An often underrated aspect of Japan travel is the incredible number of animal hotspots scattered across the nation. From the very famous deer city of Nara to the secluded northern fox village of Zao, animal-lovers will want for nothing if they wish for a chance to get up close and personal with their favourite cuddly companions. One particular animal island has gained immense popularity with foreign visitors over the past decade. Once a secret local gem off the coast of Hiroshima, the rabbit island of Okunoshima (大久野島) has now become a staple visit for anyone visiting western Japan.
About Okunoshima
Okunoshima, also known as Usagijima (うさぎ島), or Rabbit Island, is undoubtedly a unique destination as it is home to over a thousand undomesticated rabbits. While there may be over a dozen Cat Islands spread across the country, Okunoshima is the only known island in Japan to exclusively host nothing but rabbits (and a few human caretakers) as residents. How the rabbits got to claim their stake on this island remains unknown, although some popular theories include them being left there by children on a school field trip, or being abandoned by WWII scientists who could have used them for weapons-testing. And rabbits being rabbits… well, let’s just say they multiply pretty quickly.
Regardless of how they got there, the island now serves exclusively as a recreational destination for both domestic and international travellers, complete with a hotel, golf course, several museums, and of course, god-knows-how-many fluffy rabbits. While they are considered wild animals, the Okunoshima rabbits are incredibly docile as a result of having zero predators and will gladly run up to human visitors who are equipped with bags of rabbit food. A popular thing to do would be to splay yourself on the grass patch and be blissfully stomped on by a litter of fluffballs. In fact, the rabbits are so used to the sight of human visitors bringing them food that all you need to do is shake an empty plastic bag to have them scurry over!
How to get there
Okunoshima is not particularly difficult to get to, but the trip there can be moderately confusing and tricky for unseasoned travellers.The first thing to check is the ferry schedules to and from Tadanoumi port and plan which boats you’ll need to catch. If you miss the last outgoing boat at 19:15, you’ll unfortunately be forced to spend the night with the furry natives on the island. In such an event, the Kyukamura Ohkunoshima Hotel at the end of the island is always welcome to visitors.
Once you’ve decided on the ferry timings, the next thing to do is to plan your route to Tadanoumi Port from your hotel. My recommended route is to get to Mihara Station by Shinkansen and then transfer to the JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi Station. Mihara Station is just 20 minutes from Hiroshima Station, or 100 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station via the Kodama Shinkansen. The train ride between Mihara and Tadanoumi is 22 minutes long, and departs roughly once an hour. From there, Tadanoumi Port is a brisk 5-minute walk from the train station.
Cool Tips!
- Rabbit food/pellets are readily available for sale around Okunoshima, but you may also purchase from local supermarkets around Mihara or Tadanoumi. That being said, please only buy food that is suitable for rabbits, such as fresh carrots, lettuce, and berry-type fruits.
- Okunoshima Island is developed as a park attraction, so a fun idea would be to pack food and outdoor supplies and enjoy a relaxing picnic with your friends – human and furball alike! (Once again, no human food for the rabbits, please.)
- A basic one-way trip from Shin-Osaka to Tadanoumi starts from about ¥9,100. The Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass costs ¥17,000, so completing a two-way trip would save you ¥1,100! And that’s not even including any other trips you could make within the Area Pass’ 5-day validity.
More information on Okunoshima can be found on their official english website at http://rabbit-island.info/en/
