Hiroshima: Okunoshima Rabbit Island
Rabbit Island: How to get to Okunoshima from the airport?
Hiroshima classic foods
Super Hotel: Where did we stay?
Big thanks to SUPER HOTEL HIROSHIMA & SUPER HOTEL YAGENBORI for providing our stay:
(Both hotels are a 10-minute walk from each other)
Google Map: SUPER HOTEL HIROSHIMA & SUPER HOTEL YAGENBORI
I recommend getting this out of your way on the first day if you arrive early enough
As soon as we arrived at Hiroshima Airport (departing from Haneda Airport), we went outside, took a right, and hopped in a shared van with minutes to spare. We were so lucky to have scored the last two seats. I got shot gun! Whew! I highly suggest reserving a shuttle bus if you can!
Cost: 1500 yen = $10 usd for one person (Cash or credit card, but the machine didn’t work)
*This was our route. The start time is correct, but disregard the times after arriving at Takehara Station.
Lunch: Best Kaisendon ever!
Once the shared van drops you off at Takehara Station, you will notice nothing is happening in this ghost town. Not many shops were open and it felt spooky.
Grab lunch at this small mom and pop shop. It’s a 10-minute walk. Seafood was so fresh. It’s the best Kaisendon I’ve ever had in my life! Definitely can’t get it this fresh at this price in Tokyo.
This is a seasonal menu, so make sure you head there by 12:30 latest before the special items run out.
Cost: 2000 yen = $14 usd (Cash or Pay Pay only)
How to get to Okunoshima: Rabbit Island
From Takehara Station, hop on the train to Tadano-Umi Station. Walk for 5 minutes and you will have to buy ferry tickets from a machine to Okunoshima. It should 720 yen for adults, 360 yen for children, which includes a return trip. Make sure you check your ferry times (including your return trip)!
Pro tip: Be sure to get in line. If you wait too long to queue up, you might have to catch the next ferry which won’t come until an hour later.
Don’t forget to buy rabbit pellets for 200 yen! There is also 100 yen in the small shop next door. We got ripped off!
Official website: www.rabbit-island.info
You can leave your luggage at the counter for 500 yen. We find it better to come here after arriving at the airport, then heading to Hiroshima city.
I get motion sickness easily (fun fact: rabbits do too) and I was fine! The ferry ride was very smooth and only took 10-minutes.
Bunny Food
Please note, rabbits are better off eating pellets than fresh vegetables. You are allowed to feed them that, but their bodies can digest pellets better, especially the baby bunnies. They will endure stomach pain. We also saw an adult bunny throw up green juice!
Some bunnies may look cute and friendly, but some lost an eye or their ears got torn up in fights. After all, these wild bunnies are not domesticated like the ones in a pet store. Just a heads up! Make sure to bring hand sanitizer before you touch your face! They didn’t have!
An hour is all you need.
Pro tip: Be sure to check the next ferry time and stand in line before the queue gets long!
Poison Gas Museum
Further down the road in the back, you can learn about how this island was used as a poison gas testing center. It’s a very small exhibit. No photography.
Admission: 150 yen for 19 years and older
Ready to head to the city
We caught the 15:35 back to Tadanomi Port and headed to Hiroshima Station, the city centre. It takes about 2 hours.
The train system in Hiroshima have less trains running compared to Tokyo, so make sure to time your schedule to the T, otherwise you’d be wasting your precious time waiting on the next ride.
From Tadanori Station, transfer at Mihara Station. You’ll arrive at Hiroshima Station.
Hiroshima Tsukemen for Dinner
There is no English menu, so you know it’s good. Hiroshima style tsukemen (cold-dipped noodle) is known for its spicy sauce filled with sesame seeds and chili oil. You can choose your spicy level.
I had 1 serving with Spicy Level 2, and that was spicy enough for me!
Bunny BF got 1.5 servings with a Spicy Level 6. He held back, he says but I don’t want him in the bathroom every minute of this trip! You can add additional toppings like a boiled egg, which he gave me half of :)
This shop is open til late. This is where drunk people come after their first dinner lol.
Our Second Dinner
We are looking for a place to nibble and drink. “Nijikai” which means “after-party.” Our first choice was booked on a Saturday night, so we came across this izakaya, which we enjoyed watching the only chef make orders after order at the counter seat.
Anago (conger eel) is a famous delicacy in Miyajima, Hiroshima. It was a classic eki-ben lunch box item you buy at the station.
Cooked and seasoned to perfection! Wish we had some white rice…
Hiroshima is so cheap! Hiroshima was like 50% off to us Tokyo residents. We order about 5 dishes and 3 drinks, our bill was 4000 yen total. This shop is small, so call first if you can!
Where we stayed
Every SUPER HOTEL location is different. Some offer breakfast, some don’t and others include a public bath.
On our first night, we stayed at the hotel without a public bath. The unit bath was only big enough for 1 in the tub. We were given the Standard Double Room. It is the biggest room for 2. However, I wish there were rooms available without the bunk bed…
Bunny BF and I are not picky when it comes to hotel accommodations. We like to focus more on foodies and experiences, and we don’t care where we stay as long as we have a clean, safe place to stay! Thanks to SUPER HOTEL, we saved a lot on our trip budget, so we splurged a little bit on oysters the next day…
Very clean! Lots of pillows to choose from. No complaints!
See you at Day 2 article!
