Do you like cute animals? Looking for some unknown island full of cute animals in Japan?

if you already knew the cat islands( how to get cat islands and where to stay) and the shark island ( how to get shark island and where to stay), how about rabbit? 

In this article, we introduce you the island full of rabbit, how to get the island and where to stay. We updated on June, 2017 with all the useful information for you to travel to the rabbit island. New time tables and new ship line info from Mihara port.

<< If you are interested in learning about more interesting islands in Japan, you can check our comprehensive Japanese island list here. >>

 The island is called Okunoshima island ( "大久野島" in Japanese). Okunoshima, 4km diameter, is located in Seto inland sea, 3km away from Takehara city, Hiroshima.

In 1971 a primary school outside of the island released 8 rabbits onto the island. The first 8 rabbits grew in the number over the years. Around 300 in 2007, and then 700 rabbits were recorded in the study in 2013. 

The type of rabbit on the island is mainly very fluffy one called European rabbit (Ana-usagi in Japanese).

More than 200,000 rabbit lovers visit the island every year. The statistics shows 136,000 visitors in 2005 and 254,000 visitors (in which 17,000 are from outside of Japan) in 2015.

To protect the rabbit, you are not allowed to bring any dog to the island except guiding dogs for the blind people.

In Jan, 2024 there came a character which was created based on the image of the light house of Okunoshima island as below.

Unlike other animal islands which are normal fishermen' villages, Okunoshima has an interesting and some may say "dark" history. 

In 1920s then-Japanese army established the chemical weapon(poison gas) factory on the island with the support from the German scientist Walther Metzener. Because it manufactured the chemical weapon which was prohibited under the international treaty, the existence of the island was deleted from the official map. The workers could not even tell their parents that they worked in the secret factory. At its peak, 6000 people worked. There are many former workers in the factory who got sick from the work and still suffer.

There is a memorial event basically every year.

You can visit the Poison Gas museum called Okunoshima Island Poison Gas Museum to learn more about it. With the current world situation, it is important to learn about the war history to know how precious to be in peace.

Details of The museum(price and opening hour)

Website

Opening hour: 09:00AM-16:30 (Closed on year end and beginning i.e. 29 Dec - 3 Jan. The museum says it may also close on "some occasions". If you are not sure, better call the museum up.)

You must enter the museum before 16:00

Entrance fee:

150JPY for adult 19 year old or older (120JPY if you are of group of 20 people or more)

Free for 18 year old or younger 

<Price changed on 1st of July, 2020>

Tel: +81 846 26 3036

Japan is too far? You can check "Okunoshima" on youtube, you can find heaps of videos uploaded by those who traveled to the island like the below. You can enjoy cute rabbit videos!

You can get the island by ship only

From April, 2017 there is a new ship line from Mihara to Okuno island ON WEEKENDS AND NATIONAL HOLIDAYS. It is a 30 min trip. 13 mins from Mihara port to Sunami port, 17 mins from Sunami port to Okunoshima island.

※All shown in JPY   Child means a primary school kid or younger

For the new line, you can book in a 1 month in advance. You can not book it on the day. You can get a ticket at the port of departure though, the person with the reservation have a priority to be on board.

1. you call  + 81 848 38 9030 ( 08:30AM - 17:00 )

2. you tell i. the date of departure, ii. which Ship. no, iii. which port to depart, iv. name of the passenger, v. number of the passenger, vi. your telephone number.

3. you get a reservation number. 

For details, you can check this website. (all in Japanese)

We can help you book the seats if you give us the following information (our service fee starts from 100EUR per hour ).

Get Omishima Ferry from Tadanoumi port("忠海港" in Japanese) to get off at Okuno port ("大久野港" in Japanese) ( the ship further goes to Sakari port, Ehime ("盛港" in Japanese) .

(※17:00 ship from Sakari stops at Okuno island ONLY during Feb-Oct.)

 Modified as of 29 April, 2016 subject to changes

Omishima Ferry

Tel: +81 0846-22-6199

To get the Tadanoumi port("忠海港" in Japanese)

5 min walk from JR Tadanoumi station

To get the Tadaonumi station("忠海駅" in Japanese)

From Tokyo

Shinkansen line toward Hiroshima( "bullet train") from Tokyo station or Shinagawa station to get Fukuyama station　("福山駅" in Japanese) 

Change at Fukuyama station to JR Sanyo hon-sen toward Mihara, to get Mihara station ("三原駅" in Japanese)

Change at Mihara ("三原駅" in Japanese) to  JR Kure-sen to get Tadanoumi station

From Osaka, Kyoto, Okayama

All on its way from Tokyo by bullet train toward Hiroshima.

If you want to stay on the rabbit island, there is only one place. It is Holiday Village Ohkunoshima( "休暇村 大久野島/Kyukamura Ohkunoshima " ) which has a hotel and camping site. 

62 Japanese type rooms and 2 western type rooms

Starting from 9060JPY with two meals depending on plan and season

After you click the below picture, you jump to the Japanese website but you can book from the box at the bottom left corner.

Starting from 1030JPY base price plus 410JPY per person

There are several plans such as one where you do not need to bring any camping equipment.

Website

Contact: +81 846-26-0321

Contact form( please choose Ohkunoshima where it says "at Kyukamura"  when contacting)

If you know more accommodations you recommend for the trip, please let us know! 

<<If you are interested in learning about more interesting islands in Japan, you can check our comprehensive Japanese island list here. >>

If not on the island, you can consider staying around the stations with a good access to  Mihara port. As we explained, the new ship line to Okunoshima from Mihara port starts in April, 2017. This way, staying at somewhere close to Mihara port is not bad idea. We show you some examples below.

In front of Mihara station. You can rent a bike too.

Book this place now!

In front of Mihara station. The hotel has normal type rooms and also capsule type rooms. In addition, it has many manga for you to read during your stay.

Book this place now!

We have some practical tips for visiting the rabbit islands.

1. Bring or buy some toilet paper in case you want to use the toilet at the Tadanoumi train station. No toilet paper.  Please make sure the paper dissolve in the water. Normal tissue paper does not dissolve so do not use (as of 2018).

2. Since the recent popularity, there are many visitors to this island.  Be prepared to be in the line to BUY the ferry ticket if on weekends or holiday seasons. Be ready to stand for 30-40 mins before you can buy the ferry ticket and some rabbit food. Then, you will be in another line to GET ON the ferry. Avoid the holiday seasons and go there EARLY.

3. Do not give too much food for rabbits. You may see some leftover lying on the ground where rabbits are too full. Due to the increase in visitor, the rabbits tend to get too full. The island office puts the sign at some locations saying "do not feed here". Please follow these instructions.

We hope that you have all information you need to know about the Okunoshima island. If you want us to feature other place in our section, feel free to talk to us!

Have a nice and safe trip!

Do you want to TV shooting, music video, photo shooting on the rabbit island in Japan? Need a shooting permit? Want to interview someone on this topic?

We worked with major TV broadcasters around the world and online media to carry out their task in Japan. We make planning, arrangement with the venues, also hire local professional crew (videographer, photographer, editor, makeup artist, stylist, model, interpreter etc. ) for the project.

Just contact us.

Onegai Kaeru wants you to enjoy Japan trip.

If you are looking for more traveler"s info and can not find one, please let us know. We will try to help you with Japan Traveler Help Service (we work on hourly charge to arrange, book, find info you need). Feel free to contact us!

Recommended articles for you to read:

Wanna try free spa in the water fall or river in Japan? Click here to find out more!

Do you know how to get the Cat island in Japan?

Want to know more places for the great photos in Japan? For example, Toshima island with so many flowers. Please check this out!

Do you know an island with over 2000 years old tree in Japan? Please check this out!

Have you heard of "Ikeshima-Forgotten Coal Mine island" and want to know how to get there? please click here!

Onegai Kaeru, a group of passionate travelers, bring happiness to the world with its shopping support service and original super cute items!

Source: Wikipedia, Omishima Ferry line, Hiroshima prefecture, Okunoshima island tourist office

Disclaimer: Even though we try to make the info as updated and accurate but the accuracy of the information herein is not guaranteed by us. If you have any uncertainty, please contact the information source.