Visiting to island that the number of rabbits more than people

Okunoshima is a small island located in the Sea of ​​Japan in the middle of Hiroshima and Shikoku. During World War II, the island is  a  secret military region producing gaseous for chemical warfare. When the war ended, the Allies had to dismantle the plant, laboratory animals (mainly the bunny) was freed out of the lab and live on the island. 300 wild rabbits living here so it is also named Usagi Shima, or Rabbit Island.

Number of rabbits actually overtaken the number of people living on the  Okunoshima island. End of World War II, military bases and produce toxic is destroyed and all documents concern to confidential information are burned. People also gradually go elsewhere.

 The reason that the island has maintained  a large number of rabbits is still a mystery. There is another theory that, in 1971, a group of students in the trip  come there and take some rabbits. Gradually, the number of rabbits  increase and spread throughout the island.


Today, this small island is home to more than 300 wandering rabbits freely,. Although living in the wild from small but they very fearless  and do not fear when visitors approaching, they will approach guests to find to food.

Guests are allowed to bring food to Okunoshima for rabbits and play with them. In winter, the  food in natural environment is scarce, guests bring food to also very good for the rabbits. Note, please buy food for rabbits in the supermarket, like vegetables or nuts before going on the island because there is no place to sell. If you do not prepare rabbit food , you can  buy 100 ¥ at Kyukamura Okunoshima hotel, a resort located on the island.


Some of people believe that the island may not be entirely safe, as the poison has never been removed on the entire island. But for now, this small island has attracted more than 100,000 visitors each year, with the biggest attraction is the wild rabbit lovely, friendly. The island has a hotel, a small campground and a golf course. Okunoshima also opened Museum of poison gas in 1988 to warn people about the true horrors of poison gas.

Nowaday, The island was invested safe tourist attractions for visitors. To visit the island rabbit takes only 1 hour from the city of Hiroshima through Kure. Then tourists to the island by ferry from Omishima and  Tadanoumi coastal towns, 15 minutes a trip.  After landing, just spent 1.5 hours, tourists can stroll all around the island.
Guests are not allowed to bring own pets like cats, dogs to the island. It is the law to protect the island's rabbit .