OKUNOSHIMA, L' ÎLE AUX LAPINS
This small piece of land is occupied by hundreds of wild rabbits that roam the forests, fields or streets. Located east of Hiroshima, the island is easily accessible and offers a fun half-day getaway. In Japan, rabbits, known for their fertility, are said to bring good luck during pregnancy and are a protective symbol for children. The village is picturesque and the seascape very pretty, but you should know that apart from walking, bathing and feeding the rabbits, there is not much else to do. The only other real activity is a visit to a museum on chemical weapons accompanied by the ruins of an old gas factory. An incongruous neighborhood! But isn't there a connection between these two phenomena? In fact, during the Second World War, this isolated island served as a secret site for the manufacture of toxic gas. According to the inhabitants, rabbits were used as guinea pigs for these chemical weapons. According to local rumors, the rabbits that live on the island today are the descendants of these laboratory animals.
To get there from Hiroshima, take a train or a bus to JR Tadanoumi Station. Once out of the station, you will find the ferry terminal less than 5 min walk on the right. It is easy to find: the ticket office has a sign with a giant rabbit on it. The trip takes 15 min (rabbit-island.info/en).
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