Watanabe Inn (Miyajima Shiki no Yado Watanabe) is a family-run inn of four rooms on Miyajima, Hiroshima, at the gate of Daisho-in temple, about 10 minutes on foot from Itsukushima Shrine. It began in the early Taisho era as a tea house opened by Chiyono, the great-grandmother of the young owner, serving people climbing Mount Misen and visiting Daisho-in. Before you book, three things matter: it takes only four groups a day; it is not an onsen inn, so instead of a large bath each room has its own cypress bath; and dinner is Seto Inland Sea fish kaiseki served in the inn’s own dining room.
Watanabe Inn at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 215-1 Takimachi, Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima |
| Rooms | 4 (three Japanese rooms + one with a loft); 4 groups a day |
| Baths | Cypress bath in every room; no large bath listed |
| Check-in / out | 15:00 / 10:00 |
| Price | From 25,300 yen per person, two meals, tax included |
| Dinner | Seto Inland Sea fish kaiseki in Chiyono-an (1F) |
| Payment | Credit cards accepted |
| Smoking | Whole building non-smoking, e-cigarettes included |
| Phone | +81-829-44-0234 |
From the official site, read October 16, 2026.
Rooms and cypress baths at Watanabe Inn
The inn describes itself as a quiet place to take in Miyajima’s four seasons, keeping a traditional Japanese feel while adding modern touches to the building. The clear Shiraito River runs right behind it.
Which rooms are there?
| Room | Size | In the room |
|---|---|---|
| Sesshu | 8 tatami mats | Cypress bath, toilet, sink |
| Momiji | 10 tatami mats | Cypress bath, toilet, sink |
| Shiraito | 16 tatami mats | Cypress bath, toilet, sink |
| Rikyu | 6 tatami mats + loft | Cypress bath, toilet, sink |
Room names and sizes from the official rooms page, read October 16, 2026.
Every room has a TV, air conditioning, a small fridge and Wi-Fi. Towels, yukata in S, M and L (children’s sizes too), a hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner, body soap and a toothbrush are provided, and a razor on request. Futon bedding is laid out for each guest. The official pages do not state how many people each room sleeps, so give your group size when you ask.
What is the bath like?
Each room has its own bath made entirely of Japanese cypress (hinoki), and the inn invites guests to soak as long as they like. The official pages list no large shared bath, no open-air bath and no bookable private bath, and do not call the water a hot spring. Bath hours and tattoos are not mentioned.
Can I smoke at the inn?
No. The whole building is non-smoking, and that includes e-cigarettes. Our guide to smoking rules at Japanese hotels covers what to expect elsewhere.
Getting to Watanabe Inn on Miyajima
How do I reach the island?
The official route: JR Sanyo Line from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi, 28 minutes; walk about 3 minutes to the pier; take the ferry, about 10 minutes; then walk from Miyajima Pier toward Daisho-in. The inn is at the temple’s gate, about 10 minutes on foot from Itsukushima Shrine. Our Hiroshima to Miyajima guide covers the trains and ferries.
How long is the walk from the pier?
The official pages give different walking times, so ask the inn how long to allow, especially with luggage. Pickup and parking are not mentioned; the access page only describes coming by ferry.
Dinner and breakfast at Watanabe Inn
What is dinner?
Dinner is a Japanese kaiseki of seasonal local fish from the Seto Inland Sea, served in Chiyono-an on the 1st floor, with a table set for each room. The autumn sample menu (the inn notes it is only an example) includes Spanish mackerel grilled with yuzu, simmered sea bream, a prawn and yuba roll, a Japanese-style beef fillet steak, conger eel, a clear soup of pike conger, Hiroshima Koshihikari rice and a milk gelato.
What about breakfast and special diets?
Two meals are included, but the Japanese food page does not describe breakfast, so ask the inn what is served. The English food page asks guests to let the inn know in advance about any food they cannot eat.
Prices, taxes and rules at Watanabe Inn
How much does it cost?
From 25,300 yen per person per night with dinner and breakfast, tax included, as of October 16, 2026. The price changes by room and number of guests; the inn checks availability and quotes the price when you contact them.
Which local taxes apply?
| Tax | Amount | How it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hiroshima Prefecture accommodation tax (since April 1, 2026) | 200 yen per person per night if the room-only rate, before tax, is 6,000 yen or more | On the stay |
| Miyajima Visitor Tax (since October 1, 2023) | 100 yen per person per visit (or 500 yen for a year) | Added to the ferry fare |
From the Hiroshima Prefecture and Hatsukaichi City tax pages, read October 16, 2026.
The prefecture counts only the room-only part of the rate, without meals or consumption tax. Preschool children and school trips are among the visitor tax exemptions. The inn’s pages do not say whether its price includes either tax.
Can children and solo travelers stay?
The Japanese booking page says the inn may not be able to accept infants or guests staying alone. Ask before you book.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation fees start four weeks before your stay. The rates are not given the same way on every official page, so confirm them with the inn when you book. Our hotel cancellation guide explains how fees work in Japan.
How do I pay and book?
Credit cards are accepted; the card brands are not listed. The Japanese page gives the phone line, +81-829-44-0234, answered from 9:00 to 21:00 Japan time, and the site also lists the email address info@auberge-watanabe.com. Ask the inn which way it prefers for your booking.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Watanabe Inn
- There is no large bath; your bath is the cypress tub in your room.
- Keep 100 yen per person for the Miyajima Visitor Tax, added to the ferry fare, and expect the 200 yen prefectural tax on the stay.
- Pack light; the inn sits on a narrow old lane, and pickup and parking are not mentioned.
- With four groups a day, rooms go quickly; contact the inn early.
- Phone calls are answered from 9:00 to 21:00 Japan time.
Frequently asked questions
Does Watanabe Inn have an onsen or a large bath?
How much does a night at Watanabe Inn cost?
What time is check-in at Watanabe Inn?
Can children or solo travelers stay at Watanabe Inn?
What extra taxes apply at Watanabe Inn?
Bottom line (2026): Watanabe Inn is a family-run, four-room inn at the gate of Daisho-in, with a cypress bath in every room, Seto Inland Sea kaiseki and a history going back to a Taisho-era tea house. Contact the inn early, and confirm the walk from the pier and the cancellation rates when you book.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Watanabe Inn’s official pages: home (Japanese), rooms, food, prices and booking, access, and the English home, room, food and price pages; and the official tax pages of Hiroshima Prefecture (accommodation tax) and Hatsukaichi City (Miyajima Visitor Tax). All were read on October 16, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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