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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Ōkunoshima
大久野島
Spend a half‑day on Ōkunoshima for rabbit‑watching and the Poison Gas Museum; add 30 min ferry each way.
Ōkunoshima is a small, car‑free island in the Seto Inland Sea famous for its feral rabbits and WWII poison‑gas museum. The whole island can be explored on foot or bike in 4–5 hours, so a single day (or a night if you stay at the on‑island hotel) is sufficient.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 大久野島
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot, humid, occasional typhoon)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High ¥12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
Get in
By air
- HIJ · Hiroshima Airport
- Shinkansen to Hiroshima station then ferry to Ōkunoshima; total about 1 h 30 min
Typical fares
- Ferry from Tadanoumi Port
- about ¥1,000 per person, 12 min (check)
- Bike rental at hotel
- ≈ ¥1,200 per day (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
No cars are allowed. Rent a bike from the hotel or walk; the island’s 5 km (3.1 mi) loop is easy to cycle in under an hour.No cars are allowed. Rent a bike from the hotel or walk; the island’s 3.1 mi (5 km) loop is easy to cycle in under an hour.
See and do
Known for
- Rabbit population
- Poison Gas Museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hiroshima | Ferry from Tadanoumi Port to Ōkunoshima (12 min), then ferry back to Tadanoumi and JR Sanyo line to Hiroshima (≈1 h 30 min total) | ≈2 h total travel |
Sleep
- Kyukamura Ōkunoshima
- Only hotel on the island; ¥10,200 per person includes breakfast and dinner, shared bath, and access to on‑site facilities.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much is the ferry? | フェリーはいくらですか？ferī wa ikura desu ka |
| Where is the rabbit feeding area? | ウサギの餌やり場所はどこですか？usagi no eshiyari basho wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Ferry runs about 12 min; check schedule for seasonal changes (check).
- Rabbits may bite if fed inappropriate food; bring lettuce or carrots only (check).
- The Poison Gas Museum closes on Tuesdays; verify opening hours before visiting.
The island is safe for tourists; watch for slippery rocks near the shore and keep an eye on rabbits that may nip.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ōkunoshima yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Rabbit population
- Poison Gas Museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Kyukamura Ōkunoshima hotel: www.qkamura.or.jp/en/ohkuno/
- Wikivoyage: Ōkunoshima, revision 5242374 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5242374
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/okunoshima). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.