If you’re planning to explore a wide stretch of Hiroshima Prefecture — Hiroshima city, Miyajima, Kure, and Takehara — the Miyajima-Setouchi tabiwa Gururin Pass from JR West is worth a look. It’s a digital pass sold exclusively through the “tabiwa by WESTER” smartphone app, bundling JR trains, trams, boats, and buses together with admission to several sightseeing spots.
This guide covers which routes it works on, how much you save, the four sights you can visit for free, and exactly how to board using a smartphone-only ticket.
What Is the Miyajima-Setouchi tabiwa Gururin Pass?
This pass covers a wide area — not just Hiroshima and Miyajima, but also Kure and Takehara — with three days of unlimited travel on JR trains, Hiroden trams, boats, and buses, plus admission tickets to several sightseeing facilities, including Itsukushima Shrine.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | ¥4,100 for adults, ¥2,050 for children |
| Validity | 3 consecutive days from your start date |
| Usage period | April 1, 2026 – April 2, 2027 |
| How to buy | “tabiwa by WESTER” app or website only (WESTER member registration required) |
| Note | The ¥100 Miyajima visitor tax is NOT included and must be paid separately |
Which Routes Does It Cover?
JR Lines (local trains, ordinary-car unreserved seats only; shinkansen not included)
- San’yo Line: Onomichi–Iwakuni
- Kure Line: Mihara–Kaita-shi
Tram
- Hiroden: Main Line, Ujina Line, Eba Line, Yokogawa Line, Minami Line, Hakushima Line, Miyajima Line, and the Loop Line — effectively the entire network
Boats
- JR West Miyajima Ferry: Miyajimaguchi Pier–Miyajima Port
- Setonaikai Kisen and Ishizaki Kisen: Hiroshima Port–Kure Port (ferry service only; using the high-speed “Super Jet” requires paying the fare difference on board)
- Setouchi Sealine: Hiroshima Port–Koyo Port (Etajima), Koyo Port (Etajima)–Kure Port, and Miyajima Port–Hiroshima Port (limited to one use)
Bus and Rental Cycle
- JR Bus Chugoku’s “Meipuru-pu” city loop bus: all routes
- Eki Rin-kun rental cycle (Hiroshima Station): one rental (one day) within the validity period
Being able to extend your trip to Kure and Etajima, not just Miyajima, is the pass’s biggest advantage over the more compact Miyajima Mankitsu Pass.
Is It a Good Deal?
Given that three days of travel across all these transport modes come bundled with admission to several sightseeing facilities (detailed below), this pass suits a trip that ranges widely across Hiroshima city, Miyajima, and Kure. Even round-trip fares to Miyajima and a few tram rides alone often add up to over ¥1,000 in regular fares — add the facility admissions below, and the three-day pass tends to pay for itself comfortably.
The Perk: Four Sightseeing Spots, Free of Charge
The Miyajima-Setouchi tabiwa Gururin Pass includes admission tickets (one use each, within the validity period) to the following facilities:
- Itsukushima Shrine and its Treasure Hall
- Yamato Museum (Kure Maritime Museum)
- Shukkeien Garden
- Takehara Old Town Walk (former Matsuzaka House, Takehara City History and Folklore Museum, former Morikawa House, and former Mitsumoto House)
Paying full admission at each of these individually would already add up to well over ¥1,000, so having them all bundled into one pass is a real perk — letting you tour several of Hiroshima Prefecture’s major sights essentially for free.
Note that Itsukushima Shrine and its Treasure Hall are an exception: you cannot simply show your phone screen at the ticket counter there. Before visiting, you first need to exchange your smartphone screen for a regular admission ticket at the tourist information counter inside the “TOTO Miyajima Omotenashi Toilet” facility on the main approach shopping street.
How to Board: Using a Smartphone-Only Ticket
The Miyajima-Setouchi tabiwa Gururin Pass isn’t a paper ticket — it’s a ticket displayed on your smartphone screen in the tabiwa app. You need to activate it yourself in the app before your first use.
At Staffed Gates
You can’t use the automatic ticket gates. At JR and Hiroden gates, and at ferry and bus boarding points, show the screen displayed on your smartphone to the staff member or conductor at the gate. Screenshots or printed copies of the screen are not accepted — you must show the live app screen itself.
At Unmanned Stations
Unmanned stations have an intercom at the gate. Speak into the intercom and say you’re boarding (or getting off) with the Miyajima-Setouchi tabiwa Gururin Pass. Staff will ask you to hold your phone screen up to the intercom’s camera so they can see the pass and let you through.
At Sightseeing Facilities
At the Yamato Museum, Shukkeien Garden, and the Takehara Old Town Walk, simply show your smartphone screen to staff at the entrance to be admitted. Be careful not to display the screen until you’re actually at the entrance — doing so marks the ticket as “used,” after which you won’t be able to enter.
Itsukushima Shrine and its Treasure Hall are the exception: you can’t just show your phone screen at the ticket counter there. Before your visit, you first need to exchange it for a regular admission ticket at the tourist information counter inside the “TOTO Miyajima Omotenashi Toilet” facility on the main approach shopping street.
How to Purchase
The Miyajima-Setouchi tabiwa Gururin Pass is sold exclusively through the “tabiwa by WESTER” app or website. It is not available at ticket windows (Midori-no-Madoguchi) or vending machines.
- Requires free WESTER member registration to purchase
- On sale from one month before your travel date up to the day itself
- Refunds are possible if unused and within the validity period (a ¥220 per-person fee applies)
FAQ
What’s the difference between this pass and the Miyajima Mankitsu Pass?
The Miyajima-Setouchi tabiwa Gururin Pass is valid for 3 days and costs ¥4,100, covering a wider area that extends to Kure, Takehara, and Etajima, with free admission to Itsukushima Shrine, the Yamato Museum, Shukkeien Garden, and more. The Miyajima Mankitsu Pass is a simpler 2-day, ¥1,500 pass focused just on the Hiroshima–Miyajimaguchi corridor.
Is the Miyajima visitor tax included?
No. The ¥100 Miyajima visitor tax is not included in the pass and must be paid separately when visiting the island.
What do I do at an unmanned station?
Use the intercom at the gate to call staff and tell them you’re using the pass. They’ll ask you to show your phone screen to the intercom’s camera.
Do I need to exchange a ticket to visit Itsukushima Shrine?
Yes. Itsukushima Shrine and its Treasure Hall are the one exception on this pass — you can’t just show your phone screen at the ticket counter there. Before visiting, exchange it for a regular admission ticket at the tourist information counter inside the “TOTO Miyajima Omotenashi Toilet” facility on the main approach shopping street.
Conclusion
The Miyajima-Setouchi tabiwa Gururin Pass bundles three days of unlimited JR, tram, boat, and bus travel across a wide swath of Hiroshima Prefecture with free admission to four major sightseeing spots. Once you know how to handle the smartphone-only ticket — showing the screen at staffed gates and using the intercom camera at unmanned stations — it makes touring Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Kure smooth and hassle-free.
コメント