Hiroshima's Miyajima Island's Best Restaurants and Cafes

Miyajima Island is a small island in the Setouchi inland sea, about a 4 hour bullet train and 15 minute ferry south of Tokyo. For those venturing to Hiroshima City, Japan to see the famous Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Miyajima makes for an excellent day trip. Like Tokyo and Kyoto, the island is a world class destination and a must see for those making the trip to Hiroshima.

Miyajima

Located off the coast near Hiroshima City, Miyajima Island is famous for deer, autumn colors, and Itsukushima Shrine’s famous floating tori gate.

The world heritage site is favorite amongst international and domestic tourists, the lead up from the ferry port to the shrine is covered with a host of local Hiroshima favorites including oysters, Setouchi lemon, and Hiroshima’s iconic momiji manju.

KAKIWAI

422 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0588, Japan (Google Maps)

KAKIWAI has to be one of the most beautiful experiences I have had in Hiroshima. Located a bit out of the way of the main shopping street, this cafe is in a converted traditional Japanese house with stunning views of Miyajima, Hiroshima, and the ocean in between.

This cafe features two of Hiroshima’s iconic foods, oysters and Setouchi lemon. Their oysters are served dehydrated with an oil dressing. Setouchi lemon is the main feature of their light, whipped lemon cheesecake.

KAKIWAI is a short stop over that gives you an opportunity to taste Hiroshima’s famous oysters and lemon, a place to relax, and appreciate the beauty of Miyajima. I highly recommend this spot and I know I will go everytime I visit Miyajima.

Old Japanese house with a cafe menu in front

view from kakiwai of senjokaku pavilion and the ocean

Old Japanese house turned cafe interior on Miyajima

interior photo of long wooden table at hiroshima, miyajima's kakiwai

hiroshima, miyajima's kakiwai cafe's oyster and setouchi lemon soda

Setouchi lemon cheese cake with Miyajima house — Front: Setouchi lemon cheese cake
Back: Hiroshima oyster

Setouchi lemon cheese cake with Miyajima scenery — Front: Setouchi lemon cheese cake
Back: Hiroshima oyster

view of Senjokaku Pavilion on Hiroshima, Miyajima from kakiwai cafe

hiroshima, miyajima's kakiwai interior photo with exposed old Japanese house interior

Hiroshima setouchi lemon cheesecake on a glass plate and setouchi lemon soda from kakiwai cafe

Miyajima Coffee

Ōmachi-420 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0588, Japan (Google Maps)

Miyajima Coffee is a local coffee roaster with several shops in Miyajima Island’s main shopping district. They pride themselves on their specialty coffee, and feature a unique specialty coffee soft serve ice cream cone. If you need a quick pick me up on your oyster journey, I highly recommend stopping by one of their locations and giving them a try.

Momijido

448-1 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0556, Japan (Google Maps)

Momiji Manju are an iconic Hiroshima souvenir that is a maple leaf shaped filled baby castella. At Momijido fillings are red bean paste, custard, or chocolate, but you can find many more flavors, including seasonal ones. For me, every trip to Miyajima must include eating at least one of these iconic momiji manju, but deep fried.

There are several places that sell this deep fried momiji manju, but you can’t go wrong with Momijido, the main producer of momiji manju.

Deep fried momiji manju on a stick from momijido

Yakigaki No Hayashi

505-1 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0588, Japan (Google Maps)

While cooked oysters are a common street food, if you’re looking to enjoy raw oysters, Yakigaki No Hayashi is an excellent choice. Serving oysters on a plate featuring Miyajima’s iconic tori gate, this shop is a quick stop on the main shopping street.