Spending a day on Okunoshima bunny island Japan, how to get there and what to expect! (2024)

FAQs

How do you get to Okunoshima island? ›

Okunoshima is accessible by ferry from Tadanoumi. From the mainland, you can take a ferry from Tadanoumi, on the JR Kure Line. Another ferry to the island leaves from Omishima.

As somebody who is obsessed with bunnies this island was a must go. There were so many adorable bunnies to feed and they were very cute. I wish I could go back. There are some sneezing bunnies though, so make sure to feed them.

The Rabbit Island is mostly visited as a day trip but this hotel allows overnights and access to the rabbits during their most active times; dawn and dusk. Prices are around 11,000 yen per person per night. There is a free shuttle bus from the port to the hotel.

If you plan to stay overnight, advance hotel reservation is advised as accommodation is limited around the area. The hotel on the island is not always available for last-minute visitors, especially during high seasons. Japan Rail Pass accepted up to Tadanoumi JR Station but not for ferry services.

Access to Okunoshima

It takes about 7 minutes on foot from the nearest JR Tadanoumi Station to Tadanoumi Port. From the port, it is approximately 15 minutes by boat from the Kyukamura passenger ship (Tadanoumi Port). One-way fare is 360 yen for adults and 180 yen for children.

You can purchase packaged rabbit food from the shop near the ferry or even better, bring your own carrots and lettuce. As you exit the train station there is a Family Mart grocery that sells lettuce and carrots. Once you arrive you can tour the island and feed rabbits along the way.

Relax on the beach

The waters surrounding Okunoshima are also perfect for swimming, with endless possibilities for those looking to chill out after a long walk around the island.

Camp on the water's edge

Showcasing superb sea views, this grassy section of the island provides exceptional facilities to make your visit surprisingly comfortable. Across communal barbecue areas, fire pits, and toilets, the campground also offers rentable tents.

Enjoy this 8.4-mile loop trail near Richmond, Nelson-Tasman. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 51 min to complete.

You can reach Rabbit Island by using your JRailPass to take the Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train to Hiroshima and getting off at Mihara station (about 25 minutes before Hiroshima). You should then transfer to the JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi Station. Tadanoumi is a port town where you can get the ferry to Okunoshima.

Can you swim at Rabbit Island? ›

Moturoa / Rabbit Island

Turn off State Highway 60 onto Redwood Road. The main recreational activity is swimming, but surfing and kayaking are also popular. Picnic areas in the adjacent domain are popular with large groups. The beach is usable at any time of the tide.

Visitors are allowed to touch and feed the rabbits, as well as take adorable photos with them. However, there are certain rules in place to protect the well-being of the rabbits that visitors will need to be mindful of.

It was erased from the map as a national secret of Japan's major chemical weapons production base. Historical sites related to the production of poison gas still remain on Okunoshima today and continue to tell the horrors of war.

Visitors must book a stay in advance; however, anyone can go to view the fun architecture at the campground. Alternatively, you can stay overnight at one of the minshuku, guesthouse-style accommodations, back near the port.

Getting to Okunoshima is virtually impossible via public transport without a JR Pass. To get there, use your JR Pass from JR Hiroshima Station to JR Tadanoumi Station, where you can walk to Tadanoumi Port. There, you can purchase the ferry ticket as well as rabbit food at the store before boarding the ferry.

Cat Island is only accessible via private boat. If traveling by private vessel consult navigational charts. To find an operator who can provide tours, fishing charters, or transportation, visit our Authorized Commercial Operators page.

Aoshima is accessible by boat from Nagahama port (長浜港). Each one-way trip takes 35 minutes, and the round-trip costs ¥1,360 (¥680 for children under 12). There are 2 departures per day at 8:00 and 14:30; the only return ferry is at 16:15.

Hundreds of wild bunnies live on Okunoshima island also known to tourists as Rabbit island, it is very easy to reach if you are travelling to Hiroshima. This awesome trip is the perfect day trip from Hiroshima (only 2 hours by train) or if you are travelling the other way from Onimichi it's around 45 mins by train.