Bunny island Japan

Located off the coast of Hiroshima, the island of Okunoshima was once the site of a darker past. Okunoshima is now often known by a different name, Bunny Island. Bunny Island is home to a large population of free-roaming domestic rabbits and went viral years ago as people posted videos of the hordes of furry inhabitants flocking around humans. There are also memes of Bunny Island of a stampede of rabbits surrounding a human lying upon the floor. Many memes play on the idea that if one died, they would be ok with the method in which they passed over. Death by rabbit army.

So, what is Bunny Island, and what does a visit to the island look like?

Let’s turn the clock back to the Russo-Japanese War, when Okunoshima was home to only three fishing families. The island received a total of ten forts to protect it during the war. After the war, Okunoshima had a new purpose despite signing the 1925 Geneva protocol. Okunoshima became the home of a chemical munitions plant producing tear gas and mustard gas. The imperial army built numerous buildings on the island to store, build and develop the gases. For four years, Okunoshima would go on to produce over six kilotons of the substances. Due to the protocol, it had signed all activities on the island were kept top secret so far as removing Okunoshima from maps printed at the time.

Those working on the island at the time were kept in the dark as to precisely what they were producing, and working conditions were deadly due to inadequate equipment and not understanding of how dangerous the substances they were making were due to secrecy. After the war, all documents regarding operations on the island were burned, and the Allied forces disposed of the remaining substances. Everything about the island was kept silent, and it wasn’t until 1988, when the museum was opened, that victims of the poor working conditions would finally receive some aid.

The present day, however, saw the island gain a new lease on life due to its furry inhabitants. There is some confusion about where the rabbits initially came from, but the majority accept that the rabbits got loose during their use in animal testing of the poison gases. It is illegal to hunt rabbits, and all rabbits used in experiments were euthanised; none of the rabbits today have mutations and are not related to the rabbits from the war period. There have been documentaries, vlogs and many visitors to the island, and the old war buildings make for some dramatic landscape. The island itself is in a beautiful location, several surrounding islands can be viewed, and the mainland can be seen, depending on where you are. The island is served by two ferry companies, and the island is now home to a ryokan-style hotel and campsite. There are hiking trails and beaches. When I visited the island felt very tropical.

My visit to the island was memorable, and I camped overnight. If you intend to feed the rabbits, be sure to bring rabbit nuggets with you, as there are no places to buy food on the island and at the ferry ports. If you are coming and want to feed the rabbits vegetables, please bear in mind that dark greens are healthier for rabbits, such as spinach, cabbage and broccoli. Vegetables like carrots are full of sugar and do not wear down a rabbit's growing teeth, and lettuce has no nutritional value at all and is very unhealthy for a rabbit. Be sure to supervise the rabbits whilst they eat and remove uneaten food as it encourages rats and mould.

The gas museum will take a small part of your time, but it is worth the visit as it gives you a clear history of the island. Bikes can be hired from the island for those who do not want to walk, but the walk itself took me and my travel buddy about an hour. It was pleasant, and the ruins of old buildings make for a very atmospheric exploration. Perhaps the most iconic is the tunnel and munitions plant building that looms out of the darkness at night with an imposing vibe. The island is peaceful, and the campsite offers a nice plan where you can go pretty much empty-handed and experience nature and the island overnight.

Overall, Bunny Island deserves a place on your travel itinerary even if you can only spare the day. The location is peaceful, and the island offers some beautiful views in all directions. At night, the light pollution is low enough that the stars and Milky Way can be seen. The rabbits are cute, and I felt bad for them in the heat of the Japanese summer, but they have caretakers providing water bowls and nuggets. I did spy a few injured rabbits and a few rabbits which needed vet attention, but the situation is difficult as no one owns the rabbits. But the kindness of the caretakers and the eagerness of the visitors to feed them is a comfort.

The hotel offers a shop where a wide variety of souvenirs can be purchased all your bunny needs are covered. Bunny Island has a lot to offer all its visitors, and I will not forget my own adventure to it anytime soon.