 Most viewed - YAMAGUCHI 山口県 |
Taxi fares from Shin-Iwakuni Station799 views
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Iwakuni Station 岩国駅788 views
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Kintai-kyo Bridge, Yamaguchi762 views
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678 views
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670 views
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Close-up of Kintai-kyo Bridge637 views
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Iwakuni Castle604 views
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602 views
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Shin-Iwakuni Station500 views
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Panoramic shot of the Kintaikyo Bridge area.472 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Kintaikyo Bridge from his "Famous Views of the 60 Provinces" series.423 views
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406 views
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380 views
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View from Iwakuni Castle380 viewsKintai-kyo Bridge is visible.
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Suo-Oshima is the third largest island in the Seto Inland Sea and slightly smaller than the Hawaiian island of Lanai. Population is almost 20,000. The island looks like a goldfish and easily accessible by bus/taxi from the mainland via Ohashi Bridge.367 viewsClosest train station is Obatake Station not far from Iwakuni.
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359 views
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Modern museum inside Iwakuni Castle354 viewsIt is a museum.
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In the background, you can see the stone foundation of the main tower where it was originally located. The current castle tower is a reconstruction and slightly south of the original location, making it more visible on the mountain.345 views
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Entrance to Kintai-kyo Bridge. Admission charged.338 views
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Replica of kaiten's pilot cockpit seat.331 views
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Replica of kaiten's pilot cockpit.326 views
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324 views
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Replica of kaiten's pilot cockpit.315 views
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Inside Iwakuni Castle298 viewsPictures of famous bridges in Japan.
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Castle observation deck297 views
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The original castle was built by Lord Kikkawa Hiroie in 1608, after 8 years of construction. However, the castle had to be dismantled in 1615.292 views
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Shin-Iwakuni Station 新岩国駅287 views
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284 views
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Gondola on left, castle on right.273 viewsThe castle is a short hike from the gondola station.
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265 views
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263 views
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Shin-Iwakuni Station261 views
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Approaching Obatake Station. Suo-Oshima island is in sight from the train.259 views
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Bow from Battleship Mutsu.247 views
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Model of the Mutsu.245 views
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Photos of when Battleship Mutsu was salvaged during 1970-1978. About 75% of the ship was recovered.243 views
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242 views
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Large pieces of the Battleship Mutsu were also displayed outside.241 views
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Propeller on the right.237 views
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Binoculars from Battleship Mutsu.232 views
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Sketch of what the Battleship Mutsu looked like on the sea bottom.230 views
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The Kintaikyo Bridge originally led to the castle's front entrance.229 views
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220 views
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219 views
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There is bus transportation from Obatake Station, but they run once an hour or so. If you want to visit the museum, you can take a nori-ai taxi (a small van) at Obatake Station costing 400 yen to the museum. The ride is maybe 10-15 min. or so.218 views
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Replica of bunk beds on the Battleship Mutsu.217 views
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Gun from the Battleship Mutsu.213 views
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Porthole from Battleship Mutsu.203 views
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Personal articles of the crew are included.202 views
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Suo-Oshima island, Yamaguchi manhole201 views
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JR Obatake Station platform.198 views
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198 views
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The museum is a large, two-story, Japanese-style house donated in 1997 by the family of Fukumoto Choemon (1881-1970) who emigrated to California and became successful and rich enough to build this house after returning to Japan. The museum opened in 1999.195 views
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195 views
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Many exhibits inside Mutsu Memorial Museum. When the Battleship Mutsu sank, 1,121 sailors died out of 1,474 crew. They hold a memorial service annually on June 8.194 views
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Crossing Oshima Ohashi Bridge.190 views
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188 views
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Kintai-kyo Bridge and Iwakuni Castle187 views
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Swords and pistols from Battleship Mutsu.186 views
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185 views
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Crossing Oshima Ohashi Bridge.179 views
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Piece of the bow that is displayed. Other gun turrets and parts from the Mutsu are displayed at the Etajima Naval Academy in Hiroshima, Yamato Museum in Kure, and Yasukuni Museum in Tokyo.176 views
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The Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawaii.174 views
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171 views
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167 views
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Monument for Battleship Mutsu.166 views
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Bus schedule. Very few runs.164 views
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Manhole at Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi.161 views
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Suo-Oshima Town Hall was one of the stops of the nori-ai taxi.159 views
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He knew immediately that I was from Hawai'i. That made me feel good actually, to know that I still haven't lost my Hawaiian traits even after living in Japan for many years.159 views
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Crossing Oshima Ohashi Bridge.158 views
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To me, the most significant thing about Suo-Oshima is that about 3,900 island residents emigrated to Hawai'i during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.158 views
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157 views
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The scrapbooks and other delicate materials should be digitized though, something which they haven't done yet.155 views
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Mutsu Memorial Museum first opened in 1972 in a previous location. The museum reopened here in 1994.155 views
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Goldfish manhole at Yanai, Yamaguchi.155 views
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Go right for the front entrance.154 views
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People from Suo-Oshima were among the first boatload of Kan'yaku Imin immigrants to Hawai'i in 1885. They emigrated due to dire economic conditions on the island.154 views
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Goldfish manhole at Yanai, Yamaguchi.154 views
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Ryushintei Garden at Sorinji temple, Ube, Yamaguchi. It is designated as a National Scenic Garden. In fall, there are maple leaves, and in spring, azalea.154 views
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Ryushintei Garden at Sorinji temple, Ube, Yamaguchi. Late Nov. is the best time to see the fall leaves.154 views
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The museum is a spacious Japanese-style house.153 views
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Mutsu Memorial Museum exhibits articles recovered by Battleship Mutsu that mysteriously exploded on June 8, 1943 and sank 3 km off the coast of Suo-Oshima. 陸奥記念館153 views
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I enjoyed my day trip to Suo-Oshima. I want visit again and see their Hawaiian festival in summer and the southern coast. Suo-Oshima tourist Web site153 views
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Manhole in Yanai, Yamaguchi based on the white-walled townscape.153 views
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About Battleship Mutsu152 views
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Goldfish manhole at Yanai, Yamaguchi.152 views
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Kaiten mounted on a sub for launching.152 views
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The museum staff person there could immediately tell that I was from Hawai'i even though I had said little more than "Hello" in fluent Japanese.151 views
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Shunan, Yamaguchi manhole.151 views
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Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi151 views
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Old directory of all Japanese and Japanese-Americans living in Hawai'i. Never knew about this book.150 views
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Manhole at Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi.150 views
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149 views
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Area where Battleship Mutsu sank.149 views
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Kintaikyo Bridge manhole in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi149 views
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Bus stop closest to the Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawaii.148 views
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148 views
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Manhole at Ube, Yamaguchi.148 views
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Kaiten training routes around Ozushima. The pilots trained by driving the kaiten around the upper or lower half of the island or navigating in a straight line for 3 km. The launch site is on the lower left.148 views
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Oar from the Hokule'a signed by Nainoa Thompson when they visited Suo-Oshima in May 2007. That was a big event for the island and the Hawaiian community in Japan. I saw the Hokule'a only when they arrived at Yokohama.147 viewsThe Hokule'a is a traditional canoe where they use only the stars, wave motions, and bird observations for navigation like they did in ancient times. Nainoa was a pioneer in resurrecting and mastering this ancient form of navigation. You can read about their adventures on Suo-Oshima here, from May 20:
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147 views
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146 views
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Sclupture along the main drag of Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi.146 views
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Sclupture along the main drag of Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi146 views
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Dinosaur leg, Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi145 views
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The museum also has two rooms full of Japanese school stuff. One room is full of books, scrapbooks, etc., donated by Ichisaburo Nakamura. He was a member of the Hawaii Kyoiku-kai (education council) which developed and published Japanese school textbooks.144 viewsOne of his scrapbooks had group photos of the Hawaii Kyoiku-kai who met every summer. I could recognize some of the faces. They were mainly Japanese school principals/teachers in Hawai'i. I spent a good amount of time in that room alone. Another room displayed old Japanese school textbooks including those published in Japan. I remember some of them from Japanese school and UH Manoa. Amazing to see all of them in one room.
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Anchor from Battleship Mutsu which was world's most powerful battleship when it was built in 1921. The museum is open 9 am to 4:30 pm. Admission 420 yen.144 views
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About the kaiten.144 views
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View from Oshima Ohashi Bridge.143 views
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The museum is full of panel exhibits, mementos, artifacts, old books, and scrapbooks. It had a lot more than I had expected. 142 views
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Replica of a kaiten at Tokuyama Port. Note that Ozushima is not pronounced "Otsushima." Some might spell it as Ohzushima to indicate a long vowel O.142 views
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Shutter art in Ube, Yamaguchi.142 views
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Painting of Kintaikyo Bridge inside Shin-Iwakuni Station.142 views
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All the books in the museum are in open stacks where you can pull it out and read freely. Great for AJA researchers. 141 views
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Area where Battleship Mutsu sank.141 views
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Shutter art in Ube, Yamaguchi141 views
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Painting of Kintaikyo Bridge and cherry blossoms on the platform of Shin-Iwakuni Station.141 views
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Cross the bridge over the river.140 views
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Ozushima island is a short boat ride from Tokuyama Port (photo) near JR Tokuyama Station. The island is known for the training ground for kaiten manned torpedoes during World War II.140 views
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Tourist map of Ozushima. Go right to see the Kaiten Memorial Museum or go left to see the offshore kaiten training facility.140 views
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Kaiten hatch.140 views
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139 views
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Bus schedule. Buses don't run that often.139 views
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Kaiten pilot seat inside the kaiten.139 views
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From the bus stop, cross this bridge over a river.138 views
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Kaiten manned torpedo launch-training facility. This is where they launched practice runs around the island in manned torpedoes.138 views
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138 views
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Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi138 views
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Museum up ahead.137 views
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View of Suo-Oshima from the 2nd floor of the museum. The island is quite well populated with houses and fishing ports in many locations.137 views
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Scale model of wartime Ozushima island.136 views
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Bus fares.135 views
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The sign points the way.134 views
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Oshima Ohashi Bridge134 views
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134 views
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133 views
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I went to see the kaiten training facility first. The path is along the shore.133 views
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132 views
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I took the bus back to Obatake Station in Yanai. It was about 25 miles.132 views
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Map of Ozushima. We are on the lower left of the island.132 views
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This World War II-era tunnel was used to take kaiten torpedoes to the training facility. It now provides access to the training facility.132 views
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The Kaiten Memorial Museum has a full-scale replica kaiten torpedo on display right outside.132 views
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I saw a few small whirlpools.131 views
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Inside the Kunimori-ke merchant's home.131 views
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Read the caption.131 views
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After seeing the nikkei museum, I tried to catch the taxi van to the bus terminal, but missed it. The museum staff kindly asked his friend to drive me to the bus terminal. Souvenir shop near Ohashi Bridge.130 views
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On the island, I also visited the town of Kuka where there is a Hawaiian restaurant called Aloha Orange (unfortunately closed when I was there).130 views
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Didn't have time to see the Nagisa Aquarium adjacent to the Mutsu Memorial Museum.129 views
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129 views
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Then turn left as the sign says.128 views
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Intersection at the end of Ohashi Bridge.128 views
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Offshore kaiten manned torpedo launch-training facility used to train kaiten pilots still remains.128 views
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Inside the tunnel leading to the kaiten training facility.128 views
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128 views
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127 views
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We couldn't enter the plane, probably because it was off-season.127 views
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Kaiten manned torpedo replica outside the Kaiten Memorial Museum on Ozushima island, Yamaguchi Prefecture. 127 views
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Kuka Folk History Museum 126 views
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126 views
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126 views
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125 views
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Because of this, the island has a sister-city relationship with Kauai and holds an annual Hawaiian festival in the summer.125 views
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The goldfish is the symbol of Yanai, Yamaguchi. Here's on atop a mailbox.125 views
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Tunnel ahead.125 views
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They used a trolley to transport the kaiten from the base to the offshore training facility. The trolley tracks in the tunnel have been filled in.125 views
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The tunnel also has photos of kaiten and their suicide pilots. Very poignant and sad captions for each photo.125 views
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125 views
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Periscope of kaiten.125 views
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A few scupltures along the road to the white-walled street. Yanai, Yamaguchi124 views
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Remains of the kaiten manned torpedo launch-training facility on Ozushima island, Yamaguchi Prefecture. 回天発射訓練基地跡124 views
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124 views
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123 views
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Kaiten were launched by a submarine.123 views
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123 views
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Kaiten engine remnants.123 views
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Kaiten engine remnants.123 views
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Crossing Oshima Ohashi Bridge.122 views
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Bus terminal in central Oshima near Ohashi Bridge. Kind of run-down, former souvenir shop on the 2nd floor.122 views
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Remains of the kaiten crane's foundation.122 views
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122 views
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121 views
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Final testaments by kaiten pilots on suicide missions. They were only 18-20 years old.121 views
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Another place I got off the bus was here at Mutsu Park and beach. This is at the top tip of the gold fish tail if you look at a map of the island.120 views
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Nagisa Park is also a camping ground.120 views
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Yanai, Yamaguchi120 views
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Yanai, Yamaguchi120 views
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Welcome sign on Ozushima.120 views
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A torpedo launching dock. This is too small for a kaiten.120 views
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120 views
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119 views
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An opening part way in the tunnel.119 views
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Kaiten manned torpedo launch-training facility.119 views
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119 views
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119 views
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Yanai, Yamaguchi118 views
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118 views
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118 views
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118 views
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Monument for kaiten pilots who died.118 views
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Bus stop117 views
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Approaching Towa117 views
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117 views
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Private home blending in with the white-walled street in Yanai, Yamaguchi.117 views
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117 views
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About the kaiten training site.117 views
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117 views
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116 views
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Yanai, Yamaguchi116 views
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Yanai, Yamaguchi116 views
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Memorial for kaiten pilots.116 views
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Way to the Kaiten Memorial Museum amid camp cabins.116 views
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This facility was originally built in 1939 for testing Type 93 torpedoes. This is a launching bay for a torpedo, not kaiten which is too big for this.116 views
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Kaiten engine remnants.116 views
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116 views
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This is the Kunimori family home, open to the public. Important Cultural Property. Admission 200 yen. Yanai, Yamaguchi Prefecture.115 views
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Tokuyama Port and boat for Ozushima island. Boat fare is 690 yen (ticket office is opposite of this dock).115 views
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115 views
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Oshima Ohashi Bridge. Across the bridge is Yanai.114 views
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From the bus terminal, I took a bus running along Suo-Oshima's northern coast. Turned out to be quite scenic.114 views
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Nagisa Park had this retired sea plane from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.114 views
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Yanai, Yamaguchi114 views
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A flag on a flag pole on this hill marks the location of the Kaiten Memorial Museum.114 views
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Museum's founder, Katsuro Mori who collected many kaiten-related artifacts for the museum.114 views
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And a few white-sand beaches.113 views
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112 views
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Car ferry back to Tokuyama Port. It takes about 45 min. to Tokuyama Port from Ozushima.112 views
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Kuka also has this history museum called the Kuka Folk History Museum (久賀歴史民俗資料館). Open 9 am to 4:30 pm (enter by 4 pm). Closed Mon. Admission 400 yen.111 views
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High-speed hydrofoil boat for Ozushima island takes 20 min. There's also a car ferry that takes about 45 min. and the boat fare is the same.111 views
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The kaiten pilots trained by piloting the kaiten around the island.111 views
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Inside the Kaiten Memorial Museum.111 views
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111 views
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110 views
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The main road runs along the northern coast for the most part. Just wanted to see what the island looked like.110 views
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110 views
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Hachiman Continuing Education Village has a folk history museum, meeting rooms, hall, cultural facilities, and a small cafe. 八幡生涯学習のむら110 views
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Kuka Folk History Museum is part of the learning village.110 views
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Nishi Ihota bus stop110 views
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110 views
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