That island occupied by rabbits

rabbit island0 welcome
rabbit island6 welcome
rabbit island6 welcome

After landing that island you are immediately surrounded by huge number of rabbits.   There are lots of stories as to why rabbits were brought in Ohkuno island and bred.   Looking at the rabbits lying on their bellies and too relaxing even when people approach, it seems like a peaceful island.   However, ruins where the former army conducted poison gas experiments remain everywhere.  My delusion (story) is that after World War II, the GHQ (occupying American army) released the rabbits to confirm the safety of the poison gas removal process.

rabbit island11 too relaxed
rabbit island11 too relaxed

Don’t forget to procure rabbit food before crossing the island.   Rabbits don’t care about people who don’t have food.

Rent a bicycle when you get to the island.   You can go around in about 30 minutes.   However, if you want to see the beauty of the many islands, you need to leave your bicycle and climb a little.

Detour

Did you know that Chukai, Takehara City has a headquarters and a factory that holds more than 50% of Japan’s jam market share?   It is  Aohata, which is the first company in the world to canned mandarin oranges grown in the Seto Inland Sea.    It is said that the president of Aohata, who watched a regatta race between the UK’s most famous universities, was impressed by the cheering of the blue flag.   English replacement of Aohata is a blue flag.      Visitable factories and photogenic shops are near Chukai JR station.

Jam factory
Jam factory

 

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Takehara was once connected to Kyoto

takehara14

It is said that Takehara began when Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto developed the land based on the law of the Nara period that allowed the land that was cultivated by oneself to be owned by oneself.    This law was the beginning of the manor system, and wealth was concentrated in those who had the financial power to cultivate the land by themselves, and it triggered the collapse of the world centered on the emperor.

Anyway, Takehara has a connection with Kyoto and still retains a townscape called Little Kyoto.    Incidentally, the Kamo River, which has the same name as Kyoto, runs through the center of the city. Also, like Kyoto, sake brewing is thriving, and one of its descendants founded Nikka Whiskey in Japan.

takehara13
takehara13

A feature that is completely different from Kyoto is salt making in salt fields.    At that time, 80% of the salt produced in Japan was produced in Hiroshima Prefecture.

itsukushima shrine1
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