{"id":2037,"date":"2026-10-21T21:46:59","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T12:46:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/japan-stroll.com\/miyajima\/english\/guide\/%featured_category%\/miyajima-in-winter\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T21:47:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T12:47:01","slug":"miyajima-in-winter","status":"publish","type":"featured","link":"https:\/\/japan-stroll.com\/miyajima\/english\/guide\/things-to-do\/miyajima-in-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Miyajima in Winter: Weather, Oysters, New Year and What’s Closed"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winter is Miyajima’s quiet season, and a good one if you come for oysters, the shrine and the lit torii rather than for autumn leaves or cherry blossoms. December to February in nearby Hiroshima averages 5\u20138 \u00b0C (41\u201346 \u00b0F)<\/strong>, with daytime highs around 10\u201312 \u00b0C, and it is the driest part of the year. Oysters are at their best, the evening light-up of the Great Torii starts earlier than at any other time of year (from about 5:30 pm in December), and New Year brings torch-lit and dance ceremonies at Itsukushima Shrine.<\/p>\n

*This article contains advertising (affiliate links).<\/p>\n

Two things are different in winter 2026\u201327: Miyajima Aquarium is closed from December 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027<\/strong>, and the five-storied pagoda is still covered for repairs. Below are the weather month by month, what to eat and see, the New Year ceremonies, shrine hours, and what is closed. Facts were checked on the official sites in October 2026.<\/p>\n

Miyajima in winter at a glance<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Month<\/th>\nAverage \/ high \/ low<\/th>\nWhat’s on<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
December<\/td>\n7.5 \/ 12.1 \/ 4.0 \u00b0C (46 \/ 54 \/ 39 \u00b0F); 54 mm rain<\/td>\nOysters; torch festival on December 31; sunset 5:00\u20135:10 pm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
January<\/td>\n5.4 \/ 9.9 \/ 2.0 \u00b0C (42 \/ 50 \/ 36 \u00b0F); 46 mm<\/td>\nNew Year: shrine open from midnight on January 1, bugaku dances and Noh on January 1, 2, 3 and 5; sunset 5:11\u20135:39 pm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
February<\/td>\n6.2 \/ 10.9 \/ 2.4 \u00b0C (43 \/ 52 \/ 36 \u00b0F); 64 mm<\/td>\nOysters; the oyster festival (second weekend, if held); sunset 5:40\u20136:05 pm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Temperatures and rainfall are the Japan Meteorological Agency’s 1991\u20132020 normals for Hiroshima, the nearest major station; sunset times are for Hiroshima from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.<\/p>\n

Weather and what to wear<\/h2>\n

Hiroshima’s winters are mild by Japanese standards: the coldest month, January, averages 5.4 \u00b0C, with lows around freezing on clear nights. December to February is also the driest season, with 46\u201364 mm of rain a month against 280 mm in July. Snow is uncommon at sea level: Hiroshima’s normals show only a few centimeters of snowfall a month in winter. What catches visitors out is the wind on the waterfront and the ferry deck, and the temperature on Mount Misen<\/a>, which is 535 m high and colder than the shore. Bring a warm coat, gloves and shoes with good grip for the stone steps. The ropeway runs all year, 9:00 to 16:00 (last car down 16:30), and on winter afternoons the summit is a cold place to wait for the last car.<\/p>\n

Oysters at their best<\/h2>\n

Winter is why many people come. Hiroshima’s oyster season, as Hiroshima Prefecture defines it, runs from October to June, and the best eating is from November to March. On the Omotesando shopping street<\/a> you can eat them grilled in the shell at the stalls, fried, or in rice. Kakiya, the best-known oyster restaurant on the street, serves grilled oysters from 750 yen for two, takes no reservations, and opens at 10:00; on weekdays it closes around 16:00, or earlier when it sells out, so in winter go for lunch rather than late afternoon. Prices, hours and the other places to eat them are on our Miyajima oysters<\/a> page.<\/p>\n

The Miyajima Oyster Festival<\/strong> is traditionally held on the second weekend of February in front of the ferry pier, but the February 2026 festival was cancelled for lack of oysters, and as of October 2026 no date has been announced for 2027. Treat it as a bonus if it happens.<\/p>\n

New Year at Itsukushima Shrine<\/h2>\n

New Year is the shrine’s busiest season, and its ceremonies are the reason to be on the island over the holiday. From the shrine’s own calendar of annual events:<\/p>\n