As far as islands that are occupied by wild animals go, Okunoshima, better known as Usaga Jima or Rabbit Island, is probably the cutest. It's also the most appropriate to visit at this time of year, as the Easter Bunny makes the arduous trip to our shores from the magical land of 'What-Do-You-Mean-He-Isn't-Real?' .
The small island, only a fifteen minute ferry ride from the mainland, is occupied by hundreds of wild rabbits that roam the forests and paths. Although wild, the Flopsies Mopsies and Cottontails are remarkably tame and always keen for a pat - it is advised that one doesn't pick them up, however, as the rabbits do not have health insurance and would struggle to pay their bills should an escape attempt lead to injury.
Much like many animal-dominated areas (think: St Mark's Square in Venice for pigeons or Boulder's Beach in Cape Town for penguins) humans are certainly the secondary concern on Okunoshima. However, unlike St Mark's, visitors are actively encouraged to hand-feed the rabbits from food available to purchase on the island. If you're planning a trip, buy some carrots and cabbage on the mainland. Your new furry friends will love you for it.
The origin of the rabbits on the island is as unclear as its harrowing history is apparent. Wiped from unclassified maps in the area during the 1930s and 1940s, Okunoshima was used as a base to test chemical weapons of war; the juxtaposition of fluffy rabbits and the Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum cannot escape the notice of even the most avid lotus-eating traveller among our number.
For the die-hard coney-lover who would not be able to bear anything less than a sleepover, Rabbit Island offers a remarkably well-equipped hotel (just the one, mind you, it's a very small island) with a pool, tennis court and golf course.
Water pans are abundant around the hotels to hydrate the rabbits on the lower parts of the island who don't have access to natural springs - guests are encouraged to fill up these water pans whenever possible to contribute to the care of the enclave's adorable residents.
For more information or to plan a trip to Setouchi and Rabbit Island, visit www.setouchitrip.com.
Bucket List inspiration: A long weekend in Morocco
Bucket List inspiration: The golden beaches, towering jungle and incredible wildlife of Sri Lanka
Bucket List inspiration: A remote, secluded private island just for you and 47 of your closest friends
Adare Manor: The golf course that dreams of being the Irish Augusta
Augusta National Golf Club is one of the sporting world's greatest treasures. It's also the model on which Adare Manor,
-
'Monolithic, multi-layered and quite, quite magnificent. This was love at first bite': Tom Parker Bowles on his lifelong love affair with lasagneAn upwardly mobile spaghetti Bolognese, lasagne al forno, with oozing béchamel and layered meaty magnificence, is a bona fide comfort classic, declares Tom Parker Bowles.
-
Country houses, cream teas and Baywatch: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 24, 2025Thursday's Quiz of the Day asks exactly how popular Baywatch became.
-
Bucket List dreams for life after lockdown, from the dazzling plains of Antarctica to a treehouse in BotswanaCountry Life's Travel Editor Rosie Paterson speaks to adventurers, artists and those who've spent their whole careers obsessing over seeing the world about the places they want to visit when travel restrictions lift and the world gets back to normal.
-
Armchair travel: Tour Yosemite, go to the zoo and visit museums, all from your homeIt may not be possible to leave your house or cross borders, but you can still plan what you'll do when business-as-usual starts again.
-
Bucket List inspiration: Nine incredible, immersive spas from all around the worldNo matter who you are or where you're from, everyone loves a spa trip.
-
A fresh perspective on Ibiza: An island of quiet charm, a thin split from the party capital of the worldMark Hedges explores Isla Sa Ferradura, a Garden of Eden just a short distance from one of the world's most infamous destinations.
-
Country Life's best travel stories of 2019: Skiing in Gstaad, a steam train in Dartmouth and 72 hours in New YorkWe take a look back on our travel highlights of the last year, from alpine retreats to city escapes.
-
Suvretta House, St Moritz: The birthplace of winter sports, with pre-warmed boots and excellent pistesDamien Gabet visits a city with a chequered history.
-
Gstaad, Switzerland: ‘The last paradise in a crazy world’, a fairytale still untouched with pistes aplentyRosie Paterson travels to Gstaad–once described by Julie Andrews as ‘the last paradise in a crazy world’– to find out what lies behind the jet-set façade.
-
Port Fairy, Australia: The former whaling town with more bite than its name suggests, on Australia’s Great Ocean RoadCruising down Australia’s Great Ocean Road, Matthew Dennison discovers a former whaling town well worth visiting.
