No opening hours or admission are shown: the sources we checked on 2026-09-15 were used for the route only. Check the official site
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Our guide
Ōkunoshima is a small island in the Seto Inland Sea, part of the city of Takehara, and it has two stories that sit side by side. In 1925 the Imperial Japanese Army built a poison-gas factory here for Japan's chemical warfare programme during the Second Sino-Japanese War. After the Second World War the island was redeveloped as a park, domestic rabbits were released, and they multiplied into the thousands — which is why it is now known as Usagi Shima, “Rabbit Island”.
The journey is part of the day. From JR Mihara Station, take the JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi (about 20 minutes) and walk about 7 minutes to Tadanoumi Port; the Kyukamura passenger boat or the Ōmishima Ferry reaches Ōkunoshima pier in about 15 minutes, and a free shuttle bus runs from the pier to the Kyukamura hotel. If Kure Line trains are not running, Geiyō buses link Mihara, Tadanoumi Station and Takehara.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Okunoshima 2 — Vickerman625 · Public domain · source · resized
- Okunoshima & Kokunoshima 2006 — 国土地理院 · Attribution · source · resized
- Okunoshima & Kokunoshima 1981 — 国土地理院 · Attribution · source · resized
- Okunoshima & Kokunoshima 1964 — 国土地理院 · Attribution · source · resized
- Okunoshima & Kokunoshima 1948 — アメリカ軍 · Public domain · source · resized
- Okunoshima-Tadanoumi-Passenger ship — NY066 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Okunojima jinja Shrine — 菅野崇 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Okuno island port — ブルーノ・プラス · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Okuno island ferry waiting room — ブルーノ・プラス · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Okuno island Visitor Center — ブルーノ・プラス · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Ōkunoshima (大久野島) is a small island in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan. It is considered to be part of the city of Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture. In 1925, the Imperial Japanese Army built a poison gas factory on the island to contribute to Japan's chemical warfare program during the Second Sino-Japanese War. After World War II, Ōkunoshima was redeveloped as a park, and domestic rabbits were released on the island. Due to the rapidity of rabbit reproduction, the current population of rabbits is estimated to be in the thousands. Due to the large rabbit population, Ōkunoshima has become a popular tourist attraction, gaining the nickname Usagi Shima (うさぎ島, "Rabbit Island").
Visitor information checked: 2026-09-15 · Kyukamura Ōkunoshima: access
Background text adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Island
Getting there by public transport
- From JR Mihara Station (Sanyō Shinkansen), take the JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi Station (about 20 minutes) and walk about 7 minutes to Tadanoumi Port.
- The Kyukamura passenger boat or the Ōmishima Ferry reaches Ōkunoshima pier in about 15 minutes (one way ¥360).
- A free shuttle bus runs from the pier to the Kyukamura hotel.
- If Kure Line trains are not running, Geiyō buses link Mihara, Tadanoumi Station and Takehara.
Route checked: 2026-09-15 · Kyukamura Ōkunoshima: access · Timetables change — check the operator before you travel.
Where to stay nearby
Hotels near Rabbit Island on Agoda
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