Be comforted by the beautiful scenery of Setouchi and the rabbits! Okunoshima Healing Trip

Okunoshima is located off the coast of Tadanoumi-cho, Takehara City. About 300 to 500 rabbits live on this small island with a circumference of about 4km, and it is known as the rabbit island and attracts many tourists from both Japan and abroad. It is a relaxing island with a beach and campground, but it also has a history as the island that was erased from the map during the war, when poison gas was manufactured there. We will introduce various points to enjoy Okunoshima to the fullest!

table of contents

>Follow the rules and enjoy your time with your rabbits!
>Photo spot surrounded by rich nature
> Enjoy the resort atmosphere! "Kyukamura Okunoshima USANCHU Cafe"
> War remains that tell history
> Tadanoumi Port, the gateway to the rabbit-filled island
> Get on the boat and head off! Access to the island

When you land on the island , you will see rabbits everywhere. The rabbits on Okunoshima are not native Japanese rabbits, but domesticated European rabbits called "domestic rabbits." They are 30-60cm long and have active personalities. Their fur comes in a variety of colors, including gray, black, brown, and cream, and there are many friendly rabbits. Baby rabbits are especially cute! They are adorable as they hop around your feet in search of food, but there are some rules on how to interact with them.

- Do not feed or pick up your pet directly from your hand.
・Please do not feed animals on the road.
・Watch out for rabbits at your feet.
・Please take home any trash or leftover food.

The rabbits on Okunoshima are not pets but semi-wild. It is important to follow the rules to avoid harming both rabbits and people. Just watching them sniffing their noses or digging in the dirt has a soothing effect. Please enjoy your time with the rabbits while following the rules.

Okunoshima, surrounded by the Seto Inland Sea and greenery, has many great photo spots. Here are some recommended spots where you can take particularly great photos.

Located about 10 minutes from the second pier, Kyukamura Okunoshima is the island's only hotel and restaurant. Tall trees line the buildings near the coast, creating a tropical atmosphere! At the hotel, you can enjoy natural radium hot springs and a buffet with an abundance of local seafood and mountain delicacies. We recommend staying overnight if you want to enjoy the island's beautiful evenings, night skies, and sunrises. Even non-guests can use the cafe, shop, and bicycle rental service.

USANCHU Cafe is located in the lobby on the first floor of Kyukamura Okunoshima and sells light meals and drinks. If you visit the cafe, you should try the "Rabbit's Soft Serve." It's a specialty menu item with a very impactful name. The round, black thing is a cocoa peanut, and the crunchy texture and creamy vanilla soft serve are exquisite.

Okunoshima is famous as the island of rabbits, but it also has a dark history of having been the site of poison gas production during the war, and having been removed from maps of Japan to maintain secrecy. The Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum was built to remember this fact and to pray for lasting peace. You can learn about the background and history of poison gas production, as well as the health hazards.

In addition, war relics such as artillery batteries, poison gas storage facilities, and power plants remain in various places, conveying the state of those days to the present day. The ruins quietly standing among the lush trees have a solemn atmosphere. Why not explore the remnants of war that can only be felt on-site and think about peace?

Ferries to Okunoshima depart and arrive at Tadanoumi Port. At the terminal, there are ticket vending machines, as well as Rabbit Island goods, coffee, soft serve ice cream, and a temporary baggage storage service. There is a wide variety of rabbit goods, including fashion accessories, sweets, charms, and stationery. Momiji Manju in Okunoshima original packaging is the perfect souvenir. Rabbit food is not sold on the island, so be sure to purchase it at the shop.

Commemorative postcards are also available for purchase, and you can freely stamp the date and rabbits at the stamp pad provided. Stick your original rabbit stamp on it and mail it from the cute pink postbox outside to create a great memento of your trip.

Driving on Okunoshima is prohibited except when using the campsite. If you are coming by car, please use the public parking lot at Tadanoumi Port. From Tadanoumi Port, board the ferry bound for Mori Port in Okunoshima, which calls at Okunoshima, or the Kyuka Mura passenger ship. After boarding, it takes about 15 minutes to arrive at Okunoshima. A free shuttle bus runs from Okunoshima Pier to Kyuka Mura Hotel (available to non-guests of Kyuka Mura Okunoshima).

You can walk around the island in about an hour and a half, but we recommend renting a bicycle or a three- wheeled electric car at the holiday village and exploring the island. Enjoy the view of the rabbits and the island scenery as you explore the island.

Information

Holiday Village Okunoshima
Address: 5476-4 Tadanoumicho, Takehara City, 729-2311
Telephone number: 0846-26-0321
Business hours: ( USANCHU Cafe) 10 : 00-18 : 00 *Cafe snacks are available from 10 : 00-16 : 30
Shop ( USANCHU Shop) 8:00 to 21:00

Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum Address: 5491 Tadanoumicho, Takehara City, 729-2311
Telephone number: 0846-26-3036
Business hours: 9:00 to 16:00 ( last entry at 15:40 )
Closed: Dec. 29 - Jan. 3 *May be closed on other days Admission: Adults (ages 19 and over) 150 yen, Groups ( 20 or more) 120 yen

Tadanoumi Port Ferry Terminal Address: 1-2-1 Tadanoumi Nakamachi, Takehara City, 729-2316
Telephone number: 0846-26-0853
Business hours : 7:00 to 19:45 

Access to Tadanoumi Port from Hiroshima City■Hiroshima Station → (Approx. 25 minutes by Shinkansen) → Mihara Station → (Approx. 25 minutes by JR Kure Line) → Tadanoumi Station → (Approx. 3 minutes on foot) → Tadanoumi Port■Hiroshima Station → (Approx. 120 minutes by JR Kure Line) → Tadanoumi Station → (Approx. 3 minutes on foot) → Tadanoumi Port■Hiroshima Bus Center → (Approx. 100 minutes by Geiyo Bus Kaguyahime) → Tadanoumi Station → (Approx. 3 minutes on foot) → Tadanoumi Port