyajima will cost 400 yen for the train each way plus the ferry.

But what about Hiroshima?

I will point out that you mentioned three things that interested you about Okayama (or maybe just two):
1) castle
2) gardens
3) shinkansen trip

and you didn't mention anything about Miyajima.

I really enjoyed Hiroshima...you could easily spend a day there, or half a day there and half a day on Miyajima.

Are you going to have time in Japan at all, or just the cruise stops?

We will have a couple of days in Tokyo before the cruise, but otherwise it is just the cruise ship stops for this trip. Is the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima itself worth visiting? If we went to Miyajima we would take the ferry to see the shrine and visit the island. There might still be time to visit the Peace Memorial???

I think the Peace Park is worth a visit...we've been twice. The thing I enjoyed most on Miyajima was hiking up the "mountain." It was peaceful, quiet and beautiful, and not many on the trails at all as most people use the cablecar both up and down. At the top, there is a whole lot of monkeys and a temple or shrine, forget which. In the small town near the harbor there is a typical tourist town shopping street with souvenirs, restaurants and food stalls. From the Peace Park to Miyajima takes about an hour, so you could do it in a day if you got an early start.

Yes, you really ought to visit the Peace Park and memorial and, especially, go through the museum. It is easy to get around Hiroshima by street cars. One of the lines goes to the port. Hiroshima does have a couple of other attractions, including small reconstructed castle, so you could make a day of it. There are dinner cruises from Hiroshima as the Inland Sea is scenic, but maybe you would have had enough of that.

Your days won't be long in October but you could visit Miyajima and Hiroshima on the same day.

The most common way to Miyajima is to go by rail to Miyajimaguchi and then take a ferry boat to the island. There is also a boat from Hiroshima harbor to Miyajima.

Thank you so much for your help!

Sundial,
I was on a Clipper cruise in June and visited both Okayama and Miyajima. Although the Korakuen garden in Okamaya was lovely, the castle was not worth the effort.
The Peace Memorial in Hiroshima was moving but 2 hours is sufficient for the park and the museum.
I loved all aspects of Miyajima.I was there for only a half day but could have stayed longer.The vermillion colored Tori gate in the ocean is most impressive and one of the most photographed views in all of Japan.
In the food stalls of Miyajima,they make the most incredible sweet cakes shaped like a leaf and filled with sweet bean paste of all differnet flavors.If you are a real foodie, you have to try the fresh grilled oysters and fish cakes also at the outdoor food stalls.
I loved all of the Japanese ports I visited, but Miyajima was one of my most favorite.
Have a great cruise!
Kbella

I have never been to Okayama, but I vote for Hiroshima and Miyajima. Peace Park and the museum are definitely worth your time. I always enjoyed shpping in the Hondori. We used to picnic on Miyajima and walk around the island - it was never boring.

Enjoy your cruise and Japan.

You might consider timing your visit to Miyajima when the tide is in.

The Japanese maples will probably be in color in October. That alone makes me vote for Miyajima. I am told it is breathtaking!
I also enjoyed the hiking (we did not take the cable car either and we were the only ones on the path) and found it very restful after so much of cities and people.

Thanks so much for the additional replies. You guys are very helpful!

The fall colors probably won't be in Miyajima until mid to late November. Peak color in Kyoto is around Nov. 18. Miyajima is further south, so I would expect it to be later there, though I don't know what influence the sea has on the island's climate. Momiji-so does list Oct 1 to "31" November as a peak season. Maybe the maples go earlier?

We've been to Miyajima in mid-November and the leaves had just barely begun to change.