None. That’s the simple answer.

Before coming to Japan originally in 2020, I’d read a little about this amazing sounding place called rabbit island. Alas, I couldn’t make it work then, but my goodness me, I’m so glad to have made it today.

Rabbit Island has an official name, Okunoshima.

Okunoshima was actually used to produce poison gas from 1929 until the end of the second world war. Over 7,000 people worked at the factories yet none knew what they were making. Nowadays of course, I think I would ask why I had to wear protective equipment to do my job but the 1920s was a very different place and the Japanese people are a very different people.

I’m sure you’re wondering how the island is now covered in bunnies! Thankfully it’s nowhere near as sinister as I imagined (animal testing), it was actually a group of school children who released eight rabbits on the island way back in the early 1970s!

The island now has a hotel,camping areas, a lovely beach and cycle rentals! Of course it also has lots of those gorgeous bunnies!

I am so glad I got to visit today and Mum? Well,  I think mum was just glad I decided not to bunny nap any of them!

Later in the afternoon we went to Takehara which has a very interesting historical area. Think old wooden houses, small entrance doors for ‘regular’ folk with doors at least four times the size for the samouri. Japan isn’t all neon lights and modern technology. Sometimes it’s quaint narrow streets, greenery, temples and stunning old houses.

Takehara was also home to Masataka Taketsuru, known as the father of Japanese whisky! He was sent to Scotland to study whisky where he met his wife Rita. They returned to Japan so Masataka could pass on his knowledge learnt in Scotland. There is a pretty nice statue of Masatska & Rita in the town. I thought it was really nicely constructed and put together. That was until our guide told me he was really aware of his height compared to her and always had her sitting in official photos!

Tomorrow it is onwards again, although time to head north east on this second to last stop on this life changing adventure across the world, Osaka beckons, a new place for me as well as mum!

It should be fun!