Information
Landmark: Okunoshima Island (Rabbit Island)City: Hiroshima
Country: Japan
Continent: Asia
Okunoshima Island (Rabbit Island), Hiroshima, Japan, Asia
Overview
Okunoshima, nicknamed Rabbit Island (ウサギの島, Usagi no Shima), is a tiny patch of land in the Seto Inland Sea, just off Hiroshima Prefecture’s coast, where the air smells faintly of salt.The island’s known for its teeming wild rabbit population-soft brown shapes darting through the grass-and their free roaming draws both animal lovers and curious tourists from all over.The island’s story runs deeper than its charming, wide-eyed residents-it once hid a secret military base during World War II, its coastline echoing with the hum of guarded patrols.One.Okunoshima Island-better known as Rabbit Island-sits in Hiroshima Prefecture, floating in the quiet blue of the Seto Inland Sea between Hiroshima and Onomichi.You’ll find it just outside the town of Takehara, and you can reach it by ferry from Tadanoumi or Omishima, where the salty air greets you at the dock.Famous for its hundreds of wild rabbits, the island draws visitors who watch them hop through the grass and nudge curious noses toward outstretched hands.Number two.On Okunoshima, wild rabbits roam everywhere, hopping right up to people without a hint of fear.Visitors can feed the rabbits, stroke their soft ears, and watch them nibble fresh greens; they’re one of the biggest reasons tourists come.The rabbits are so friendly you can almost feel their whiskers brush your hand, and there are so many of them that people now call the place Rabbit Island.Origin of the Rabbits: No one’s certain where they came from, though old maps show hints of burrows near the riverbank.Some say they were brought to the island for scientific experiments in the early 1900s, while others think visitors or researchers simply let them go, perhaps after a long day in the salty wind.Over the years, the rabbits have bred quickly, and now a lively, untamed colony hops through the island’s grassy fields.Three.Okunoshima’s past goes far beyond its colony of soft, twitch-nosed rabbits-it once housed a secret World War II poison gas factory.During World War II, the island housed a poison gas plant, its chimneys once spilling a sharp, metallic scent into the sea air.The Japanese military turned Okunoshima into a hidden factory for chemical weapons, quietly producing and storing mustard gas behind locked doors.During the war, the Japanese Imperial Army churned out chemical weapons on Okunoshima Island, where the sharp tang of chemicals once hung in the air.The facility kept its secrets close, and workers swore oaths to stay silent-most never even learned what their long nights under the humming lights were really for.Post-war legacy: When the fighting stopped, the factories went silent, but the stench of poison still clung to the island’s soil.Later, crews cleaned up the area, and over the years, Okunoshima became famous for its rabbits-soft, quick shapes darting across the grass-instead of the shadows of its past.These days, few people know the island’s military history, yet a small Poison Gas Memorial Museum stands there, telling visitors about its wartime role and the lasting impact of chemical weapons.Number four.Main attraction-Rabbit Colony: The island draws visitors with its lively wild rabbits, darting through the grass and twitching their ears in the sun.They wander through parks, slip between tall trees in the forest, and graze in wide, sunlit fields, unfazed by people nearby.Visitors often show up with carrots or leafy greens to offer, but they’re urged to keep a safe distance and treat the animals with care.The Poison Gas Memorial Museum (毒ガス資料館, Doku Gas Shiryōkan) on Okunoshima offers a stark look at the island’s World War II past, when factories here churned out chemical weapons.The museum showcases exhibits on the factory’s history, how mustard gas was produced, and the scars the chemicals left on the land, including soil that still smells faintly of sulfur.You’ll also find exhibits that bring to life the workers’ daily routines and the gritty, painstaking decontamination work done after the war.On Okunoshima, a small spot called the Okunoshima Hotel welcomes guests with simple rooms and a cozy dining area-perfect if you want to linger on the island a little longer.Many travelers choose this hotel for its peaceful island setting, where palm fronds rustle in the breeze, and for the chance to uncover the island’s one-of-a-kind history and wildlife.Okunoshima Island has a few tucked-away beaches where you can stretch out in the warm sand and take in the sweeping sea views.From the beaches, you can take in sweeping views of the Seto Inland Sea, the water glinting in the sun, and it’s the perfect spot for a quiet escape.Walking trails wind across the island, inviting visitors to wander through pine-scented paths and take in its natural beauty.Some trails wind up to lookouts where you can see the islands scattered like green jewels across the shimmering Seto Inland Sea.Number five sat scrawled in thick black ink at the top of the page.You can reach Okunoshima Island by hopping on a ferry from the nearby port at Tadanoumi or from Omishima, where sea air and gull cries greet you before you board.The ferry crosses in just about fifteen minutes, barely enough time to feel the salt spray on your face.From Tadanoumi Station, you can hop on a ferry to Okunoshima, with boats chugging out several times a day.By bicycle, visitors can rent a bike and pedal along the island’s paths, coasting past swaying palms and quiet stretches of beach at an easy, unhurried pace.By foot: The island’s so compact you can stroll from the ferry terminal to most sights in minutes, passing little cafés and fishing boats along the way.Number six.Spring, from March to May, is the perfect time to visit Okunoshima Island, when pink cherry blossoms spill over the paths in soft, fragrant clouds.Blossoms spill color through the air while rabbits dart between the petals, together making a scene you’ll never forget.From September to November, autumn paints the island in rich reds and warm yellows, the trees ringing it like a glowing frame.In summer, the island’s a lovely spot to explore, with sea breezes and bright skies, but the heat can climb fast-pack light clothes and plenty of water.Seven.When you feed the rabbits, stay alert-they might hop right up and snatch a carrot from your hand.Give them fresh vegetables-crisp carrots work great-but skip processed food and steer clear of human snacks.Respect the animals: The rabbits may hop right up to you, but treat them gently-don’t chase or startle them, and let them nibble clover in peace.If you’re curious about the island’s past, stop by the Poison Gas Memorial Museum, where exhibits and old photographs reveal the story and lasting impact of the chemical weapons once made there.The number eight.In the end, Okunoshima Island-better known as Rabbit Island-mixes lush scenery, friendly hopping rabbits, and a surprisingly rich history.Wild rabbits roam the island, drawing visitors with their quick hops and twitching noses, yet beneath that charm lies a tangled history from World War II, when it served as a site for making chemical weapons.The Poison Gas Memorial Museum stands as a stark reminder of a grim past, yet just outside, quiet trails wind past sandy beaches where curious rabbits hop in the sun, making the island hard to forget.Whether you’re drawn to quiet forest trails, curious about its wartime past, or just want to sit by the shore and hear the waves, Okunoshima Island has something for you.
