The island's wartime history was quite different. bath. 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. 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. 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. If you come to the Rabbit Island with children, they will be definitely grateful for this trip and will remember it for a long time. It was now evening, as we enjoyed a stroll along the old streets of Takehara. 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. A trip to Rabbit Island puts these somewhat contradictory facts side by side as visitors traverse old historical sites, while being accosted by completely tame rabbits hungry for snacks. Located in the south-central part of Hiroshima Prefecture, facing the picturesque Seto Inland Sea—known as the Mediterranean of Japan—it’s a great weekend getaway from all the stress and noise of central Tokyo. The island played a key role during World War II as a secret poison gas factory. 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. Okunoshima Island, arguably better known as ‘Rabbit Island’, is a relatively small island off the coast of Hiroshima. Rabbit Island can easily be reached from Osaka or Hiroshima, but a trip from Tokyo is doable as well. It’s said they were introduced to the island in 1971, where they have thrived in an environment with no natural predators such as cats or dogs. Families of workers who suffered the aftereffects of the harsh working conditions donated numerous artifacts to help tell the story of the workers' plight. It has been producing top-quality nihonshu (Japanese rice wine) since 1863, and has won many awards over its 150-year history. Chugoku. In 2015, the BBC presented a short television series called Pets - Wild at Heart about the behaviours of pets and it featured the rabbits on the island. Yuki Tanaka. Ookuno Island is a peaceful island located in the Seto Island Sea. Bunny Island – Japan’s Rabbit Island. 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. One of the most adorable places in Japan, but with a dark past. We reached the remote island after a short 20-minute ferry ride from Takehara Port on the Usagi no Omoide Ferry, an adorable looking ferry that is also the quickest way to the island. Step by step he took us through the process of weaving the individual bamboo sticks together to create a masterpiece. Yep, it’s as cute as you think. To know more about offbeat places in Japan, have a look at our 2 weeks alternative Japan itinerary!. Get ready for a furry kawaii overload! Japan's Rabbit Island in Hiroshima is absolutely covered in rabbits. Animals Creepy Japan's Rabbit Island in Hiroshima is absolutely covered in rabbits. Then, read on! 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. Here, I discover that not everything is as cute as it seems! It was fortified in the 19. century to protect the area around the Seto Inland Sea. "The Beginning of the Gas Plants," (Ōkunoshima Poison Gas Museum Exhibit: Ōkunoshima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture), visited December 10, 2006. Okunoshima Rabbit Island. They are unfazed by humans and quite happy to eat straight from your hands. The rest of the island is full of ruins that are in stark juxtaposition to the otherwise adorable atmosphere of Rabbit island. [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. 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. Beautiful views, lush forests, well-marked trails with options for both beginners and experienced hikers, this is the perfect weekend nature escape from Tokyo for the... No doubt about it—hot springs and autumn holidays make a perfect match. After thanking our instructor and talking to some of the other master craftsmen and women in the workshop, we headed to our next destination. As islands that are occupied by wild animals go, Okunoshima, better known as Usaga Jima or Rabbit Island, is probably the cutest. Leaving Okunoshima, we rode the ferry back to Takehara Port. Rabbit island (You can get the to the island from JR Tadanoumi Station by ferry. It has a history of poison gas production, and it is also famous for its many abandoned buildings. Take the shinkansen to Fukuyama Station, where you’ll transfer to the JR Sanyo Line until Mihara Station. In 1971, for unknown reasons, an elementary school off Okunoshima set eight classroom rabbits loose on the island. I hope people will realize both facets and recognize the importance of peace."[7]. Okunoshima […] The first stop was the Machinami Takekobo Bamboo Craft Workshop. Aside from the rather tame rabbits, … The first is that a few pet rabbits were released by children when the islands were evacuated in the 1940s. 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. As a last hurrah for autumn, we planned a trip to Okunoshima or the Rabbit Island. The island was selected for its remoteness and in case there was an accident, major cities like Tokyo would be spared from disaster. We know we did! Dozens of fluffy, unbelievable cute bunnies will be eating from your hands, and jumping all over you, when you lie down. Thanks to the fluffy creatures, Okunoshima is a popular tourist attraction. Step by step he took us through the process of weaving the individual bamboo sticks together to create a masterpiece. From Takehara station, our first stop was Okunoshima—affectionately called Usagi Shima (literally, “Rabbit Island”). Okunoshima Rabbit Island. The best way to access the island from the mainland is to take the Sanyō Shinkansen train to Mihara Station (only the Kodama stops there). 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. 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. It is accessible by ferry which you can take from Takehara city in Hiroshima prefecture. Okunoshima is a small island located in the Seto Inland Sea in Hiroshima Prefecture. From the creators of Tokyo Cheapo, Japan Cheapo is a site dedicated to helping you get the most from your yen while travelling around Japan.. More than 100,000 people visit Japan Cheapo each month for help in planning their trip to Japan. The island was a cultivated area until the Russo-Japanese War when ten forts were built to protect it. Habu Shosen[8] now also runs direct ferries from Mihara Port to Ōkunoshima on weekends. Only a 15-minute ferry ride from the mainland, the island is a popular destination for tourists from around the world. What Is ETIAS And How To Apply. [1], The island was a cultivated area until the Russo-Japanese War when ten forts were built to protect it. In 1929, The Imperial Japanese Army built a secret military facility for chemical weapon research and production on the island to produce poison gas. As I always say, Japan is more than just Tokyo and Osaka. Shai took a trip to Ōkunoshima, Japan, otherwise known as The Rabbit Island. As we begin our Journey Across Japan from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, we get lost in a quarry, stumble across an abandoned love hotel and taste Fish & Chip Pringles. The museum also offers guides to the numerous remains of the forts from the Second Sino-Japanese War and the poison gas factory. We ended our journey in Takehara by strolling its retro streets one last time with our pinwheel in hand, gently blowing in the wind. 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. Combined with Tokyo Cheapo, total reach exceeds 850,000. In 1929, the Japanese military used Okunoshima as a site for manufacturing poison gas for the war. If Tokyo and Kyoto are on your destination maps, head to Okunoshima from Kyoto instead of Tokyo. Rabbit island Ookuno Island . 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