What ferry goes to Rabbit Island (Okunoshima)?

The ferry to Okunoshima runs from Tadanoumi Port, operated by the Daisan Omishima car ferry (Sanyo Shosen) and a separate Kyukamura passenger boat. Together they sail roughly 1 to 2 times an hour, the crossing takes about 15 minutes, and the adult fare is ¥360 one way. Note a midday gap with no early-afternoon sailing (around 12:00 to 14:05) and a last departure around 16:25, so plan your return. The direct Rabbit Line boat from Mihara Port is suspended as of 2026.

How do I get to Okunoshima from Hiroshima?

Take the JR Kure Line. A direct local train from Hiroshima to Tadanoumi takes about 2 hours and costs ¥1,320; a faster option is the shinkansen to Mihara (about 30 minutes, ¥2,290 unreserved) then the JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi (about 22 minutes, ¥320). From Tadanoumi Station it is a 5-minute walk to the port and a 15-minute ferry (¥360) to the island. A Japan Rail Pass covers the train legs but not the ferry.

How do I get to Okunoshima from Osaka or Tokyo?

From Osaka, take a Hikari or Sakura shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Mihara (about 90 minutes, ¥8,240 unreserved; not Nozomi, which skips Mihara), then the JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi and the ferry; about 2.5 to 3 hours total. From Tokyo, either take the shinkansen via Fukuyama and Mihara (about 5 hours, around ¥18,500) or fly Haneda to Hiroshima Airport (about 1h25m), which sits in Mihara City: from the airport a bus reaches Mihara Station in about 38 minutes (¥1,000). With an early-discount airfare, flying is usually both faster and cheaper than the shinkansen.

Can I take a bicycle to Okunoshima?

Yes, on the Daisan Omishima car ferry (not the Kyukamura passenger boat). The bicycle surcharge is about ¥120 each way on top of the ¥360 fare. Okunoshima is a popular add-on for cyclists riding the Shimanami Kaido or the quieter Tobishima Kaido.

How long do you need at Okunoshima, and when is the last ferry?

Most visitors spend 2 to 4 hours on the island. The last ferry back from Okunoshima to Tadanoumi is around 16:25 on the Daisan Omishima service, and there is a midday gap with no early-afternoon sailing (roughly 12:00 to 14:05), so check the current timetable and plan your return before you go.

How to Get to Okunoshima (Rabbit Island): Ferries & Routes from Hiroshima, Osaka & Tokyo (2026)

TL;DR

Every route ends the same way: a 15-minute ferry from Tadanoumi Port, ¥360 one way (¥720 return), about a 5-minute walk from JR Tadanoumi Station. Buy rabbit food before you board; none is sold on the island.

From Hiroshima: JR Kure Line, about 2 hours, ¥1,320 (or faster by shinkansen to Mihara, then the Kure Line).

From Osaka: shinkansen to Mihara (about ¥8,240), then the Kure Line; about 2.5 to 3 hours total. Not Nozomi, which skips Mihara.

From Tokyo: shinkansen via Fukuyama and Mihara (about 5 hours), or fly Haneda to Hiroshima Airport (in Mihara City) and bus to Mihara Station; flying is about 4 to 4.5 hours and, with an early-discount fare, often cheaper.

Watch the midday ferry gap (no early-afternoon sailing, about 12:00 to 14:05) and the last ferry around 16:25. You cannot drive on the island.

Illustration of the small Tadanoumi Port ferry crossing calm water toward the green hump of Okunoshima island, a few rabbits suggested on the near shore, soft morning light over the Seto Inland Sea. Editorial watercolor in muted blue-green and warm sand tones.

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The rabbits are the easy part. The part that trips people up is the ferry: which port, which train, which of the day's sailings, and the long-distance leg from wherever you happen to be staying. Okunoshima sits in the Seto Inland Sea with no bridge, so however you arrive in Japan, the last move is always the same small boat. Get that fixed in your head first, and the rest of the trip plans itself backward from there.

This guide covers every realistic way to reach Okunoshima (Rabbit Island): from Hiroshima, from Osaka, from Tokyo by train and by plane, by car, and by bicycle. For what to actually do once you land (the feeding rules, the wartime poison-gas history, how long to stay), see our companion Okunoshima Rabbit Island guide. This one is purely about getting there.

The one thing every route shares: the Tadanoumi ferry

No matter where you start, the final leg is a short ferry from Tadanoumi Port on the mainland to Okunoshima. Tadanoumi is a small town in Takehara City, on the JR Kure Line, and the port is about a 5-minute walk from JR Tadanoumi Station on flat, signed streets.

Ferry route: Tadanoumi Port to Okunoshima
Crossing time: About 15 minutes
Adult fare: ¥360 one way / ¥720 return
Operators: Daisan Omishima car ferry (Sanyo Shosen) + Kyukamura passenger boat
Frequency: Roughly 1–2 sailings an hour, about 08:30–16:25
Midday gap: No early-afternoon sailing, about 12:00–14:05
Station to port: About a 5-minute walk from JR Tadanoumi Station
Bicycles: +¥120 each way (car ferry only)

Tadanoumi itself is a quiet single-platform stop; the port is an easy, signed walk from the station exit, past a small parade of shops where you can stock up. A few things to sort before you board. First, buy rabbit food at the port (or a supermarket near Mihara); nothing is sold on the island, and the island asks you not to bring bread or snacks that harm the rabbits. Second, watch the timetable. The Daisan Omishima ferry runs about seven sailings a day with a roughly two-hour gap over lunch and a last departure around 16:25; the Kyukamura passenger boat fills in some of the gaps. Timetables shift with the season, so confirm the current schedule before you travel. And note one rule that surprises drivers: you cannot drive on Okunoshima (more below).

You may read older pages mentioning a direct "Rabbit Line" high-speed boat from Mihara Port to the island. That service is suspended as of 2026, so ignore it and route through Tadanoumi.

From Hiroshima (the simplest base)

Illustration of a two-car local train running along the Seto Inland Sea coastline, the calm sea and low green islands to one side, a few passengers visible through the windows, soft afternoon light. Editorial watercolor in muted blue, sage, and warm cream.

If you are staying in Hiroshima, Okunoshima is a straightforward day trip on the JR Kure Line, the same line that runs out to Kure.

Direct local train: Hiroshima to Tadanoumi takes about 2 hours for ¥1,320. It is slow but needs no thought; you sit on one train along the coast.
Faster, via Mihara: take the shinkansen from Hiroshima to Mihara (about 30 minutes, ¥2,290 unreserved), then the JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi (about 22 minutes, ¥320). This saves time if you are moving early.

A Japan Rail Pass covers both the shinkansen and the Kure Line legs, though not the ferry. It rarely pays off for this trip alone, but if Okunoshima is one stop in a wider rail itinerary, Japan Rail Pass can be the cheapest way to bundle everything. Okunoshima also pairs naturally with Kure on the same line; see our Hiroshima to Kure day trip guide if you want to combine them.

From Osaka

Osaka is an easy half-day approach.

Shin-Osaka to Mihara by Hikari or Sakura shinkansen: about 90 minutes, ¥8,240 unreserved. Do not take Nozomi; it does not stop at Mihara.
Mihara to Tadanoumi on the JR Kure Line: about 22 minutes, ¥320.
Walk 5 minutes to the port and take the ferry (about 15 minutes, ¥360).

Total one-way transit is roughly 2.5 to 3 hours and about ¥8,920. With an early start you can do Okunoshima as a long day trip from Osaka and be back the same evening, but check the ferry's last departure and the midday gap before committing.

From Tokyo: shinkansen or fly?

Illustration of a passenger plane on final approach descending over the green hills and inlets of the Seto Inland Sea toward a hillside airport, soft morning light, the sea dotted with small islands below. Editorial watercolor in pale gold, blue, and green.

Tokyo is far enough that you have a real choice, and for once the plane is worth a look. Hiroshima Airport happens to sit in Mihara City, right on the Okunoshima route, which is what makes flying competitive.

By shinkansen

Take a Nozomi to Fukuyama (about 3 hours 35 minutes), change to a Kodama to Mihara (about 15 minutes, since Nozomi skips Mihara), then the JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi and the ferry. A through ticket Tokyo to Mihara is about ¥17,830 unreserved; total one-way is roughly ¥18,510 and about 5 hours.

By plane (often faster and cheaper)

Fly Haneda to Hiroshima Airport (ANA or JAL, about a 1h25m flight; no low-cost carrier on this route), then take the airport bus to Mihara Station (about 38 minutes, ¥1,000), then the JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi and the ferry.

Time: about 4 to 4.5 hours door to door, roughly an hour faster than the shinkansen.
Cost: with an early-discount airfare (booked a few weeks ahead, around ¥11,500 to ¥13,500), the total comes to about ¥13,000 to ¥15,000, cheaper than the shinkansen. At a walk-up airfare (around ¥22,000) the shinkansen is the cheaper option.

Two cautions for the air route. The airport bus runs only about four times a day, and the late bus (around 20:10) reaches Mihara after the last island ferry, so only a morning flight feeding the roughly 10:30 or 11:45 airport bus lets you reach Okunoshima the same day. And again: the old direct Rabbit Line boat from Mihara Port is suspended, so you still finish the journey via Tadanoumi.

If you are coming from Tokyo, treat Okunoshima as part of a wider Hiroshima trip with an overnight rather than a single brutal day; a night near Hiroshima or Mihara (Booking.com Kure hotels) makes the timing far less tight.

By car

Driving is fine to reach Tadanoumi, less so beyond it. You cannot drive on Okunoshima: private cars are not allowed on the island's roads. Drivers leave the car at Tadanoumi Port, which has free public parking (a few lots, reportedly around 200 spaces in total), and cross as foot passengers. The nearest lot tends to fill by mid-morning on busy weekends and holidays, so arrive early in peak season. The car ferry can physically carry a vehicle, but since a car is useless on the island and bringing one needs advance arrangement with the resort, almost nobody does.

By bicycle (from the Shimanami or Tobishima)

Illustration of a cyclist wheeling a touring bicycle up the ramp onto a small coastal car ferry at a quiet port, panniers loaded, the Seto Inland Sea calm behind, early light. Editorial watercolor in warm grey, sage, and pale blue.

Okunoshima is a favourite detour for cyclists. Bicycles ride the Daisan Omishima car ferry (not the Kyukamura passenger boat) for an extra ¥120 each way. If you are already island-hopping the Setouchi cycle routes, the island slots in neatly; see our Tobishima Kaido cycling guide for the quieter route from the Kure side.

Every route, side by side

From	Best route	Time (one way)	Cost (one way)
Hiroshima	JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi	~2 hr (direct)	~¥1,680 (train + ferry)
Kure	JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi	~1 hr 15 min	~¥1,220 (train + ferry)
Osaka	Shinkansen to Mihara + Kure Line	~2.5–3 hr	~¥8,920
Tokyo (shinkansen)	Nozomi to Fukuyama, Kodama to Mihara	~5 hr	~¥18,510
Tokyo (air)	Fly Haneda to Hiroshima Airport + bus	~4–4.5 hr	~¥13,000–22,000*

*Air cost swings with the fare: about ¥13,000–15,000 with an early-discount ticket, up to about ¥22,000 at walk-up. All figures are adult, one way, checked against operator and airline sources in June 2026; confirm current prices and timetables before travel.

Which route is right for you?

Staying in Hiroshima or Kure: just take the JR Kure Line. It is the simplest plan, and a day trip needs no more than the train and the ferry timetable.
Coming from Osaka: the shinkansen to Mihara is quick and painless; aim for a morning departure so the last ferry is not a worry.
Coming from Tokyo, booking ahead: fly into Hiroshima Airport on a morning flight. It is faster than the shinkansen and, with an early-discount fare, cheaper.
Coming from Tokyo, booking late or already holding a rail pass: take the shinkansen via Fukuyama and Mihara, and plan an overnight near Hiroshima.

Cyclists are the exception to all of this: if you are already riding the Setouchi routes, just roll the bike onto the Tadanoumi ferry for ¥120 and loop the island in without backtracking.

If your phone plan does not include data in Japan, a Klook Japan eSIM eSIM is the single most useful thing to sort first, since the ferry and airport-bus timetables are easiest to confirm on your phone as you go.

FAQ

How do you get to Rabbit Island in Japan?

Every route ends with the same short ferry from Tadanoumi Port (about 15 minutes, ¥360 one way), a 5-minute walk from JR Tadanoumi Station on the JR Kure Line. From Hiroshima, take the JR Kure Line to Tadanoumi (about 2 hours, ¥1,320, or faster via the shinkansen to Mihara). Buy rabbit food before boarding, because none is sold on the island.

What ferry goes to Okunoshima, and when is the last one?

The Tadanoumi ferry, run by the Daisan Omishima car ferry and a separate Kyukamura passenger boat, roughly 1 to 2 sailings an hour. The last departure is around 16:25, with a midday gap (no sailing about 12:00 to 14:05), so plan your return. The direct Rabbit Line boat from Mihara Port is suspended as of 2026.

Is flying from Tokyo really faster than the shinkansen?

Usually yes, by about an hour, because Hiroshima Airport is in Mihara City, right on the route. Fly Haneda to Hiroshima Airport (about 1h25m), bus to Mihara Station (about 38 minutes, ¥1,000), then the JR Kure Line and ferry, for about 4 to 4.5 hours door to door. With an early-discount airfare it is also cheaper than the shinkansen; at walk-up fares the shinkansen wins.

Can you drive to Rabbit Island, and where do you park?

You cannot drive on Okunoshima. Leave the car at Tadanoumi Port (free public parking, around 200 spaces) and cross as a foot passenger. The lots fill by mid-morning on busy days.

Can I bring a bicycle?

Yes, on the Daisan Omishima car ferry for about ¥120 each way. It is a popular add-on for cyclists on the Shimanami or Tobishima Kaido routes.

Okunoshima (Rabbit Island) Guide. What to do once you arrive: the feeding rules, the wartime poison-gas history, and how long to stay. The companion to this access guide.
Best Day Trips from Hiroshima. Where Okunoshima fits among the eight day trips worth taking from Hiroshima, compared.
Hiroshima to Kure Day Trip. The same JR Kure Line, with Kure as the other major stop on it.
Tobishima Kaido Cycling Guide. The quiet Setouchi cycle route from the Kure side, an easy pairing for riders adding the island.
One Day in Kure: Complete 2026 Itinerary. If you base around Kure, the full day there that combines well with a Rabbit Island morning.

Last visited: 2026-06 | Author: Masayuki Ogasahara | Illustrations generated with AI (Gemini). This article contains affiliate links to JRPass.com, Klook, Booking.com, and GetYourGuide. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All transit times, fares, and timetables were verified against operator, airline, and city sources in June 2026; please confirm with the operator before your visit, as fares and schedules change.