What happens to rabbits on the island during typhoon?

5/31/26
I heard that a rather large typhoon is expected to hit around June 2nd or 3rd.

Okunoshima often lies directly in the path of typhoons; whenever one strikes, it typically brings torrential rains and causes tree branches to snap and fall.

Next week, the Kyukamura Hotel will be closed for a five-day maintenance period. With no guests staying on the island, these days will definitely be a big challenge for the rabbits.

While the heavy rainfall ensures there is no need to worry about water supplies, the question remains: will there be enough food to go around?

Since the rain causes the grass and vegetation on the ground to grow rapidly, perhaps that will serve as a supplemental food source?

When the weather turns bad, the number of visitors to the island drops drastically. Furthermore, since the Kyukamura’s own passenger boats do not operate during this period, the island is accessible only via the public ferry service if not interrupted by weather.

When the rain and wind become severe, the rabbits seek shelter wherever they can find it—often making them incredibly difficult to spot.

The attached photos were taken during past typhoon seasons. At those times, the island was virtually deserted; although there were a few hotel guests staying over, very few people ventured outside.

For these rabbits—who live without any direct human supervision—this environment is far from ideal.

This is the harsh reality of Okunoshima.