Somewhere in the Seto Inland Sea between Hiroshima and Onomichi lies one of Japan’s most delightfully surreal destinations: Okunoshima, a small island covered almost entirely in wild, semi-tame rabbits. Nobody is quite sure how the rabbits got here — theories range from wartime test subjects to schoolchildren releasing pet rabbits in the 1970s — but however they arrived, roughly 700 rabbits now roam the island freely, showing zero fear of humans and an enthusiastic interest in anyone carrying food. The island is officially known as Okunoshima, but visitors universally call it Usagi Jima: Rabbit Island.
For travelers based in Hiroshima, Okunoshima makes a near-perfect half-day or full-day excursion. It’s unusual, photogenic, unexpectedly moving (the island’s pre-rabbit history as a WWI and WWII chemical weapons production site adds a sobering layer to what is otherwise a very cheerful experience), and essentially unlike any other destination in Japan. This complete guide covers everything you need to know for a day trip from Hiroshima to Okunoshima — ferry schedules, what to bring for the rabbits, the island’s history, and how to make the most of your visit.
Planning your broader Hiroshima trip? Our Hiroshima Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors covers all the essentials.
🎦 Watch Before You Go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSJDX6e6lXQ
What is Okunoshima?
A Brief History: From Chemical Weapons to Rabbit Paradise
Okunoshima’s history is far darker than its current reputation suggests. During World War I, the Japanese Imperial Army secretly established a poison gas manufacturing facility on the island — a location chosen specifically because its small size and island geography made it easy to keep secret and control access to. Between 1929 and 1945, Okunoshima produced significant quantities of mustard gas, phosgene, and other chemical weapons, mostly used in military operations in China. The island was deliberately omitted from maps of the era.
After Japan’s defeat in 1945, Allied forces destroyed the chemical weapons stockpiles and dismantled the production facilities. The island was then briefly used as a golf course before being reopened to the public. The Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum, which opened in 1988, documents this history in detail — it is small but worth visiting, and its presence transforms the rabbit-feeding experience into something more reflective. The ruins of wartime infrastructure are visible throughout the island, and the contrast between the somber ruins and the cheerfully hopping rabbits creates an oddly powerful atmosphere.
The Rabbits: How Many, Where Do They Come From?
Current estimates put the rabbit population at 600 to 900 individuals, depending on season and recent breeding cycles. The rabbits range freely across the entire island and have no predators — dogs and cats are prohibited on Okunoshima. The most popular explanation for their origin is that a group of schoolchildren released eight rabbits on the island in 1971. In the five decades since, those eight rabbits became several hundred through rapid and uninhibited breeding. Other accounts trace the rabbits to WWII test animals that escaped or survived, though there is no strong historical evidence for this version.
Top Things to Do on Okunoshima
1. Feed and Photograph the Rabbits
This is, essentially, the entire reason people visit Okunoshima — and it lives up to the hype. The rabbits here are not shy. Within seconds of arriving at the ferry pier, rabbits will approach you from multiple directions. If you produce food, you will quickly find yourself sitting in the middle of a moving, shuffling, nose-twitching circle of rabbits. The best feeding spots are the grassy areas near the ferry pier and the campsite area on the island’s southeastern shore, though rabbits can be found almost everywhere. Buy rabbit pellets or dried vegetables from the ferry terminal at Tadanoumi Port before boarding (100 yen per bag); food cannot be purchased on the island itself. Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours on the island and find that entirely satisfying — though if you stay for a picnic lunch or a night at the resort hotel, the late afternoon and early morning hours when the island empties of day-trippers offer an exceptionally peaceful rabbit experience.
2. Visit the Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum
The Poison Gas Museum (Dokugasu Shiryokan) sits near the ferry pier and admission is just 100 yen per adult. The exhibits — photographs, equipment, personal testimonies from workers — document the production of chemical weapons here with unusual directness. Many visitors find it unexpectedly moving; there is something particularly striking about learning this history while rabbits scratch at the door outside. The museum is small (30 to 45 minutes) but one of the most thought-provoking experiences available anywhere in the Hiroshima region. Children can visit, though the content is sobering — use your judgment based on age and sensitivity.
3. Explore the Wartime Ruins
Okunoshima’s circumference is about 4 kilometers, easily walkable in 60 to 90 minutes. Throughout the island you’ll find the ruins of wartime facilities: brick storage buildings slowly being reclaimed by vines and moss, a collapsed power station, concrete generator rooms, and the bases of demolished factory structures. The ruins are open and freely accessible — there are no barriers or signs warning against entry in most cases. Combined with the roaming rabbits, the ruins give Okunoshima a genuinely unusual atmosphere that photographers find irresistible. Morning light on the eastern shore ruins is particularly good.
4. Walk the Full Island Circuit
A paved path circles the entire island, giving you a complete 4-kilometer loop with sea views throughout. The western shore offers views toward the Oshima Bridge and the Hiroshima prefecture coast; the northern point has good visibility toward Onomichi on clear days. The walk takes about 60 minutes at a gentle pace without stops — with rabbit photo stops and ruin exploration, allow 90 to 120 minutes for the full circuit. The route is almost entirely flat and suitable for most fitness levels. For our full guide to nearby Onomichi, which makes a wonderful addition to an Okunoshima trip, see our dedicated guide.
5. Stay at休暇村 Okunoshima (Kyukamura Resort)
Okunoshima has one hotel: the government-operated Kyukamura Okunoshima resort (休暇村大久野島), which occupies a large portion of the island’s southern shore. Staying overnight transforms the Okunoshima experience — early morning and evening, when day-trippers are absent, you have the rabbits almost entirely to yourself. The hotel offers Japanese-style rooms, basic Western rooms, a hot spring bath (onsen) using mineral water, and set meals featuring local Seto Inland Sea seafood. Rates run approximately 8,000 to 15,000 yen per person per night including dinner and breakfast. Reservations are essential, especially for weekends and school holidays.
How to Get to Okunoshima from Hiroshima
By Train and Ferry from Hiroshima Station
The standard route from Hiroshima to Okunoshima takes approximately 90 minutes each way and involves two legs. From Hiroshima Station, take the JR Kure Line toward Mihara, alighting at Tadanoumi Station (approximately 60 to 70 minutes, covered by JR Pass). From Tadanoumi Station, walk approximately 10 minutes to Tadanoumi Port, then take the Okunoshima Ferry across to the island (ferry crossing: approximately 12 minutes, 310 yen each way). Ferries depart roughly every 30 to 60 minutes throughout the day. The first ferry departs Tadanoumi around 6:30 AM and the last return ferry from Okunoshima to Tadanoumi is typically around 6:30 PM — check the current timetable at Tadanoumi Port or the Kyukamura resort website, as schedules change seasonally.
Day Tour Options from Hiroshima
Organized day tours from Hiroshima to Okunoshima handle all transportation logistics and sometimes include a bento lunch, rabbit food, and a guided explanation of the island’s history. These are particularly good for travelers with children, those unfamiliar with the JR train system, or visitors who want to combine Okunoshima with other Hiroshima-area sights in a single guided day.
Browse Okunoshima day tours from Hiroshima on Klook →
Find hotels near Hiroshima for your base on Booking.com →
Tips and What to Expect
What to Bring for the Rabbits
The single most important thing to know about visiting Okunoshima is that food for the rabbits is not sold on the island. Buy rabbit pellets or dried vegetable snacks at the Tadanoumi Port ferry terminal (vending machines and a small shop) before you board. The rabbits respond to pellets, dried greens, and many types of vegetables — avoid giving them lettuce or high-water-content produce as their digestive systems are sensitive. Bring at least two to three bags if you plan to stay more than 90 minutes. Bring water for yourself; there are vending machines on the island but food stalls are limited and only operate at the Kyukamura resort.
Best Time to Visit Okunoshima
Okunoshima is a year-round destination with distinct seasonal charms. Spring (March to May) brings mild weather and the rabbits are particularly active; this is the most popular season and the island can get genuinely crowded on weekends. Summer (June to September) is hot and humid — the rabbits tend to retreat to shade during midday hours, making early morning and late afternoon the best time for rabbit encounters. Autumn (October to November) is arguably the best time: pleasant temperatures, smaller crowds, and the rabbits are active throughout the day. Winter (December to February) is quiet, sometimes cold, but the rabbits are still present and the crowds are minimal. Weekdays are noticeably less crowded than weekends throughout the year.
Getting There Early Matters
Okunoshima gets crowded by late morning on weekends and during school holiday periods. Arriving on the first or second morning ferry (departing Tadanoumi around 6:30 to 8:30 AM) gives you an hour or two of near-solitude with the rabbits before tour buses and weekend crowds arrive. This is an especially worthwhile strategy on Golden Week, summer weekends, and autumn weekends. The rabbits are also particularly active in the cooler morning hours.
Combining Okunoshima with Other Hiroshima Sights
Okunoshima works well as a standalone half-day excursion from Hiroshima, leaving the afternoon free for the Peace Memorial Museum, Hiroshima Castle, or dinner at Okonomimura. It also combines naturally with a stop in Onomichi (reachable from Tadanoumi by continuing on the JR Sanyo Main Line), making a full day of Seto Inland Sea exploration. If you’re visiting Miyajima on a separate day, both excursions work well with Hiroshima as a base. See our guide to the Miyajima Day Trip for planning details. Visitors flying into Kansai Airport who want to combine Hiroshima into their trip will find our Kyoto to Hiroshima Shinkansen Guide useful for planning the logistics.
FAQ: Okunoshima Rabbit Island
How many rabbits are on Okunoshima?
Estimates range from 600 to 900 rabbits depending on season and recent breeding cycles. The population fluctuates naturally — litters are born throughout spring and summer, and some rabbits die each winter. The number is large enough that you will encounter rabbits everywhere on the island from the moment you step off the ferry.
Can you feed the rabbits on Okunoshima?
Yes, feeding the rabbits is explicitly permitted and is essentially the main reason most visitors come. Purchase rabbit pellets or dried vegetable snacks from the Tadanoumi Port ferry terminal before boarding (100 yen per bag). Do not bring leafy greens with high water content, as these can cause digestive problems for the rabbits. Never pick up or chase rabbits — let them approach you on their own terms, which they will do enthusiastically once they see food.
Can you bring dogs to Okunoshima?
No. Dogs, cats, and other predatory pets are strictly prohibited on Okunoshima to protect the rabbit population. This rule is firmly enforced at the ferry terminal. Service animals may be an exception — check with the ferry operator in advance.
Is Okunoshima worth visiting for adults without children?
Absolutely — probably more so than its family-friendly reputation suggests. The island’s WWII chemical weapons history, documented in the Poison Gas Museum and visible in the ruins throughout the island, creates a sobering and genuinely thought-provoking counterpoint to the rabbit-feeding experience. Many adult travelers report that the combination of the dark history and the surreal joyfulness of the rabbit population makes Okunoshima one of the most memorable experiences of their entire Japan trip.
How long should I spend on Okunoshima?
A half day (3 to 4 hours on the island) is sufficient for the ferry pier rabbit area, the Poison Gas Museum, and a walk around part of the island. A full day (6 to 8 hours) allows you to complete the full island circuit, explore all the ruins at leisure, enjoy a lunch at the Kyukamura resort, and experience both the morning and afternoon atmospheres. An overnight stay is ideal if you want the solitude of early morning and evening with the rabbits, and the onsen experience at the Kyukamura resort.
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- Hiroshima Travel Guide: Peace Park, Miyajima and Local Food
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- Onomichi: Cats, Temples and Slow Travel in Hiroshima Prefecture
- Day Trip from Kyoto to Hiroshima: Shinkansen Guide and Itinerary
Final Thoughts on Okunoshima Rabbit Island
Okunoshima is one of those rare destinations that manages to be simultaneously joyful, unusual, and genuinely thought-provoking — a combination that is hard to find anywhere in travel, let alone in a single small island you can visit in an afternoon. The rabbits are absolutely as charming as photos suggest; the history is more substantial and sobering than most visitors expect; and the Seto Inland Sea setting, with its gentle waters and island-dotted horizon, provides a quietly beautiful backdrop for all of it.
Three practical points for a great visit: Buy rabbit food at Tadanoumi Port before boarding — this is the single most important logistical point and the one most commonly overlooked by first-time visitors. Arrive early on weekends — the island’s small size means that a Saturday morning with 500 visitors feels genuinely crowded, while a Wednesday morning with 50 visitors feels like you have the rabbits to yourself. Visit the Poison Gas Museum even if it wasn’t on your original list — it adds a depth to the Okunoshima experience that makes the rabbit-feeding feel less frivolous and more resonant.
Browse Okunoshima tour options on Klook for guided day trips from Hiroshima, and find your Hiroshima base hotel on Booking.com to make the most of the wider Hiroshima area.