Hiroshima Saijo Sake & Okunoshima Private Full-Day Tour

Okunoshima has an unusual claim to fame: more than 900 wild rabbits roam the island, and you can walk among them during a two-hour stop. This private day trip pairs that close-up animal encounter with sake tasting in Saijo, all from Hiroshima by bus, ferry and train.

I like the mix of experiences: first, the island offers a playful change of pace, and second, the Saijo stop adds a taste of local sake culture. A private English-speaking guide also makes a day with several transport changes easier to manage.

The trade-off is the long transit time. You spend much of the day moving between Hiroshima, the island and the sake town, and meals and drinks are not included. Bring patience for the connections, plus money for your own food and any sake you taste.

At a glance

• More than 900 free-roaming rabbits live on Okunoshima, where you get about two hours on the island.
• Rabbit food is worth planning for. Bring or buy plenty if you want to feed the rabbits, and follow any local guidance about how to do so.
• Saijo brings sake into the picture. The tour includes a visit to Hiroshima’s sake-brewing town and guidance on buying and tasting sake.
• The day starts and ends at Hiroshima Station. Expect a full outing from 8:30 a.m. to around 6 p.m.
• Transport is a mix of bus, ferry and train. A private English-speaking guide accompanies the trip.
• Meals and beverages are extra. Check the selected package price before booking, since the displayed starting price and Standard Plan price differ.

From Hiroshima Station to Rabbit Island

Meet your guide at Hiroshima Station’s North Exit at 8:30 a.m. The route begins with a bus ride of about an hour and a half, followed by a 15-minute ferry crossing to Okunoshima. These transfers are part of the experience, but they also explain why this is a full-day outing rather than a quick island visit.

A guide is useful here. You have bus, ferry and train legs to coordinate, and the schedule can shift with traffic or weather. Instead of working out each connection on your own, you can follow one plan and keep your attention on the places you came to see.

The day is described as a private tour with an English-speaking guide. One guide, Eiji, was singled out for making the experience fun, and another guide was praised for being friendly and understanding of a guest’s mother’s condition. Those details suggest personal attention can be an important part of the day, though a particular guide cannot be guaranteed.

The departure point is specific: Hiroshima Station North Exit, at 2-37 Matsubara-cho, Minami-ku. Allow time to find the meeting spot and arrive ready for an early start. The tour returns to the same station at about 6 p.m.

Two hours among Okunoshima’s rabbits

The island is the main event for many people. Okunoshima is widely known as Rabbit Island, and the tour gives you about two hours there, including free time and lunch. The rabbits roam freely and are accustomed to people, so you can see them at close range as you walk around.

That familiarity is part of the charm, but it also means you should arrive prepared to share the space considerately. A useful tip from the tour experience is to bring plenty of rabbit food, since the animals like to eat. Food is not included in the tour price, and the supplied information does not specify whether rabbit food is available for purchase on the island. Plan ahead rather than counting on finding it there.

Two hours gives you time to spend with the rabbits without making the island the whole day. It is a good fit if you want a memorable, light-hearted stop, especially with children. The tour has no age limit, but infants and children must be included in the passenger count when booking.

There is one practical limit: the island stop is not an extended visit. If you want a slow day outdoors, or hope to explore at length, this schedule may feel brisk. You have a set return ferry and a train ride to catch, so keep an eye on the time rather than letting the rabbit encounters carry you away.

The tour description identifies Okunoshima as home to more than 900 rabbits and says visitors can wander among them. It does not give details about other island sights or activities, so choose this trip for the rabbit encounter itself, not on the assumption that a broader island itinerary is included.

Ferry back, then on to Saijo

After your island time, the schedule sets a 12:45 p.m. ferry back to the mainland, followed by a train journey of about an hour and 35 minutes. The long rail leg is worth factoring into your expectations. This tour links two separate destinations, rather than spending most of the day in one place.

The afternoon stop is in Saijo, a town associated with sake brewing. The experience includes sake tasting, along with advice on how to taste sake and how to buy it. That practical guidance is useful if you are new to Japanese sake or want help choosing a bottle, rather than simply stopping for a quick drink.

Meals and beverages are not included, so budget for any sake you taste or buy. The tour information does not specify how many breweries you visit, how many samples are offered, or whether tasting fees are covered. If those details matter to you, ask the operator before booking. It is safer to treat the tasting as an opportunity that may involve extra spending, not as an unlimited included tasting.

You can also switch to Takehara if you want less transfer time. That option may suit you if the long journey to Saijo is a concern, but the available details do not explain exactly how the alternative changes the schedule or tasting experience. Confirm the route with the operator before choosing it.

A full day, with several moving parts

The listed schedule is roughly 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. After the ferry back, the plan shows a train to the sake stop, about two hours there, then a final train ride of around 35 minutes to Hiroshima Station. Some timing details are presented approximately, and the island stop is described as both two hours and two and a half hours. Treat the schedule as a guide, not a minute-by-minute promise.

This is a lot of movement for one day: bus, ferry, train, island time, another train, and a return leg. The variety is part of the appeal, but it can also make the day feel packed. You will likely appreciate having a guide to keep the connections straightforward, especially if you are not comfortable navigating Japanese public transport.

Weather and traffic can change the schedule. Keep your plans for the evening flexible, since the advertised return is around 6 p.m. rather than a guarantee of an exact arrival time. The operator may cancel in extreme weather or unforeseen circumstances, with the option to reschedule or request a full refund.

Is the price good value?

The tour’s price is listed from $188.09, while the Standard Plan is shown from $208.09. Because those figures do not match, check the price for your date and selected package before you pay. The value depends in part on how much you want a private guide and help handling a complex day of transport.

You are paying for a full-day guided outing from Hiroshima, not just the ferry and island visit. The route combines Okunoshima with Saijo, and the guide adds English-language help and local context for the sake stop. If you tried to arrange both destinations independently, you would need to plan the bus, ferry and rail connections yourself.

The extra costs matter. Meals and beverages are excluded, and sake tasting or purchases may add to your bill. The tour information does not say that rabbit food is included, either. If you are traveling with children or plan to sample several kinds of sake, build those costs into your budget.

For a straightforward visit to Rabbit Island alone, a day trip focused only on Okunoshima may be a better fit. This tour makes more sense if you want both the rabbits and a sake-town stop, and value having a private guide take care of the day’s moving parts.

Who should book this day trip?

I would consider this tour if you have a full day to spare in Hiroshima and want two very different experiences: an informal encounter with free-roaming rabbits and a guided introduction to sake in Saijo. It is especially appealing if you like having an English-speaking guide and do not want to manage multiple transfers by yourself.

Families can take part, and there is no age limit. Since children and infants must be counted when booking, make sure every passenger is included. The comments about a guide being understanding of a guest’s mother’s condition are encouraging, but the tour details do not provide specific accessibility information. If someone in your party has mobility or other support needs, check directly with the operator before booking.

You may want to skip it if you dislike long transit days, want an unhurried island visit, or need meals and tasting costs included in the ticket. The schedule is ambitious, and the island stop is limited. For the right person, though, the contrast is the point: a morning among rabbits, then an afternoon learning about Hiroshima sake.

My call: Book it if you want a guided, full-day combination of Rabbit Island and Saijo, and are comfortable paying separately for food and drinks. Choose the Takehara option only after confirming how it changes the route and time on site.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Hiroshima Station’s North Exit at 8:30 a.m. and returns to Hiroshima Station at about 6 p.m.

How long is the tour?

The listed schedule runs from 8:30 a.m. to around 6 p.m. Traffic and weather may affect the timing.

How much time do I get on Okunoshima?

The schedule gives you about two hours on the island, though the tour details also describe the stop as two and a half hours. Confirm the expected timing with the operator if the exact duration matters.

How many rabbits are on Okunoshima?

The island is described as having more than 900 rabbits that roam freely.

Is rabbit food included?

The tour details do not say that rabbit food is included. Meals and beverages are excluded, and it is recommended that you bring or buy plenty of rabbit food.

Is the sake tasting included in the price?

The experience includes a sake-tasting stop and advice on tasting and buying sake, but meals and beverages are not included. The details do not specify whether tasting fees are covered, so check with the operator.

What transport does the tour use?

The route includes a bus, ferry and train. The listed journey includes a bus ride of about an hour and a half, two ferry rides of about 15 minutes each, and train legs.

Is the tour suitable for children?

There is no age limit. Infants and children must be included in the passenger headcount when booking.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity date, using the destination’s local time. In extreme weather or unforeseen circumstances, the operator may cancel and offer a reschedule or full refund.