Yamato Museum

The same day we visited Rabbit Island, we also traveled to the Yamato Museum. It took about a half hour by train to get to Kure Station from Hiroshima Station. Near the museum are two other museums: The Kure Museum and the Naval Museum. You can't miss the naval museum, since it has a submarine in front of it.

You can tell the Yamato Museum by the statue of Triton in front of it.

And the anchor and other recovered items from a destroyed battleship (not the Yamato).

One of the only references to Star Blazers/Space Battleship Yamato was this cut-out.

The museum was focused on the area of Kure's history of ship building, the building of the Yamato, World War II, the destruction of the Yamato, and Post-War rebuilding of the city.

In the center of the museum is a 1:10 scale replica of the battleship!

If you have the chance, go and see it.

For more information on the Yamato, please visit this Wikipedia link.

Okunoshima - Rabbit Island

I just got back from a whirlwind visit to Kyoto and Hiroshima. One of the most unique places I visited was Okunoshima, better known as Rabbit Island.

From Hiroshima, we took the Kare Line train to Tadanoumi Station it (took between 1.5-2 hours and about 2,700 Yen per person/round trip). At Tadanoumi, it was a short walk to the ferry (aprox. 300 Yen per person/round trip).

The island was previously used to produce chemical weapons. After World War II, the test rabbits were freed and eventually a resort was built on the island.

The Laboratory

The Hotel

When you arrive on the island, a shuttle bus takes you to the hotel. There you can buy small cups of rabbit food for 100 Yen.

Rabbits are every where. Many will come up to you once they see you have food for them and will eat out of your hand. There were even baby bunnies.

My recommendation is to come late morning and to bring a picnic lunch. There are electric bicycles for rent, and multiple areas to explore on the island. I'm sure the rabbits that are farther away from the hotel will be grateful for the extra food. Heck, even bring some fresh veggies for them. They'd love it.

Only in Japan: Snoopy

Today's "Only in Japan" sighting.

A Snoopy Edition Two car in the parking lot at the Seiyu. The photos aren't the best due to the lighting.