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Offered languages
- English
Step onto Ozushima, an island shaped by history and reached by a short ferry ride from Tokuyama Station on the Shinkansen, just 30 minutes from Hiroshima.
Explore the legacy of the Kaiten, Japan's human torpedoes of World War II, through a tour designed and led by a local university student deeply engaged in preserving this history. As a site connected to wartime tragedy, the experience reflects what is often described as dark tourism, inviting visitors to engage thoughtfully with difficult history and remembrance.
Over lunch, learn about a renowned spatial design duo who relocated to the island and are dedicated to its revitalization. Enjoy a traditional “kamishibai” storytelling session, led by a local resident, Chieko Matsumoto. This is not only a historical tour, but also a rare opportunity to connect wartime memory with the people shaping the island's future.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
JR Tokuyama Station South Exit (Shinkansen Ticket Gate), 2-28, Miyukidori, Shunan, Yamaguchi, 7450034 Your guide will be holding a sign with the experience name.
Itinerary
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1
Visit the Kaiten Memorial Museum, the central site for understanding Ozushima’s wartime history. The museum displays farewell letters, personal letters to family members, military documents, photographs, and materials that explain how Kaiten human torpedoes were developed and operated in the final stage of World War II. With guidance in English, guests can see not only the military history, but also the human stories and family memories behind it.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
2
Beyond the Kaiten Memorial Museum, this tour explores Ozushima, shown here as Otsu-shima, as a living island where wartime memory and present-day community life stand side by side. Guests visit remaining traces of the former Kaiten training base, including tunnels and coastal facilities, and learn how the island became one of the most important sites connected to Kaiten human torpedoes in the final stage of World War II. The experience also introduces Ozushima today, with lunch at a local island diner featuring island ingredients, including curry and craft beer. When local availability allows, we also try to include opportunities to meet residents or hear stories that connect the island’s wartime past with its quiet life today.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- There will be quite a bit of walking, including an uphill walk to the Kaiten Memorial Museum
Tags
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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