Rickshaw Rides on Miyajima
For a different introduction to Miyajima, try touring the island on a rickshaw. Modeled on the traditional nineteenth-century mode of transport, Miyajima’s rickshaws can carry up to two people and are drawn by local pullers who are as knowledgeable as they are muscular. The island’s rickshaws have been operating since 2011, and offer tours ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. Although cars are permitted on Miyajima, the rickshaws can access places that larger vehicles cannot, and the high riding position and open top make an ideal vantage point for taking photographs.
A typical tour route includes a trip down Miyajima’s historic Machiya Street, which is filled with traditional-style shops and the island’s distinctive narrow two-story houses, followed by a ride along the waterfront with a view of Itsukushima Shrine. Longer tours go as far as Miyajima Aquarium and Daishoin Temple, and the two-hour tour allows time for visitors to go inside the temples and shrines along the way. In autumn, the Japanese maples of Momijidani Park fill the landscape with color. English guided tours are available, but must be booked in advance.