Ōkunoshima—A Travelogue of Rabbit Island

Ōkunoshima—A place that is half adorable and half dark, is the second island to hop to in the Seto Inland Sea. The adorable half is due to the abundance of rabbits on the island. While there are many cat islands, rabbit islands are quite rare. Moreover, the rabbits here are semi-domesticated, so as long as you have food in your hand, you can immediately attract them to circle around you. Most of the rabbits on the island are primarily brown or black, and spotting a white rabbit is a one-in-a-million chance. Some rabbits lie leisurely, some snuggle together, and some burrow around in groups. If you love small animals, this is a place you shouldn't miss. The scenery here is also very beautiful, and the photo opportunities on sunny days are high. The dark half of the island's history is because it was once erased from maps by humans. During wartime, it was a poison gas testing site, and there is a poison gas museum on the island that explains this history. Now, there is only one resort on the island, with no permanent residents, as the soil's chemical composition exceeds safe levels, and supplies are brought in from outside. It can only be said that history should not be forgotten. Overall, if you love small animals, this is a place you shouldn't miss. Ōkunoshima is located in Tadanoumi Town, Hiroshima Prefecture. You can reach the island by taking a ferry from Tadanoumi Port. The ferry schedule is infrequent, so be sure to check the times. A round-trip ticket costs 720 yen. Additionally, Tadanoumi Station, where Tadanoumi Port is located, is a small station between Mihara Station and Hiro Station, with very few train services. It takes a 3-minute walk from the station to the port, so plan your trip accordingly, considering both train and ferry schedules.