Ōkunoshima
Island Small Japanese island famed for wild rabbits
Ōkunoshima, an island in Hiroshima Prefecture, is known for its unattended rabbit population and a small poison-gas museum recounting wartime production; visitors arrive by ferry for beaches, cycling and wildlife encounters.
Ōkunoshima is a small island in Japan’s Inland Sea, often called “Rabbit Island” because of its large population of tame feral rabbits. The island also preserves evidence of a former Imperial Japanese Army chemical weapons factory from the early 20th century.
The most visible attraction is the free-roaming rabbit population that inhabits beaches, paths and open areas across the island; many visitors come specifically to interact with and photograph the animals. There is also a small museum and interpretive displays about the island’s wartime chemical weapons production, plus walking trails and beaches.
Ōkunoshima hosted a secret chemical weapons factory operated by the Imperial Japanese Army in the 1920s to 1940s; after World War II the factory was closed, and later the island developed as a tourist destination. The current rabbit population grew over the decades and became central to the island’s tourist identity.
The island lies in Hiroshima Prefecture and is reached by short passenger ferry from Takehara and Tadanoumi on the mainland; it is small and walkable, with the museum and main landing area close to the ferry pier.
- Rabbits: Feral rabbits roam freely across the island and are the main draw for casual visitors; they are accustomed to people but should not be fed unsuitable food.
- Access: Small passenger ferries connect the island with Takehara and Tadanoumi on the mainland; services are weather dependent and timetables vary by season.
What to See #
- Poison Gas Museum: A small museum documenting the island's role in chemical weapons production during the early 20th century, with exhibits on the factory and wartime history.
- Beaches and rabbit areas: Beaches and shoreline areas where the island's now‑tame rabbits gather; these open coastal spots are the main areas visitors use to see the animals.
How to Get to Ōkunoshima #
From Hiroshima or the wider San’yo region, take JR services toward Mihara and transfer to the JR Kure (or local) line to Tadanoumi Station. Tadanoumi Station is a short 5-10 minute walk to Tadanoumi Port, where regular ferries run to Ōkunoshima (the ferry crossing is roughly 10-15 minutes). By car from Hiroshima city center the drive is around 50-70 km and typically takes about an hour depending on traffic.
Tips for Visiting Ōkunoshima #
- Take the regular ferry from Tadanoumi (the port nearest Ōkunoshima) and check the ferry timetable before you travel-services are limited in evenings and off‑season.
- Arrive on the first ferry of the day or on a weekday to avoid the large tour‑group crowds that accumulate mid‑morning and early afternoon; early arrivals also get quieter beaches and better rabbit interactions.
- Don't skip the island's small Poison Gas Museum and the walking loop around the island - the museum explains the island's history and most visitors only spend time with the rabbits.
Best Time to Visit Ōkunoshima #
Best in spring or autumn for mild weather and smaller crowds; expect heavy weekend and holiday visitation in summer.
