Beyond Hiroshima: Untold World War II Story of Kaiten (Weekends)

Duration7h 20m

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Group sizeUp to 15 travelers

Overview

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.

Looking for a weekday option? Please see our shorter “Beyond Hiroshima Lite” experience.

What's included

Insurance
English guided tour
Admission fee to the Kaiten Memorial Museum
Lunch made with local ingredients will be served at Hinata, a charming island cafe operated by Rai no Shima

Ferry ticket from Tokuyama to Ozushima (round-trip). We will purchase it on-site.

What to expect

Kaiten Museum
1h 30m · Admission ticket included

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.
Otsu-shima
3h

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.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

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.

End point

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.

Additional information

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

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

5.0 (5)