Okunoshima Island
The island of Okunoshima is part of Setonaikai National Park and within the boundaries of Hiroshima Prefecture. It is a popular destination for its rabbits, abandoned military facilities, and beautiful natural landscapes. Recreational activities available on the island include hiking, camping, and bird-watching.
The island has a network of hiking trails. An approximately 3-kilometer coastal route encircling the island leads to scenic views of the Inland Sea. An approximately 2-kilometer mountain trail through the island’s interior passes a lookout with panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea’s many islands. Along both trails are reminders of the island’s military past, such as coastal batteries and former poison gas storage facilities. An additional short walking trail to the southern tip of the island accesses a white-sand beach, open for swimming during the summer months.
At night, the island’s remote location allows for stargazing with minimal light pollution, while bioluminescent crustaceans known as “sea fireflies” sometimes glow in the shoreline waters in summer. There is a camping site and a hotel on the island. The hotel has hot spring baths, a restaurant, and rental services for bicycles and fishing equipment.
Spring and summer bring blooms of Japanese mountain cherry blossoms, rhododendrons, and oleanders. The vibrant reds and oranges of Formosan sweetgum foliage color the island in autumn. During the colder months, migratory birds such as the Daurian redstart and the pale thrush visit the island.
