Okunoshima, known as Rabbit Island, was once called the “island that was taken off the map,” and was home to the Japanese army’s poison gas manufacturing sites after World War I.

The effects of this period are still felt on Okunoshima, and here you can learn about its unfortunate history.

In this article, we’ll cover some of the negative historical artifacts residing on Okunoshima.

Poison Gas Museum

Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum hosts a collection of documents, shells, and other artifacts related to the poison gas manufactured here to be used for war.

Here you will learn about the horrors of war, and the value of life. This Poison Gas Museum also has an exhibition of porcelain poison gas manufacturing equipment, which anyone is allowed to see.

Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum
Address	5491 Tadanoumicho,Takehara (map)
Closest Station	Approx.10min walk from Okunoshima Pier
Open	9:00am-4:30pm (entry permitted until 4:00pm）
Closed	12/29-1/3
Website	Official Website
Entrance Fee	Adult: ￥100 Child: ￥50

The Damaged Poison Gas Storehouse

There are two poison gas storehouses at Okunoshima. Shown in the photo is the Sangenya poison gas storehouse, near Kyukamura. This building stored a highly potent erosive poison that would cause the skin to fester. To prevent corrosion, the poison was stored in tanks lined with lead.

The Military Air Raid Shelter

This air raid shelter for military leaders is half underground, made of concrete, and stands 2m tall, 2m wide, and 5m long. The leaders’ shelter is strongly built, but the shelter for regular workers was a simple 1m hole covered by plants.

 The Searchlight Control Stations

Okunoshima has two former searchlight control stations. The one in the photo is the southern searchlight control station. Searchlights were placed here back in the Meiji era, when it was the Geiyo Fortress, and at night it was used to search for enemy ships. The light was able to reach targets up to 6km away.

The Laboratory

When poison gas was being produced on the island, this building was used as a laboratory and chemical storehouse.

Artillery Battery Remains

There are four old artillery batteries on Okunoshima. The central battery is at the highest elevation, and surrounding it are batteries in the north, east, and south, which were placed there in preparation for the Russo-Japanese war.

Nothing but rubble lies inside the barricades, but you might be able to see the wild rabbits that have made themselves at home there.

The Memorial of Okunoshima Poison Gas Victims

At Okunoshima, there is the Memorial of Okunoshima Poison Gas Victims, erected in honor of those whose health was damaged by working on manufacturing poison gas.

There are 1000 paper cranes next to the memorial stone, to give comfort to those who suffered and died in accidents, or due to the adverse health effects.

The Awe-Inspiring Okunoshima Power Plant Ruins

Even among all the historical landmarks in Okunoshima, the Okunoshima Power Plant ruins stand out most of all. There used to be oil-powered diesel generators there, which supplied electricity to the island. Entry is prohibited, but if you take a walk around it, you can see inside the building.

Learn The Sad History Of War To Understand The Value Of Peace

When Okunoshima was used to produce poison gas, it was never put on any maps to maintain secrecy, and many secrets hidden after the war have only just recently come to light.

By looking at the Poison Gas Museum and the historic sites here, maybe you’ll be able to truly understand the value of peace, and the importance of life.