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Things to doBy MotoUpdated

Is Okunoshima Worth It? Rabbit Island, ¥360 Ferry (2026)

Okunoshima: 15 minutes by boat from Tadanoumi, 20 minutes by JR from Mihara. Ferry ¥360 one way; last Omishima Ferry back 16:06, or 17:16 Feb–Oct.

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Every figure is checked against the sources listed below. See sources

A brown wild rabbit stretched out on gravel in the shade of a tree on Okunoshima
そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Okunoshima (大久野島), known as Rabbit Island, is worth it if you like animals or want to see a side of wartime history that Hiroshima’s Peace Park does not show. Wild rabbits roam the whole island, and the ruins of a secret army poison gas plant stand among them.[10] It is about 15 minutes by boat from Tadanoumi Port (忠海港) in Takehara City.[1] If you have only one day in Hiroshima, see Miyajima first: the Miyajima guide covers the island most visitors put first.

Key facts

  • Worth it for: animal lovers, families with children who can follow the rabbit rules, and history readers with half a day to spare in the Hiroshima area.
  • Time needed: plan half a day; a slow loop of the island by rental bicycle takes about 30 minutes.[11],[1]
  • Ferry: ¥360 one way for adults on Omishima Ferry, bought at the port.[5][5]
  • Last Omishima Ferry back: 16:06, or 17:16 from February to October.[4]
  • Poison Gas Museum: ¥150 for visitors aged 19 and over, closed from December 29 to January 3.[8][8],[9]
  • Nearest station: Tadanoumi (忠海) on the JR Kure Line, about 5 minutes on foot from the port.[6]

How long do I need on Okunoshima?

Half a day covers the rabbits, the museum and a loop of the island. Bicycles can be rented on the island, and a slow loop by bicycle takes about 30 minutes.[11],[1] Allow extra time if you walk instead.

What limits your day is the boat, not the island. Pick your sailings before you go:

Omishima FerryTimes (calling at Okunoshima)
Tadanoumi → Okunoshima08:30, 09:40, 10:50, 12:00, 14:05, 15:15, 16:25[4]
Okunoshima → Tadanoumi09:20, 10:30, 11:40, 13:48, 14:56, 16:06; 17:16 from February to October only[4]
Pier on the islandSecond Pier[6],[1]
Adult fare¥360 one way, ¥720 round trip[5]

The 07:30, 17:35 and 19:10 sailings from Tadanoumi do not call at Okunoshima, so do not board them by mistake.[4] A typical plan is the 09:40 boat out and a boat back in the early afternoon, which leaves a later sailing as a spare.

What is there to see?

The rabbits

The rabbits are the reason most people come, and they are everywhere on the island. They are wild animals, though, and there are rules for meeting them, covered in the next section. Dive! Hiroshima asks visitors not to chase or pick them up, because they stress easily and break bones or get hurt.[2],[1]

A brown and white rabbit lying on a sandy path on Okunoshima
Rabbit on a path, Okunoshima そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum

This small museum is the one indoor stop on the island. It opened in 1988 and covers the chemical weapons plants built on the island in 1929 and used until the end of World War II in 1945.[10] If you have visited the Peace Memorial Museum, this adds a different chapter of the war; the Peace Memorial Museum guide covers that visit.

Brick building of the Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum with azaleas and bicycles in front
Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum, Okunoshima そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The wartime ruins

The ruins stand along the island’s paths, often with rabbits around them. The island has the ruins of three artillery batteries. At the North Battery, 22 cannons were installed between 1897 and 1902, and poison gas was stored there during World War II.[10]

Arched brick and concrete rooms of former gun battery ruins among trees on Okunoshima
Battery ruins, Okunoshima もんじゃ · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

What are the rules for the rabbits?

Treat them as wild animals. Do not chase or pick them up: a sick or injured rabbit cannot survive in the wild.[2],[1] Feed them only rabbit food. Snacks, bread and vegetables such as green onions make them ill.[2]

Buy the food before you board. No rabbit food is sold on Okunoshima; rabbit-related goods are sold around Tadanoumi Port and at convenience stores and supermarkets near Tadanoumi Station.[2]

Take leftovers home. Food left on the ground draws rats and wild boars, and the boars may attack people and rabbits.[2]

Leave pets at home. The Japan Tourism Agency’s commentary on the island asks visitors not to bring pets, to protect the rabbits.[11]

How much does it cost and when is the museum open?

Places

Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum

Hours
9:00–16:00, last entry 15:40; hours may change temporarily
Fee
¥150Visitors aged 19 and over ¥150, groups of 20 or more ¥120 each; under 19 free
Closed On
December 29 to January 3; may close temporarily on other days
Nearest Station
Tadanoumi Station (JR Kure Line), then the boat from Tadanoumi Port (about 15 minutes)

Official siteOpen in Google Maps

The main costs are the boat and, if you go in, the museum.

ItemPrice
Omishima Ferry, Tadanoumi–Okunoshima, adult¥360 one way, ¥720 round trip[5]
Omishima Ferry, child (up to elementary school)¥180 one way, ¥360 round trip[5]
Poison Gas Museum, aged 19 and over¥150[8]
Poison Gas Museum, under 19Free[8]

The museum is open from 9:00 to 16:00, with last entry at 15:40, and its hours may change temporarily.[8],[9] It is closed from December 29 to January 3 and may also close temporarily on other days.[8],[9] Groups of 20 or more pay ¥120 each.[8]

How do I get there from Hiroshima?

Go to Mihara (三原) first, then take the JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi and the boat from the port next to the station. If you hold a rail pass, the Japan Rail Pass review explains which JR trains it covers; the boats from Tadanoumi are Omishima Ferry and a passenger boat whose timetables Kyukamura publishes, not JR services.[7],[3]

Okunoshima, Tadanoumi-cho, Takehara City, Hiroshima PrefectureOpen in Google Maps

  1. Sanyo Shinkansen to Mihara

    Mihara Station is a stop on the Sanyo Shinkansen. JR West gives 5 minutes as the standard transfer time there between the Shinkansen and the Kure Line.[13]

  2. JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi

    Tadanoumi Station is about 20 minutes from Mihara on the JR Kure Line.[1],[6] Check the train times on JR West’s timetable before you leave, and plan your boat around them.

  3. Walk to Tadanoumi Port

    The port is about 5 minutes on foot from the station.[6] Rabbit-related goods are sold around the port and near the station, and none on the island.[2]

  4. Buy your ticket and board

    Omishima Ferry passenger tickets can be bought from the ticket machines at the port.[5] Two services sail to the island from Tadanoumi Port: a passenger boat whose timetables Kyukamura Okunoshima publishes, and Omishima Ferry, which continues to Mori Port on Omishima.[7],[3]

  5. Cross to Okunoshima

    The crossing takes about 15 minutes.[1] Omishima Ferry lands at the Second Pier, and Kyukamura runs a free shuttle bus from there to its main building, timed to the sailings.[6],[1]

Tadanoumi Station has no JR ticket office (Midori-no-Madoguchi) and no coin lockers, but ICOCA can be used at its gates.[12] Bring a charged IC card, and do not count on leaving a suitcase there.

Can I come from Omishima instead?

Yes. Omishima Ferry also runs between Mori Port on Omishima and Okunoshima, at the same ¥360 adult fare as from Tadanoumi.[5]

Can I take my car?

Usually not. Vehicles are in principle not allowed on Okunoshima; to take a car over you must contact Kyukamura Okunoshima in advance, and Omishima Ferry may limit cars at busy times.[4] Park at Tadanoumi Port instead: its public outdoor lot is free, has 200 spaces and is open to anyone using the port.[1],[9]

Can I stay overnight on Okunoshima?

Yes. Kyukamura Okunoshima is the base for staying on the island. It offers onsen and meals with fresh seafood, and overnight guests can watch the rabbits when they become active at night.[1] A night there also takes the pressure off the last boat. If you would rather keep your base in the city, where to stay in Hiroshima or on Miyajima compares the areas.

Tips

The second mistake is arriving with no rabbit food. No rabbit food is sold on the island; rabbit-related goods are sold around Tadanoumi Port and near the station, so shop before you board.[2]

Frequently asked questions

Can I do Miyajima and Okunoshima in one day?

It makes a long day, with an early start. Visit Okunoshima first and keep the last boats in mind: the last Omishima Ferry back is 16:06, or 17:16 from February to October.[4] The Hiroshima to Miyajima route guide covers the second half of that day.

Is Okunoshima good for children?

Yes, with supervision. Children under 19 enter the museum free, and the child ferry fare is ¥180 one way.[8][5] Explain the rabbit rules before you land: no chasing, no picking up, and only rabbit food.[2],[1][2]

Can I bring my dog?

No. Visitors are asked not to bring pets to the island, to protect the rabbits.[11]

Can I buy the ferry ticket online?

Omishima Ferry sells passenger tickets from the ticket machines at the port.[5] Buy yours at Tadanoumi on the day.

Sources

  1. Okunoshima (Dive! Hiroshima) (checked )
  2. さぁ、うさぎに癒されよう (Dive! Hiroshima, rabbit rules) (checked )
  3. 大三島フェリー株式会社 (Omishima Ferry) (checked )
  4. 時刻表 (Omishima Ferry, timetable) (checked )
  5. 運賃表 (Omishima Ferry, fares) (checked )
  6. アクセス (Omishima Ferry, access) (checked )
  7. 地域公共交通の運行情報 (Takehara City, public transport) (checked )
  8. 大久野島毒ガス資料館紹介 (Takehara City) (checked )
  9. 大久野島毒ガス資料館 (Dive! Hiroshima) (checked )
  10. 大久野島毒ガス資料館と旧陸軍関連遺跡 (Japan Tourism Agency multilingual database) (checked )
  11. 大久野島 (Japan Tourism Agency multilingual database) (checked )
  12. 忠海駅 (JR West station information) (checked )
  13. 三原駅 構内図 (JR West station premises) (checked )