5.26.26 Scramble Diaries: Day 2.1 – Rest, Rain, and Rabbits
After walking nearly eleven miles on our first day in Japan, Ali and I made what felt like the smartest decision of the entire race—we jumped on the Shinkansen and headed all the way to Hiroshima. Instead of chasing checkpoints while completely exhausted, we decided to use our mandatory 16-hour rest period immediately. It was worth 5 points and we could rest our feet.
It meant we couldn't officially start racing again until 11:00 a.m. the next morning.
Was it the fastest strategy? Maybe not.
Was it the one our feet desperately needed? Absolutely. Would we regret it later? Yup.
That morning started slowly, and honestly, it was exactly what we needed. We enjoyed one of the best hotel breakfasts of the trip while overlooking the Hiroshima Peace Pagoda.
When 11:00 finally arrived, it felt like someone had hit the "Resume Race" button.
The skies were gray with a light drizzle, and we were both still carrying the kind of tired that no amount of coffee can completely erase. Rather than walk to the station with our packs, we treated ourselves to a taxi. Sometimes strategy means conserving energy.
Our first destination?
Rabbit Island.
This wasn't just another checkpoint—it was one of the race's mystery clues worth bonus points, making it impossible to resist.
After several train connections, we arrived in the quiet seaside town of Tadanoumi and made the walk toward the ferry terminal. Before boarding, we did what any responsible travelers would do...
...we bought souvenirs.
And bunny food.
One thing we had learned ahead of time was that rabbit food isn't sold on the island itself, so the little shop by the ferry was the place to stock up. Armed with two bags of pellets and far too much excitement, we waited for the short ferry ride across the Seto Inland Sea.
Fifteen minutes later, we stepped onto Ōkunoshima—better known around the world as Rabbit Island.
At first, it seemed surprisingly quiet.
Then we saw them.
One rabbit appeared.
Then another.
It was incredible to just see bunnies everywhere.
They weren't shy in the slightest. They knew exactly why humans visited their island, and they had perfected the art of adorable persuasion. Tiny noses twitched, little paws stood up on our legs, and rabbits of every color and size hopped eagerly around us, hoping to be first in line for lunch. They even stole our rabbit food bags!
It was impossible not to laugh.
The island itself was beautiful, even in the drizzle—peaceful walking paths, forests, ocean views, and an atmosphere that somehow balanced overwhelming cuteness with a surprising amount of history. Long before it became famous for its rabbits, Ōkunoshima had been home to a secret poison gas factory during World War II. Today, remnants of that past still exist among the trees, creating an unexpected contrast between the island's darker history and the hundreds of free-roaming rabbits that now call it home.
For a little while, we forgot we were racing.
We weren't thinking about train schedules, point totals, or strategy.
We were simply two travelers sitting on a tiny island in Japan, feeding rabbits while the rain drifted across the Seto Inland Sea.
Eventually, reality returned and so did the ferry. Can you believe that some of the other racers did not take time to feed the rabbits?
There were still checkpoints to reach, trains to catch, and a race to run.
But Rabbit Island gave us something just as valuable as bonus points.
It gave us one of those wonderfully unexpected travel moments that no amount of planning could ever fully prepare you for.
