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Hiroshima 🎡 Theme park 📷 10

Rabbit Island

大久野島

A full-day attraction built for families and repeat visitors.

See the photos How to get there Open in Maps
Best season Year-round; spring and autumn have the best weather
Time needed Half a day to a full day
Admission Roughly ¥2,000–9,000 depending on the park (≈ $13–58)
Opening hours Typically 9:00–20:00, varies by season

What this place is

Ōkunoshima (Japanese: 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").

Rabbit Island (大久野島) is one of the standout places to visit in Hiroshima. Give yourself unhurried time for photos, seasonal views, and nearby food stops. IC cards such as Suica, Pasmo, or ICOCA cover most trains and city buses.

Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Why it is worth the trip

  • Headline rides and shows that anchor the day, plus smaller attractions with much shorter waits.
  • Themed areas designed as complete environments, right down to the food and the shop fronts.
  • Seasonal overlays — summer water events, autumn Halloween, winter illumination — that change the whole park.

What you can do here

  • Buy tickets online in advance and head to the furthest popular ride first, working back toward the entrance.
  • Book timed-entry or express passes for the two or three attractions you care about most.
  • Catch at least one parade or stage show; they are usually included in admission.
  • Save the illumination or night show for the end — the park looks completely different after dark.

Photos

Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.

Getting there by public transport

  1. JR to Tadanoumi, ferry to Okunoshima.
  2. Nearest station/stop: Tadanoumi + ferry.

Route on Google Maps

Good to know before you go

  • Peak crowds are Japanese school holidays: late March–early April, Golden Week, mid-August.
  • Bring your own water bottle and a light rain poncho; both are expensive inside.
  • Popular restaurants require reservations made the moment the park opens.

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