However, there’s a dark story from World War II behind this picturesque island. If your squee-meter isn’t totally burnt out after Fox Village, it certainly will be, after we check out BUNNY ISLAND!. But how do you get there; and is it worth the hype? The port is a 3-minute walk from Tadanoumi JR Station, which is a 25-minute train ride from Mihara Station on the magnificent coastal JR Kure Line. The Dark History of Japan’s Rabbit Island. Which they will. You can visit the island by taking a ferry from Tadanoumi (ferry crossing takes about 15 minutes) and spend the day on the island, walking around stroking and feeding friendly bunnies! These run at least once every hour (although the exact intervals are a … Ok, so from Hiroshima Station you want to head to Tadanoumi Station. A typical journey from Tadanoumi port to Okunoshima port takes 10-15 minutes and costs roughly 310 JPY (around £2.21). Read on to find out everything you need to know to plan a trip to Japan’s rabbit island. [tp_hotel_widget hotel_id=258879 responsive=true subid=””]. I literally couldn’t cope with the cuteness! Let the rabbits approach you. I say this, because it’s a bloody hassle to get to involving multiple trains and a boat, however once you’re surrounded by the cute fluffiness and can watch wild rabbits acting like house cats; it’s so so worth travelling to get there. I challenge anyone to leave there at the end of the day without warm fuzzy feelings! Takehara is … 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. For day visitors it is worth visiting the gift shop for some interesting souvenirs. The ferry takes around 15 minutes from Tadanoumi to Okunoshima island. You can buy some pellet food on the island but the rabbits will love you more if you bring fresh vegetables for them to munch on. During the Second World War, Okunoshima was used to test poison gas, with the poor bunnies as the test subjects. Once you arrive at JR Tadanoumi station the ferry pier is a short 5-minute walk away. Please don’t recommend carrots for bunny island as they’re high in sugar and too much intake can be really bad for them so suggesting them on a forum like this isn’t recommended. You could do the whole cycle route and overnight on Okunoshima in 2 days. It’s a 3 minute walk and very well sign posted so you can’t miss it! Don’t feed them by the road. JR train from Hiroshima: around 4,000 yen (free with Japan rail pass), Lunch:  Budget around 1000 yen for convenience store bentos and drinks, Souvenirs: 1000 yen for 2 small boxes of chocolates or cookies, TOTAL APPROXIMATE COST: 6,320 yen(without Japan rail pass) (day trip), 2,320 yen (with Japan rail pass) (day trip). Japan’s Rabbit Island. To get to Rabbit Island from Tokyo, you will want to reserve a seat on the Shinkansen (bullet train). Okunoshima was once used to manufacture deadly gas for the Japanese military in World War II, and the island itself was a secret from most Japanese citizens during the war—the workers were sworn to secrecy. The ticket will tell you time, carriage number, sit number, name and number of the Train, and the flaform number is 14. From there change for the JR Kure line bound for Mihara and get off at Tadanoumi station (around 60 minutes). To go there … Before you get in line for the boat, purchase your tickets first from the machine next to the shop. You can rent bikes from the hotel. How to get to Rabbit Island From Hiroshima Station you have to catch the Kure Line to Tadanoumi Station. There change trains to get on the JR train towards Mihara (San-Yo Line). The rest of the island is full of ruins that are in stark juxtaposition to the otherwise adorable atmosphere of Rabbit island. The usual way (and the way we went) is to pick up the rabbit island ferry that goes to Okunoshima from the port of Tadanoumi on Japan’s southern coast. The second is that the rabbits are escaped test subjects from the island’s former toxic gas production labs (more on that later). It takes about 4 hours one-way, even with the bullet train, so consider finding accommodation on Rabbit Island for the night, or visit Okunoshima on the way to Hiroshima. For example, I bought some cute chocolate bunny cookies for my colleagues, and some not so cute but funny rabbit poop shaped chocolates. How to Make Green Tea Taste Good – Lessons From Japanese Tea Experts! love this post, but how much did the whole trip cost? If you go bounding after them, chances are they’ll take one look at you and bolt. towards Hiroshima (Or Kagoshimachuo). I have a Holland Lop named Watson. Get on this train and around 40 minutes later you’ll be at Tadanoumi station (you’ll recognise it as the right one from the bunny cartoon on the sign!). Combine a trip to rabbit island with the nearby Shimanami Kaido, a beautiful cycle path that spans the world’s longest collection of suspension bridges. Okunoshima is often referred to by its nickname, usagi jima (rabbit island in English). There are occasionally buses going to and from the hotel so don’t leave rabbit food lying on the road or feed them somewhere which could prove to be dangerous for them. Thanks xxx, How to use the Tokyo Subway and Japanese Rail System. 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. On Rabbit Island a free shuttle bus will bring you to the only hotel on the small island: Kyukamura. 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