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Offered languages
- English
Visited Hiroshima? There's another side of WWII to be uncovered.
Just 30 minutes by Shinkansen from Hiroshima, followed by a ferry ride from Tokuyama, this tour takes you to Ozushima, a peaceful island once home to a training base for the Kaiten, Japan's human torpedoes during World War II.
Walk through former military sites, explore the Kaiten Memorial Museum, and read the farewell letters of young Kaiten pilots before their one-way missions. Because the museum's exhibits are almost entirely in Japanese, this English guided tour opens the door to stories and historical context that can be difficult to access independently.
Led by a unique duo—a local university student who conceived the tour and a former international journalist—the experience offers another lens on the human stories of World War II, complementing a visit to Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Museum.
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. Note: the pin on the map appears on the opposite side of the station. The correct meeting point is at the south exit.
Itinerary
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1
Visit the Kaiten Memorial Museum, which explains how Kaiten human torpedoes were developed and used in the final stage of World War II. The museum features farewell letters from young men to their families, along with military documents, photographs, and other historical materials. With English-language guidance, guests can explore not only the military history, but also the human stories 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-grown ingredients, including curry and craft beer. Over lunch, you’ll learn about local creators who are working to preserve Ozushima’s history while helping shape its future. The tour also includes a traditional kamishibai storytelling performance, connecting 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
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- 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 can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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