 Most viewed - YAMAGUCHI 山口県 |
Taxi fares from Shin-Iwakuni Station814 views
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Iwakuni Station 岩国駅804 views
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Kintai-kyo Bridge, Yamaguchi778 views
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703 views
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689 views
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Close-up of Kintai-kyo Bridge657 views
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624 views
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Iwakuni Castle620 views
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Shin-Iwakuni Station516 views
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Panoramic shot of the Kintaikyo Bridge area.491 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Kintaikyo Bridge from his "Famous Views of the 60 Provinces" series.438 views
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423 views
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400 views
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View from Iwakuni Castle399 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.384 viewsClosest train station is Obatake Station not far from Iwakuni.
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378 views
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Modern museum inside Iwakuni Castle369 viewsIt is a museum.
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Replica of kaiten's pilot cockpit seat.359 views
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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.356 views
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Entrance to Kintai-kyo Bridge. Admission charged.354 views
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Replica of kaiten's pilot cockpit.349 views
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344 views
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Replica of kaiten's pilot cockpit.341 views
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Inside Iwakuni Castle316 viewsPictures of famous bridges in Japan.
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Castle observation deck310 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 1615.305 views
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302 views
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Shin-Iwakuni Station 新岩国駅298 views
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Gondola on left, castle on right.290 viewsThe castle is a short hike from the gondola station.
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289 views
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281 views
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Shin-Iwakuni Station274 views
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Approaching Obatake Station. Suo-Oshima island is in sight from the train.273 views
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Large pieces of the Battleship Mutsu were also displayed outside.261 views
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259 views
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Model of the Mutsu.258 views
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Bow from Battleship Mutsu.258 views
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Photos of when Battleship Mutsu was salvaged during 1970-1978. About 75% of the ship was recovered.255 views
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Propeller on the right.254 views
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The Kintaikyo Bridge originally led to the castle's front entrance.249 views
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Sketch of what the Battleship Mutsu looked like on the sea bottom.247 views
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Binoculars from Battleship Mutsu.245 views
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245 views
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233 views
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Replica of bunk beds on the Battleship Mutsu.232 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.230 views
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Gun from the Battleship Mutsu.229 views
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Suo-Oshima island, Yamaguchi manhole224 views
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223 views
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Porthole from Battleship Mutsu.218 views
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JR Obatake Station platform.215 views
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Personal articles of the crew are included.214 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 8.212 views
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212 views
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211 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 1999.209 views
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Crossing Oshima Ohashi Bridge.208 views
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205 views
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Kintai-kyo Bridge and Iwakuni Castle202 views
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Swords and pistols from Battleship Mutsu.198 views
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Crossing Oshima Ohashi Bridge.192 views
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192 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.191 views
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The Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawaii.188 views
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186 views
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Monument for Battleship Mutsu.181 views
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Manhole at Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi.180 views
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Goldfish manhole at Yanai, Yamaguchi.178 views
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Kaiten mounted on a sub for launching.178 views
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177 views
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Crossing Oshima Ohashi Bridge.175 views
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Bus schedule. Very few runs.175 views
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Go right for the front entrance.175 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.174 views
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About Battleship Mutsu174 views
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Goldfish manhole at Yanai, Yamaguchi.174 views
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174 views
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Kintaikyo Bridge manhole in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi174 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.172 views
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Manhole at Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi.172 views
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171 views
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Old directory of all Japanese and Japanese-Americans living in Hawai'i. Never knew about this book.171 views
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Manhole in Yanai, Yamaguchi based on the white-walled townscape.171 views
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Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi171 views
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Suo-Oshima Town Hall was one of the stops of the nori-ai taxi.170 views
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Mutsu Memorial Museum first opened in 1972 in a previous location. The museum reopened here in 1994.170 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 site169 views
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About the kaiten.169 views
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Goldfish manhole at Yanai, Yamaguchi.168 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.168 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.168 views
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Ryushintei Garden at Sorinji temple, Ube, Yamaguchi. Late Nov. is the best time to see the fall leaves.168 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.168 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.167 views
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The scrapbooks and other delicate materials should be digitized though, something which they haven't done yet.167 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167 views
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The museum is a spacious Japanese-style house.166 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.165 views
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Shunan, Yamaguchi manhole.165 views
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Manhole at Ube, Yamaguchi.165 views
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164 views
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Area where Battleship Mutsu sank.164 views
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164 views
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Kaiten hatch.164 views
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Painting of Kintaikyo Bridge inside Shin-Iwakuni Station.164 views
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163 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.163 views
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Scale model of wartime Ozushima island.163 views
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Painting of Kintaikyo Bridge and cherry blossoms on the platform of Shin-Iwakuni Station.163 views
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Bus stop closest to the Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawaii.162 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.162 views
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Kaiten pilot seat inside the kaiten.162 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.161 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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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.160 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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Kaiten manned torpedo launch-training facility. This is where they launched practice runs around the island in manned torpedoes.160 views
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Sclupture along the main drag of Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi.160 views
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Dinosaur leg, Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi160 views
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View from Oshima Ohashi Bridge.159 views
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Sclupture along the main drag of Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi158 views
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157 views
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Area where Battleship Mutsu sank.157 views
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Shutter art in Ube, Yamaguchi.157 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. 156 views
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The Kaiten Memorial Museum has a full-scale replica kaiten torpedo on display right outside.156 views
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Shutter art in Ube, Yamaguchi156 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. 155 views
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I went to see the kaiten training facility first. The path is along the shore.155 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.155 views
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Read the caption.155 views
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From the bus stop, cross this bridge over a river.154 views
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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.154 views
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The sign points the way.153 views
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Cross the bridge over the river.153 views
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Museum up ahead.153 views
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Bus schedule. Buses don't run that often.153 views
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Kaiten manned torpedo replica outside the Kaiten Memorial Museum on Ozushima island, Yamaguchi Prefecture. 153 views
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152 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.152 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152 views
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152 views
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Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi152 views
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Map of Ozushima. We are on the lower left of the island.151 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.151 views
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The tunnel also has photos of kaiten and their suicide pilots. Very poignant and sad captions for each photo.151 views
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151 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).150 views
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Tunnel ahead.150 views
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Inside the tunnel leading to the kaiten training facility.150 views
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150 views
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149 views
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149 views
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Final testaments by kaiten pilots on suicide missions. They were only 18-20 years old.149 views
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148 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.148 views
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Offshore kaiten manned torpedo launch-training facility used to train kaiten pilots still remains.148 views
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Kaiten engine remnants.148 views
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Oshima Ohashi Bridge147 views
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I saw a few small whirlpools.147 views
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147 views
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Periscope of kaiten.147 views
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Bus fares.146 views
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I took the bus back to Obatake Station in Yanai. It was about 25 miles.146 views
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Remains of the kaiten crane's foundation.146 views
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Kaiten engine remnants.146 views
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Monument for kaiten pilots who died.146 views
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Intersection at the end of Ohashi Bridge.145 views
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An opening part way in the tunnel.145 views
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Kaiten were launched by a submarine.145 views
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145 views
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145 views
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145 views
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Kuka Folk History Museum 144 views
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Inside the Kunimori-ke merchant's home.144 views
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144 views
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A torpedo launching dock. This is too small for a kaiten.144 views
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144 views
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143 views
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143 views
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143 views
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143 views
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Then turn left as the sign says.142 views
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Didn't have time to see the Nagisa Aquarium adjacent to the Mutsu Memorial Museum.142 views
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Welcome sign on Ozushima.142 views
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Way to the Kaiten Memorial Museum amid camp cabins.142 views
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142 views
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142 views
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About the kaiten training site.142 views
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142 views
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Kaiten engine remnants.142 views
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We couldn't enter the plane, probably because it was off-season.141 views
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The goldfish is the symbol of Yanai, Yamaguchi. Here's on atop a mailbox.141 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.140 views
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Memorial for kaiten pilots.140 views
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140 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.140 views
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140 views
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139 views
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139 views
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139 views
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138 views
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Nagisa Park is also a camping ground.138 views
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138 views
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Kaiten manned torpedo launch-training facility.138 views
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138 views
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138 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.137 views
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Tokuyama Port and boat for Ozushima island. Boat fare is 690 yen (ticket office is opposite of this dock).137 views
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137 views
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A Type 93 torpedo was 8.5 meters long and 61 cm wide. The kaiten was 14.75 meters long and 1 meter wide which is too big for this torpedo launching bay.137 views
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Bus terminal in central Oshima near Ohashi Bridge. Kind of run-down, former souvenir shop on the 2nd floor.136 views
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Yanai, Yamaguchi136 views
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A flag on a flag pole on this hill marks the location of the Kaiten Memorial Museum.136 views
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The kaiten pilots trained by piloting the kaiten around the island.136 views
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135 views
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A few scupltures along the road to the white-walled street. Yanai, Yamaguchi135 views
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Inside the Kaiten Memorial Museum.135 views
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135 views
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Crossing Oshima Ohashi Bridge.134 views
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134 views
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Arriving Ozushima island. A facility used to train kaiten pilots still remains and the Kaiten Memorial Museum explains about the kaiten manned torpedo and the suicide kaiten pilots.134 views
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134 views
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134 views
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Museum's founder, Katsuro Mori who collected many kaiten-related artifacts for the museum.134 views
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134 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.133 views
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133 views
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Car ferry back to Tokuyama Port. It takes about 45 min. to Tokuyama Port from Ozushima.133 views
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Forest for international exchange.132 views
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Drawing of a submarine loaded with kaiten sailing away from Ozushima with a seaplane overhead.132 views
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Kuka Folk History Museum is part of the learning village.131 views
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Kaiten manned torpedo launch-training base on Ozushima island, Yamaguchi Prefecture. 回天発射訓練基地跡131 views
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Drawing of a kaiten being transported to the test launching site on Ozushima.131 views
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Yanai, Yamaguchi130 views
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Yanai, Yamaguchi130 views
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They launched the kaiten from this dock out in the ocean. They used a crane to hoist it into the water. The kaiten was 14.75 meters long and 1 meter wide.130 views
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Kaiten Memorial Museum on Ozushima island, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed Wed. Admission 300 yen. Free for kids under age 18. 回天記念館130 views
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130 views
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130 views
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Bus stop129 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.129 views
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Approaching Towa129 views
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Trolley tracks.129 views
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When you come out of the tunnel, the Kaiten manned torpedo launch-training facility is right there.129 views
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