Ōkunoshima, Remote island in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Ōkunoshima is an island in the Inland Sea near Takehara in Hiroshima Prefecture. The forested hills slope gently toward several small coves, while narrow paths wind through thick greenery to abandoned structures and bathing spots.
Between 1929 and 1945, the island served as a site for secret poison gas production by the Japanese military. After the war ended, the facilities were partly demolished and the grounds later opened to visitors, while remnants of the factories remained in the forest.
Before weapons production began, the island remained thinly populated and rarely used by fishermen. Today's approach to its past appears in the decision to maintain the museum alongside the free-roaming rabbits, making both sides of the island's identity visible.
Ferry service from Tadanoumi connects the mainland in about 15 minutes, with departures running regularly during daylight hours. Paths are mostly level and lead to beaches, ruins, and the museum, though some areas remain difficult to access due to vegetation and decay.
Rabbits move freely across the grounds and often approach visitors on their own, especially along main paths and near the dock. The exact origin of the animals remains unclear, but their numbers grew over decades without natural predators on the island.
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