Leaving Okunoshima, we rode the ferry back to Takehara Port. Nevertheless, Japan went to great lengths to keep the chemical munitions plant a secret, even going so far as to remove records of the island from some maps. The rabbits did what rabbits do best and now the 700-square-meter island is home to more than 300 of their floppy-eared descendants, earning it the nickname Usagi Shima, or Rabbit Island. When World War II ended, documents concerning the plant were burned and Allied Occupation Forces disposed of the gas either by dumping, burning, or burying it. How to get to Rabbit Island from Tokyo Even with the shinkansen, it takes a whopping 6 hours to reach Okunoshima from Tokyo. Japan’s Rabbit Island – Yes, it really does exist. It might be a good idea to stock up on a few bags because you will probably need more than you anticipated. It costs 310yen and takes 12min) In hiroshima, you can eat delicious Okonomiyaki. “the Rabbit island” is a small island located in Seto Inland Sea in Hiroshima prefecture. Japan was a signatory of the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which banned the use of chemical warfare but not the development and storage of chemical weapons. Three fishing families lived on the island. Dozens of fluffy, unbelievable cute bunnies will be eating from your hands, and jumping all over you, when you lie down. The island played a key role during World War II as a poison gas factory for much of the chemical warfare that was carried out in China. Get ready for a furry kawaii overload! In 1971, a group of schoolchildren released eight rabbits on the island. It was abandoned after World War II and today, Okunoshima is home to about a thousand rabbits. The rabbits are rather tame and will approach humans. The first stop was the Machinami Takekobo Bamboo Craft Workshop. The island is presently inhabited by a large population of rabbits. Tucked away along one of the smaller alleys in the historic district is the Fujii Shuzo Sake Brewery. History of Okunoshima. In 1929, The Imperial Japanese Army built a secret military facility for chemical weapon research and production on the island to produce poison gas. Would someone know the name of the hotel on the island? Do you like cute animals? As a last hurrah for autumn, we planned a trip to Okunoshima or the Rabbit Island. As islands that are occupied by wild animals go, Okunoshima, better known as Usaga Jima or Rabbit Island, is probably the cutest. Then, read on! I hope people will realize both facets and recognize the importance of peace."[7]. Most visitors flock to Okunoshima in pursuit of rabbit “cuteness”, but there is in fact a darker history behind the island. It was a joy to relax in the wooden tub after all the walking—and petting—we had done that day. Many of them are descended from rabbits intentionally let loose when the island was developed as a park after World War II. Learn about Okunoshima's dark past, how it became the 'rabbit island' of Hiroshima, Japan, & what to be mindful when mingling with the rabbits. Located in a remodeled merchant’s warehouse just off Honmachi-dori—the main street—of the historic district, here you can try your hand at making some traditional bamboo crafts. But beneath the cuteness the island holds a surprising and dark secret. Chugoku. Follow us for a well-deserved historical but still cute getaway in Takehara. bath. However, there’s a dark story from World War II behind this picturesque island. Let me take you to one. It was now evening, as we enjoyed a stroll along the old streets of Takehara. You can stay overnight at the Kyukamura Ohkunoshima, the only inn on the island. We recommend staying until sunset, as the purple mountains in the background and soft light shimmering on the water make for a stunning view. It almost felt like we had taken a step back in time to the age of geisha and samurai. Residents and potential employees were not told what the plant was manufacturing and everything was kept secret. A perfect pairing! Can you believe there’s actually a place called Rabbit Island in Japan? We were sad to leave our new bunny friends, but there was a lot more to see and do in Takehara. There are a lot of historical and sightseeing spots here that are uncommon, yet a must-see, for tourists or even the locals at that. It is accessible by ferry which you can take from Takehara city in Hiroshima prefecture. Its official name is Okunoshima but it’s better known as Bunny Island or Rabbit Island – a magical land just off the coast of Japan where over 1,000 bunnies run free, demanding snacks, cuddles, pats and selfies with the people who come to visit them every day. Well, actually its official name is Okunoshima but thanks to the multitude of cute and fluffy inhabitants, the island has become famous all over the world! [1], The island was a cultivated area until the Russo-Japanese War when ten forts were built to protect it. Step by step he took us through the process of weaving the individual bamboo sticks together to create a masterpiece. It has a history of poison gas production, and it is also famous for its many abandoned buildings. Japan. But just where did all these rabbits come from? Tucked away along one of the smaller alleys in the historic district is the, From Tokyo, take the bullet train to Fukuyama (3.5 hrs, Start Planning Future Trips With Japan Travel Books. It has been producing top-quality nihonshu (Japanese rice wine) since 1863, and has won many awards over its 150-year history. Okunoshima is a small island located in the Seto Inland Sea in Hiroshima Prefecture. The island does not shy away from its history, even exploring it for the sake of a brighter future. Casey Baseel Jun 7, 2014; ... For travelers coming from Kyushu or one of the cities on the main island of Honshu, such as Tokyo or Kyoto, the most convenient route is to travel by the Shinkansen bullet train to Mihara Station in Hiroshima Prefecture. Working conditions were harsh and many suffered from toxic-exposure related illnesses due to inadequate safety equipment. It was fortified in the 19. century to protect the area around the Seto Inland Sea. Alerts. Rabbit Island Is Real In Japan That Has 700 Rabbits!! Fully refreshed after our relaxing stay at the Nipponia Hotel, we got up early the next day to take another look around the historic district and visit a few places. Okunoshima Island, arguably better known as ‘Rabbit Island’, is a relatively small island off the coast of Hiroshima. While the island is a very popular tourist spot, it does have a tragic past. Here, I discover that not everything is as cute as it seems! The museum is aimed primarily at Japanese tourists, but English translations are provided on the overall summary for each section. I challenge anyone to leave there at the end of the day without warm fuzzy feelings! Visiting Okunoshima aka Rabbit Island. In 1971, for unknown reasons, an elementary school off Okunoshima set eight classroom rabbits loose on the island. Bunny Island, how to go to Rabbit Island, Japan bunny, Japan rabbit, kawaii, Okunoshima, Rabbit Island, rabbit island day trip Jonelle Patrick View All Writing mystery books set in Tokyo is mostly what I do, but I also blog about the odd stuff I see every day in Japan. [2], In 1925, the Imperial Japanese Army Institute of Science and Technology initiated a secret program to develop chemical weapons, based on extensive research that showed that chemical weapons were being produced throughout the United States and Europe. So even if you are not an animal lover, but are rather a history buff, Okunoshima is still well worth a visit. The island is connected to Takehara on the mainland by Chūshi Powerline Crossing, the tallest powerline in Japan. The historic structures from the original building erected in 1902 remain in place with the guest rooms maintaining the authentic atmosphere of its traditional roots. Thanks! It takes less than three hours to get from Tokyo to this picture-perfect hot spring town in Shikoku. Takehara is a beautiful and quiet little place. I’m talking about Japan’s rabbit island; Okunoshima. Tags Bizarre bunnies historical oddities island mysteries Japan modern mysteries mysterious places natural world The soft light of dusk was gently falling on the wooden houses with their latticework facades and fired clay roof tiles in the. We ended our journey in Takehara by strolling its retro streets one last time with our pinwheel in hand, gently blowing in the wind. All the rooms even come with a luxurious hinoki (cypress) bath. The island is so small that in fact you can walk the entire island, visit the wonderful sights, and get a balanced fill of feeding and playing with the rabbits over just a few hours, making it a great half-day trip to combine with another city nearby. From there, we took a short 20-minute walk to the Takehara Townscape Conservation Area. Bunny Island, how to go to Rabbit Island, Japan bunny, Japan rabbit, kawaii, Okunoshima, Rabbit Island, rabbit island day trip Jonelle Patrick View All Writing mystery books set in Tokyo is mostly what I do, but I also blog about the odd stuff I see every day in Japan. Okunoshima (“大久野島” in Japanese), a small island in Japan’s Inland Sea has an interesting, yet dark history. We were sad to leave our new bunny friends, but there was a lot more to see and do in Takehara. If Tokyo and Kyoto are on your destination maps, head to Okunoshima from Kyoto instead of Tokyo. An old merchant town, Takehara achieved success during the Edo period (1603-1868) as one of Japan’s leading salt making and sake brewing towns. Rabbit Island is a perfect Hiroshima day-trip, only two hours away by train, or a great place to stopover between Hiroshima and Osaka. As soon as we stepped off the ferry and walked past the terminal, we were greeted by a, However, the former fishing and agricultural island has a dark past. However, the former fishing and agricultural island has a dark past. The small island, which is also known as “Rabbit Island” (ウサギ島), can be reached by ferry from Tadanoumi (Hiroshima) or Omishima (Ehime). The soft light of dusk was gently falling on the wooden houses with their latticework facades and fired clay roof tiles in the kawarabuki style—a delicate atmosphere. It is a great chance to soak up the atmosphere of the island and see the rabbits when they are at their most active—early in the morning and in the evening. Take a visit to Okunoshima, a mysterious island full of contradictions! [2] A chemical munitions plant was built on the island between 1927 and 1929 and was home to a chemical weapons facility that would go on to produce over six kilotons of mustard gas and tear gas.[2]. This was a lovely time of day to explore the area with almost no one else around and we had the whole place to ourselves. It was now evening, as we enjoyed a stroll along the old streets of Takehara. There are campsites, walking trails and places of historical interest on the island. A post shared by 自然にときめくリゾート 休暇村 (@kyukamurahotels). ... Buy rabbit food before arriving on the island, as rabbit food is not sold on the island. In 1925, the Imperial Japanese Army Institute of Science and Technology initiated a secret program to develop chemical weapons, based on extensive research that showed that chemical weapons were being produced throughout the … But note that most probably it would be dark by 18.00 during Nov. https:/…time.pdf. After thanking our instructor and talking to some of the other master craftsmen and women in the workshop, we headed to our next destination. It’s a small island in the Seto Inland Sea called Ōkunoshima, two miles off the coast of the Japanese city of Takehara, in Hiroshima Prefecture. Japan’s Rabbit Island There are two competing theories on how Okunoshima became a rabbit mecca. Okunoshima is a lovely piece of land located in the Inland Sea of Japan that is known as ‘The Rabbit Island’ because of the hundreds of rabbits living there. From Tokyo, take the bullet train to Fukuyama (3.5 hrs). Shai took a trip to Ōkunoshima, Japan, otherwise known as The Rabbit Island. The island played a key role during World War II as a secret poison gas factory. Shai took a trip to Ōkunoshima, Japan, otherwise known as The Rabbit Island. To know more about offbeat places in Japan, have a look at our 2 weeks alternative Japan itinerary!. Seto Island Sea refers to a domestic sea which separates the main island of Japan from other regions such as “Shikoku” and “Kyushu”. But beneath the cuteness the island holds a surprising and dark secret. "The Beginning of the Gas Plants," (Ōkunoshima Poison Gas Museum Exhibit: Ōkunoshima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture), visited December 10, 2006. Bunny Island – Japan’s Rabbit Island. boat ride to reach a paradise of rabbits. Located in the Inland Sea of Japan, this small island is accessible by ferry from Tadanoumi and Omishima. Take the shinkansen to Fukuyama Station, where you’ll transfer to the JR Sanyo Line until Mihara Station. Here’s everything you need to know for your visit to Rabbit Island, Japan: Okunoshima. Okunoshima is often referred to by its nickname, usagi jima (rabbit island in English). One of the local experts, who has been involved in the workshop for over 40 years, helped us make a traditional bamboo pinwheel. It was time to come back from our lovely and cute trip back in time. Okunoshima is a small Japanese island, located in the Inland Sea of Japan, in the Hiroshima Prefecture. It was a joy to relax in the wooden tub after all the walking—and petting—we had done that day. The night before you visit the island, I suggest staying in the seaside town of Takehara. In Japan, try to save the Japanese names of the places/ restaurants you wish to go to, as some places do not have English translations. The museum also offers guides to the numerous remains of the forts from the Second Sino-Japanese War and the poison gas factory. In a land far, far away (or just around the corner, if you happen to live in Japan) lies an island steeped in mystery, controversy, and, well, hundreds of rabbits. However, we found out that there was another super-kawaii (cute) place – Okunoshima, also known as Usaga Jima, or Rabbit Island, because of the 1000+ cute furry critters that call it home. OFF THE COAST OF HIROSHIMA, JAPAN. However, we found out that there was another super-kawaii (cute) place – Okunoshima, also known as Usaga Jima, or Rabbit Island, because of the 1000+ cute furry critters that call it home. The island of Okunoshima in Japan is famous for being the home of a lot of rabbits. Ookuno Island is a peaceful island located in the Seto Island Sea. Three fishing families lived on the island. The Poison Gas Museum was opened in 1988 and "was established in order to alert as many people as possible to the dreadful truths about poison gas. Japan's Rabbit Island in Hiroshima is absolutely covered in rabbits. This Hiroshima Prefecture city is a fantastic destination for anyone interested in history, culture and nature—not to mention our main goal: the awfully cute rabbit island! The island played a key role during World War II as a poison gas factory for much of the chemical warfare that was carried out in China. The island’s official name is Okunoshima, and it’s located in Hiroshima Prefecture about a five-hour trip from Tokyo. From cat cafes in Tokyo to Snow Monkey Park in Nagoya, free roaming deer in Nara, and Rabbit Island near Hiroshima, Japan is an animal lover’s paradise. The island of Okunoshima in Japan is famous for being the home of a lot of rabbits. The island played a key role during World War II as a secret poison gas factory. Rabbit island Ookuno Island . After thanking our instructor and talking to some of the other master craftsmen and women in the workshop, we headed to our next destination. style—a delicate atmosphere. From here, change to the JR Kure line to Tadano-Umi Station. In the prefecture of Hiroshima, in the Takehara area, there is a very peculiar and mysterious island that attracts thousands of tourists a year who want to see its small and tender inhabitants. Make sure to pick up some rabbit food at Takehara Port before you get to the island as it’s dangerous to feed them any other food. Takehara is known as the “Little Kyoto of Hiroshima” due to this beautifully preserved historic district, which is full of authentic traditional townhouses and merchant warehouses that date from the Edo period. Families of workers who suffered the aftereffects of the harsh working conditions donated numerous artifacts to help tell the story of the workers' plight. Like Rabbit Island, Cat Island’s namesake animal significantly outnumbers humans in population, although in the case of Cat Island it’s due to Japan’s ongoing demographic crisis, rather than chemical weapons. But not all stay open forever. During the war, rabbits were also used in the chemical munitions plant to test the effectiveness of the chemical weapons, but those rabbits were killed when the factory was demolished and are not related to the rabbits currently on the island. Rabbit Island - artist island Michigan, USA, Peacebunny Island - therapy rabbits Minnesota, USA, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ōkunoshima&oldid=971799991, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 8 August 2020, at 09:04. After learning all about nihonshu, we were feeling a little hungry and were glad to hear that there was a soba restaurant located inside the sake brewery. The island is a wonderful place to relax and de-stress with its rich nature, warm climate and scenic views of the stunning Seto Inland Sea. Animals Creepy Japan's Rabbit Island in Hiroshima is absolutely covered in rabbits. We explore all there is to do and see on Rabbit Island. TOKYO (5 a.m.) Markets; 103.21 ¥/$ (4 p.m.) Login ... and I want to do something to help the sick and injured bunnies on Rabbit Island, so I am writing to The Japan Times. If you’ve heard about Okunoshima, more widely known by its popular name of Rabbit Island (official website), you can thank YouTube.Before a 2014 YouTube video of a woman being “attacked” by a horde of friendly bunnies went viral, most visitors to Okunoshima were either elderly Japanese coming to enjoy the local onsen hot springs or school children on a field trip. With a population of more than 1,000 rabbits across the small island, which is covered with overgrown ruins and walking trails, it makes a fascinating place to visit and explore, especially if you’re an animal lover. Okunoshima (“大久野島” in Japanese), a small island in Japan’s Inland Sea has an interesting, yet dark history. The series also showed tourists coming to feed the rabbits.[5]. This pancake like food with sweet sauce on top is one of the most popular foods in Hiroshima. rabbit island Every day hundreds of people visit the tiny island of Okunoshima in Japan, once the site of poison gas production and now known around the world as “Rabbit Island”, to feed, pet and sometime get mobbed by some of the 700 or so bunnies for which it is home. This multi-purpose resort hotel is one of many that are specifically built in scenic spots and national parks around Japan in order to provide guests with opportunities to get closer to nature and have fun with a variety of recreational activities. The second room shows how poison gas affects the human body through the lungs, eyes, skin, and heart. If you’ve heard about Okunoshima, more widely known by its popular name of Rabbit Island (official website), you can thank YouTube.Before a 2014 YouTube video of a woman being “attacked” by a horde of friendly bunnies went viral, most visitors to Okunoshima were either elderly Japanese coming to enjoy the local onsen hot springs or school children on a field trip. TOKYO (5 a.m.) Markets; 103.21 ¥/$ (4 p.m.) Login ... and I want to do something to help the sick and injured bunnies on Rabbit Island, so I am writing to The Japan Times. Located in a remodeled merchant’s warehouse just off. In the meantime, Rabbit Island flourishes, and while we may never know for sure why they are there, what better way is there to take the edge off of the horrors of the world and its never-ending stream of bad news. From Takehara station, our first stop was Okunoshima—affectionately called Usagi Shima (literally, “Rabbit Island”). The first stop was the Machinami Takekobo Bamboo Craft Workshop. The wild rabbits found all over the island has earned it the nickname "Rabbit Island." The ruins of the old forts and the gas factory still exist all over the island, but entry is prohibited as it is too dangerous.