Hiroshima Saijo Sake & Okunoshima Private Full-Day Tour

Okunoshima is the day’s unlikely star: an island where more than 900 rabbits roam freely and may come close looking for food. Pair that with a visit to Hiroshima’s sake-making country, and you get two very different sides of the region in one long day.

I like the contrast between the rabbit-filled island and Saijo’s sake breweries, and I like having a private English-speaking guide to help make sense of the day’s transport and tasting. The main trade-off is time: expect a full schedule with several bus, ferry, and train legs, plus lunch at your own expense.

At a glance

• Okunoshima has more than 900 free-roaming rabbits, and you get about two hours on the island, with free time for lunch.
• Rabbit food is worth considering: guide Eiji’s practical tip is to bring plenty, since the rabbits like to eat.
• Saijo is a sake-brewing town where you can taste sake and learn how to choose and enjoy it.
• The trip starts and ends at Hiroshima Station North Exit, with an 8:30 a.m. departure and an expected 6 p.m. return.
• Transport is part of the experience: the day combines bus, ferry, and train rides, rather than relying on a single direct transfer.
• The guide is private and English-speaking, a useful feature on a day with multiple connections and two distinct destinations.

From Hiroshima Station to Rabbit Island

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The day begins at 8:30 a.m. at the north exit of Hiroshima Station. From there, the schedule allows about an hour and a half by bus before a 15-minute ferry crossing to Okunoshima. The tour ends back at the same station at about 6 p.m.

That early start makes sense. Okunoshima is not a quick hop from central Hiroshima, and the island visit needs enough time to walk around, see the rabbits, and fit in lunch. Still, you should expect a substantial travel day, not a relaxed outing with long stretches in one place.

A private English-speaking guide accompanies you. On a day with different transport modes, that can be useful beyond translation: you have someone to help keep the route moving and explain the stops. The available information does not specify the vehicle type, group size, or exact pickup procedure beyond meeting at Hiroshima Station North Exit, so confirm any details you need before booking.

Meeting Okunoshima’s Free-Roaming Rabbits

Okunoshima is widely known as Rabbit Island because rabbits roam freely around the island. The tour information puts their number at more than 900. You have roughly two hours there, with free time and lunch included in the schedule.

The appeal is direct and simple: you can walk around among familiar rabbits rather than viewing them behind barriers. The animals are known to approach people for food, which makes the encounter lively, especially for children. It also means you should follow the guide’s instructions and treat the rabbits gently. They are wild animals, not pets waiting to be picked up.

One useful tip comes from guide Eiji: bring plenty of rabbit food. That advice matters because the rabbits are keen eaters, and a small supply may not last long if several gather around you. The supplied details do not say whether food is sold on the island, so do not count on being able to buy it there.

Two hours goes by quickly once you are walking and stopping to watch the animals. If you want a slow, thorough island visit, this schedule may feel tight. If your main aim is to meet the rabbits and enjoy a distinctive stop, it gives you a meaningful stretch without turning the day into an island-only trip.

Lunch Is on Your Own

Lunch is not included. The island portion is scheduled as free time and lunch, so you can use the break as you prefer, but you will need to cover your own meal and beverages.

Plan this part of the day with the timing in mind. You have a ferry departure listed for 12:45 p.m., so lunch needs to fit before then. The available details do not name a restaurant or specify whether food options are available on the island. Bringing something with you may be a sensible choice if you want to avoid spending your limited island time looking for a meal.

The tour also does not include beverages, so budget separately for drinks. That is especially relevant if you plan to taste sake later. You may prefer to keep the island break simple and save appetite for the brewery visit.

From the Island to Saijo’s Sake Breweries

After the ferry back, the schedule lists a train ride of about an hour and 35 minutes, followed by roughly two hours for the sake portion of the day. Saijo is a Hiroshima-area brewery town, and the tour highlights sake tasting as a chance to learn both how to taste the drink and how to buy it.

That context gives the tasting more purpose than simply sampling a few pours. Sake can vary in flavor and style, and a guide who explains what to look for can help you make sense of the choices. If you are considering a bottle to take home, advice on buying is practical, too. The tour description does not name specific breweries or state how many tastings are included, so think of this as a guided introduction rather than a promise of a set lineup.

There is one point to clarify before booking: the tour title and highlights describe Saijo, but the information also says you can switch to Takehara if you want less transfer time. The detailed schedule does not name the exact brewery stop. Ask the operator which town your selected plan visits, and what tasting is included, before you commit. Takehara is presented as an alternative, not as a guaranteed stop on every departure.

A Long Day That Uses Several Kinds of Transport

The route is part of the day’s character. You travel by bus, ferry, and train, with a return train ride listed at about 35 minutes before reaching Hiroshima Station around 6 p.m. It is a practical way to connect the island with the sake area, but it means there are several transitions to manage.

The timetable is approximate. The schedule can change with traffic and weather, and the listed durations do not spell out every transfer or waiting period. Keep your plans for the evening flexible rather than arranging a tight dinner booking or onward connection.

The private guide is valuable here. A guide can help you navigate the day’s sequence and provide English-language context, while a private arrangement may be a better fit if your party needs a more personal pace. One participant specifically praised guide Eiji and recommended bringing plenty of rabbit food; another noted that the guide was friendly and understanding of a mother’s condition. That is encouraging, though it is not a guarantee of specific accessibility arrangements. If someone in your party has mobility or health needs, ask the operator directly what the route requires.

What the Price Gets You

The tour is advertised from $188.09, while the Standard Plan is shown from $208.09. Check the price for your date and package before booking, since the supplied figures differ. The included items are an English-speaking private guide and round-trip transfers from the Hiroshima meeting point.

Meals and beverages are not included. You should also allow for any rabbit food you choose to bring or buy, and for personal purchases during the sake stop. The listed price is easiest to judge as the cost of arranging a full-day route across multiple places, with a guide and transport connections handled for you. It is less compelling if you only want to see rabbits or only want to visit a brewery, since the day’s value comes from combining both.

The tour has a 5.0 rating from two listed ratings, and H.I.S. Co., Ltd. has a 91 percent good review rate across 6,169 total reviews. Those figures offer some reassurance, but the experience-specific sample is small. The most useful details are practical: the guide’s name, Eiji, and the tip to bring plenty of rabbit food.

Who Should Choose This Day Trip

This tour suits you if you want to pair a distinctive wildlife encounter with a sake introduction and are comfortable spending much of the day in transit. It is also a good fit if you value an English-speaking private guide and would rather have the route organized than arrange the bus, ferry, and train connections yourself.

Families may find the rabbits a memorable draw, and the tour has no age limit. Infants and children must still be included in the passenger headcount. If you are traveling with someone who needs a particular pace or assistance, contact the operator first; the schedule has multiple transport changes and no detailed accessibility information is provided.

You may prefer a different plan if you want a slow day on Okunoshima, need included meals, or want a precise list of breweries and tastings before paying. The option to switch to Takehara may cut transfer time, but make sure you know which destination your package actually covers.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if the combination is the point: rabbits on Okunoshima, sake in Hiroshima Prefecture, and a private English-speaking guide to connect the two. Bring rabbit food if you can, plan your own lunch, and leave your evening schedule open for possible timing changes.

Skip it if you want a leisurely island visit or a brewery tour with a fully specified tasting lineup. Before paying, confirm whether your plan visits Saijo or Takehara and check the final price for your date. Those details will help you decide whether this full day matches your priorities.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts and ends at Hiroshima Station North Exit. The listed departure is 8:30 a.m., with a return around 6 p.m.

How long is the tour?

It is a full-day tour, scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to about 6 p.m. Traffic and weather may affect the timetable.

Is the guide English-speaking?

Yes. The tour includes a private English-speaking guide.

How much time do I get on Okunoshima?

The schedule allows about two hours on the island, with free time and lunch. Another itinerary line describes the island stop as two and a half hours, so confirm the exact timing for your date.

Are meals and drinks included?

No. Meals and beverages are not included.

Should I bring rabbit food?

It is a good idea if you want to feed the rabbits. Guide Eiji recommends bringing plenty because the rabbits like to eat. The supplied details do not confirm whether food is available for purchase on the island.

Does the tour visit Saijo or Takehara?

The tour title and highlights refer to Saijo, and Takehara is offered as an alternative for a shorter transfer. Confirm which town is included in your selected plan.

Is there an age limit?

No. The activity has no age limit. Infants and children must be included in the passenger headcount.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes a private English-speaking guide and round-trip transfers to and from the Hiroshima meeting location. Meals and beverages are not included.