Okunoshima: Japan’s Rabbit Island with a Hidden Past

Located in Hiroshima’s Seto Inland Sea, Okunoshima is a small island that has become famous as a paradise for rabbits. However, this peaceful island once had a very different role. During World War II, it was erased from official maps and used for secret poison gas production. Okunoshima is a rare place where rabbits roam freely among the visible remains of war. In this column, I would like to share why this island left such a strong impression on me.

During the war, chemical weapons, including poison gas, were manufactured here. Because it was a military secret, the island’s name was removed from official maps. Some of these facilities, including a power plant and gas storage buildings, still stand on the island today.

The rabbits, surprisingly, were not always part of the island’s history. One widely accepted theory is that in 1971, eight rabbits from a local elementary school were released on the island when it was being developed as a resort. With few natural predators and a mild climate, the rabbits quickly multiplied. Visitors also began bringing food, and over time, the population grew to several hundred.

When I stepped onto the pier, rabbits immediately ran toward my feet. They showed no fear and gathered around me, hoping for food. Knowing how they came to live on the island made the moment even more striking. It was hard to imagine that this same island had once been used for chemical weapons production.

However, as I walked further inland, I began to see the ruins. Dark concrete walls and empty buildings appeared among the trees. Standing there, I realized that poison gas had once been produced in this very place. The image that stays with me most is a rabbit napping beside the remains of a gun battery. The sight of the small animal resting next to a structure built for war is something I will never forget.

For me, Okunoshima is not only a place to enjoy interacting with rabbits. It is also a place where the traces of war are still visible. That contrast has stayed with me long after I left the island.

If you visit Hiroshima, you might consider taking a short trip to Okunoshima and seeing this unique landscape with your own eyes.