Okunoshima – Quick Travel Guide to Rabbit Island
TL;DR
Okunoshima or Rabbit Island is the most underrated day trip from Hiroshima.
Let’s start with a quick confession: I love bunnies – a lot. Visiting Okunoshima or Bunny Island was at the very top of my personal Japan bucket list. And it did not disappoint.
The island still flies under the radar of many foreign tourists. I decided to write this Bunny Island travel guide to help you share the pure joy I felt during my visit.
Rabbit Island Travel Guide
What Is Rabbit Island?
Ōkunoshima is a small island off the coast of Takehara in the Hiroshima Prefecture. It is also called Usagi Shima ("Rabbit Island") because of the many tame rabbits that roam the island.
During World War II, there was a secret poison gas plant on the island. Tests on rabbits were conducted for research purposes. Since the plant was secret, it was not possible to buy the rabbits from breeders. The rabbits were bought from farmers' markets which resulted in many different breeds of rabbits on the island.
Is Rabbit Island Worth Visiting?
As you might have guessed from the intro, I personally think Rabbit Island is 1000% worth visiting. In fact, the day I spent there was my favourite day on our Japan itinerary.
Real talk: This island is amazing if you like bunnies. If you don’t there are still nice hikes, views, and beaches. It’s probably not enough to warrant a visit if you ask us.
How to Get to Rabbit Island?
We visited Okunoshima on a day trip from Hiroshima. No matter where you come from, the first step of getting to Okunoshima is getting to Tadanoumi.
Getting to Tadanoumi
The easiest way to get from Hiroshima to Tadanoumi is by direct express bus. You can find the bus times here. The ride takes around 1.5 hours. We could pay on the bus with cash. Suica cards were also accepted.
Alternatively, you can take the Kodama Shinkansen to Mihara where you can change to the JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi. This is a good option if you have a JR pass. The ride takes a little more than 1 hour.
The cheapest option from Hiroshima is taking a regional train to Hiro where you can change to the JR Kure Line but this will take more than 2 hours.
Taking the Ferry from Tadanoumi to Okunoshima
The walk from Tadanoumi Station to the ferry terminal aka the “Gateway to Rabbit Island” is around 3 minutes. Ferries leave roughly every 30 - 45 minutes. You can find the ferry schedule here. The ferry ride itself takes around 15 minutes.
At the “Gateway” you
- Buy your ferry tickets (counter or machine).
- Buy rabbit food (not on the island!).
- Buy souvenirs.
- Store your luggage.
- Use the toilet.
Best Things to Do on Rabbit Island
The Rabbits
Of course, the main event is interacting with the bunnies. We weren’t quite sure what to expect and were positively shocked by the amount of bunnies we encountered. You can find them EVERYWHERE around the island. They are absolutely not shy as they associate humans with food.
Renting a Bike on Rabbit Island
Many tourists choose to rent bicycles to surround the island. The path is only around 4 km (2.5) long so we decided to walk.
Hiking on Rabbit Island
We loved hiking around Rabbit Island. We think that the area around the lighthouse is especially scenic.
You can also hike to the observation deck on the highest point of the island for 360° panoramic views.
Okunoshima Island Poison Gas Museum
The island was home to a chemical weapons facility before and during World War II. Over six kilotons of mustard gas and tear gas were produced here.
There is a poison gas museum but you can find remnants of the poison gas plant all over the island. Most of them had thorough bilingual explanations.
Rabbit Island Beaches
There are some lovely beaches on the island and in summer, you can sunbathe and swim. Unfortunately, we didn’t encounter any bunnies on the beach.
How Much Time Do You Need on Rabbit Island
If you’re staying anywhere outside of the Tadanoumi, Takehare, or Mihara area, you need at least one full day to explore Rabbit Island as the transfer time can get quite long.
Can You Sleep on Rabbit Island?
We didn’t do it but you can stay on Rabbit Island for the night. There is only one hotel on the island: Kyukamura Ohkunoshima.
The Ryokan-style hotel has great reviews online. It comes with a hot spring bath and a restaurant. There’s also a bike rental and a free shuttle service.
Additionally, there’s a campground on the island.
Where to Eat On Rabbit Island?
Currently, the only restaurant on the island is in the Kyukamura Ohkunoshima Hotel. Quite untypically, there is also no convini on Rabbit Island.
As the reviews were rather mediocre, we decided to buy some snacks in Hiroshima and bring them with us. There’s also a convini at Tadano-Umi Station. There were plenty of picnic spots with benches and tables all around the island – some were occupied by bunnies.
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