From Hiroshima: Okunoshima Rabbit Island Tour with Guide

Discover Okunoshima Island on a guided tour from Hiroshima. Travel by local transportation and ferry, encounter the island’s famous rabbits, and learn about its wartime history.
Leave the busy streets of Hiroshima behind and journey to Okunoshima, a small island in the peaceful Seto Inland Sea. Often known as “Rabbit Island,” Okunoshima is famous for the many rabbits that roam freely across the island, but there is much more to discover.

Meet your guide at your hotel in Hiroshima and travel together by local transportation to Hiroshima Bus Center. Traveling by public transportation offers a glimpse into everyday life in Japan and lets you experience the journey much like a local traveler.

From Hiroshima Bus Center, board the highway bus toward Tadanoumi. As the city gives way to smaller towns and quieter landscapes, enjoy another side of Hiroshima Prefecture before arriving at Tadanoumi Port, the gateway to Okunoshima.

Board a ferry and cross the Seto Inland Sea toward the island. Surrounded by calm waters and numerous islands, the ferry ride offers beautiful views of the distinctive Setouchi scenery.

Once on Okunoshima, you will soon encounter the residents that have made the island famous around the world: its rabbits. Hundreds of rabbits live freely across the island, appearing along walking paths, grassy areas, and near the waterfront. Seeing them wandering through the natural surroundings creates a charming atmosphere unlike visiting animals in an enclosed facility.

While the rabbits are the island’s most recognizable attraction, Okunoshima also holds a much deeper story. During the first half of the 20th century, the island was used as a secret site for the production of chemical weapons by the Imperial Japanese Army. Today, remnants of military facilities remain scattered around the island, offering visitors an opportunity to reflect on a lesser-known chapter of Japan’s wartime history.

This contrast is one of the most striking aspects of Okunoshima. Today, the island feels peaceful, with rabbits hopping through green spaces and views stretching across the Seto Inland Sea, while traces of its difficult past remain quietly embedded in the landscape.

The island’s natural surroundings are another highlight. Take time to walk, enjoy the coastal scenery, photograph the rabbits, and appreciate the slower rhythm of island life away from the crowds of major tourist destinations.

After exploring Okunoshima, take the ferry back to Tadanoumi Port and enjoy some time to browse the shops for souvenirs and local items. Then board the highway bus back to Hiroshima and return to your hotel with your guide.

This tour is ideal for travelers who want to discover a different side of Hiroshima beyond its best-known city landmarks. Meet the free-roaming rabbits, cross the beautiful Seto Inland Sea by ferry, and discover the island’s complex history on a memorable tour combining nature, animals, history, and local travel.

Rather than simply visiting Rabbit Island, this journey offers the chance to experience Okunoshima as a whole—a peaceful island shaped by both its beautiful surroundings and remarkable past.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.