 Most viewed - YAMAGUCHI 山口県 |
Taxi fares from Shin-Iwakuni Station812 views
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Iwakuni Station 岩国駅803 views
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Kintai-kyo Bridge, Yamaguchi777 views
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698 views
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689 views
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Close-up of Kintai-kyo Bridge653 views
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622 views
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Iwakuni Castle616 views
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Shin-Iwakuni Station514 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.437 views
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423 views
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399 views
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View from Iwakuni Castle395 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.383 viewsClosest train station is Obatake Station not far from Iwakuni.
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376 views
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Modern museum inside Iwakuni Castle368 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.355 views
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Entrance to Kintai-kyo Bridge. Admission charged.353 views
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Replica of kaiten's pilot cockpit seat.350 views
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Replica of kaiten's pilot cockpit.341 views
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340 views
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Replica of kaiten's pilot cockpit.334 views
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Inside Iwakuni Castle311 viewsPictures of famous bridges in Japan.
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Castle observation deck308 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 1615.304 views
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300 views
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Shin-Iwakuni Station 新岩国駅297 views
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Gondola on left, castle on right.287 viewsThe castle is a short hike from the gondola station.
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286 views
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280 views
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Shin-Iwakuni Station272 views
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Approaching Obatake Station. Suo-Oshima island is in sight from the train.272 views
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Large pieces of the Battleship Mutsu were also displayed outside.257 views
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Bow from Battleship Mutsu.256 views
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255 views
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Model of the Mutsu.255 views
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Photos of when Battleship Mutsu was salvaged during 1970-1978. About 75% of the ship was recovered.253 views
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Propeller on the right.250 views
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Sketch of what the Battleship Mutsu looked like on the sea bottom.246 views
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The Kintaikyo Bridge originally led to the castle's front entrance.245 views
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Binoculars from Battleship Mutsu.243 views
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238 views
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232 views
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Replica of bunk beds on the Battleship Mutsu.231 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.227 views
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Suo-Oshima island, Yamaguchi manhole218 views
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Porthole from Battleship Mutsu.216 views
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216 views
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JR Obatake Station platform.213 views
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Personal articles of the crew are included.213 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 8.210 views
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209 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 1999.207 views
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205 views
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Crossing Oshima Ohashi Bridge.203 views
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203 views
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Kintai-kyo Bridge and Iwakuni Castle200 views
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Swords and pistols from Battleship Mutsu.196 views
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Crossing Oshima Ohashi Bridge.190 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.189 views
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The Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawaii.187 views
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186 views
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184 views
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Monument for Battleship Mutsu.179 views
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Crossing Oshima Ohashi Bridge.174 views
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Manhole at Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi.174 views
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Bus schedule. Very few runs.173 views
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Go right for the front entrance.173 views
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Goldfish manhole at Yanai, Yamaguchi.173 views
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173 views
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Kaiten mounted on a sub for launching.173 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.172 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.171 views
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Goldfish manhole at Yanai, Yamaguchi.171 views
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Kintaikyo Bridge manhole in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi171 views
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About Battleship Mutsu170 views
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170 views
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169 views
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Old directory of all Japanese and Japanese-Americans living in Hawai'i. Never knew about this book.169 views
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Suo-Oshima Town Hall was one of the stops of the nori-ai taxi.168 views
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Manhole in Yanai, Yamaguchi based on the white-walled townscape.168 views
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Manhole at Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi.168 views
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Mutsu Memorial Museum first opened in 1972 in a previous location. The museum reopened here in 1994.167 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 site167 views
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The scrapbooks and other delicate materials should be digitized though, something which they haven't done yet.166 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166 views
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Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi166 views
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The museum is a spacious Japanese-style house.165 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.165 views
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Ryushintei Garden at Sorinji temple, Ube, Yamaguchi. Late Nov. is the best time to see the fall leaves.164 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.164 views
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163 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.163 views
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About the kaiten.163 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.163 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.162 views
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Goldfish manhole at Yanai, Yamaguchi.162 views
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161 views
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Area where Battleship Mutsu sank.161 views
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Shunan, Yamaguchi manhole.161 views
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Painting of Kintaikyo Bridge inside Shin-Iwakuni Station.161 views
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Bus stop closest to the Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawaii.160 views
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Kaiten hatch.159 views
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Manhole at Ube, Yamaguchi.159 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.158 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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Tourist map of Ozushima. Go right to see the Kaiten Memorial Museum or go left to see the offshore kaiten training facility.158 views
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Scale model of wartime Ozushima island.158 views
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View from Oshima Ohashi Bridge.157 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.157 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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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.157 views
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Kaiten manned torpedo launch-training facility. This is where they launched practice runs around the island in manned torpedoes.157 views
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Kaiten pilot seat inside the kaiten.157 views
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157 views
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Dinosaur leg, Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi157 views
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Painting of Kintaikyo Bridge and cherry blossoms on the platform of Shin-Iwakuni Station.157 views
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156 views
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Sclupture along the main drag of Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi.156 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. 155 views
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Area where Battleship Mutsu sank.155 views
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Sclupture along the main drag of Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi154 views
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From the bus stop, cross this bridge over a river.153 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. 153 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.153 views
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The sign points the way.152 views
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Cross the bridge over the river.152 views
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Shutter art in Ube, Yamaguchi152 views
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Museum up ahead.151 views
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The Kaiten Memorial Museum has a full-scale replica kaiten torpedo on display right outside.151 views
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Shutter art in Ube, Yamaguchi.151 views
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150 views
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Bus schedule. Buses don't run that often.150 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.150 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.149 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).148 views
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Map of Ozushima. We are on the lower left of the island.148 views
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I went to see the kaiten training facility first. The path is along the shore.148 views
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Read the caption.148 views
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Kaiten manned torpedo replica outside the Kaiten Memorial Museum on Ozushima island, Yamaguchi Prefecture. 148 views
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Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi147 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.146 views
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146 views
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146 views
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I saw a few small whirlpools.145 views
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145 views
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Inside the tunnel leading to the kaiten training facility.145 views
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145 views
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Oshima Ohashi Bridge144 views
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Bus fares.144 views
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I took the bus back to Obatake Station in Yanai. It was about 25 miles.144 views
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Offshore kaiten manned torpedo launch-training facility used to train kaiten pilots still remains.144 views
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Tunnel ahead.144 views
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The tunnel also has photos of kaiten and their suicide pilots. Very poignant and sad captions for each photo.144 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.143 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143 views
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Periscope of kaiten.143 views
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142 views
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Intersection at the end of Ohashi Bridge.142 views
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Kuka Folk History Museum 142 views
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Inside the Kunimori-ke merchant's home.142 views
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Kaiten engine remnants.142 views
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142 views
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141 views
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Didn't have time to see the Nagisa Aquarium adjacent to the Mutsu Memorial Museum.141 views
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Remains of the kaiten crane's foundation.141 views
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141 views
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Kaiten engine remnants.141 views
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Monument for kaiten pilots who died.141 views
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141 views
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Final testaments by kaiten pilots on suicide missions. They were only 18-20 years old.141 views
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Then turn left as the sign says.140 views
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140 views
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We couldn't enter the plane, probably because it was off-season.139 views
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The goldfish is the symbol of Yanai, Yamaguchi. Here's on atop a mailbox.139 views
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139 views
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139 views
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Kaiten were launched by a submarine.139 views
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139 views
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139 views
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139 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.138 views
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Welcome sign on Ozushima.138 views
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Way to the Kaiten Memorial Museum amid camp cabins.138 views
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A torpedo launching dock. This is too small for a kaiten.138 views
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138 views
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137 views
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An opening part way in the tunnel.137 views
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137 views
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137 views
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137 views
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Kaiten engine remnants.137 views
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136 views
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About the kaiten training site.136 views
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Bus terminal in central Oshima near Ohashi Bridge. Kind of run-down, former souvenir shop on the 2nd floor.135 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.135 views
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Nagisa Park is also a camping ground.135 views
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Memorial for kaiten pilots.135 views
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135 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.135 views
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135 views
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Kaiten manned torpedo launch-training facility.134 views
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134 views
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134 views
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133 views
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133 views
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133 views
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Crossing Oshima Ohashi Bridge.132 views
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A few scupltures along the road to the white-walled street. Yanai, Yamaguchi132 views
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Yanai, Yamaguchi132 views
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Tokuyama Port and boat for Ozushima island. Boat fare is 690 yen (ticket office is opposite of this dock).132 views
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A flag on a flag pole on this hill marks the location of the Kaiten Memorial Museum.132 views
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132 views
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131 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.131 views
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131 views
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131 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.130 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.130 views
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The kaiten pilots trained by piloting the kaiten around the island.130 views
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Inside the Kaiten Memorial Museum.130 views
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130 views
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Museum's founder, Katsuro Mori who collected many kaiten-related artifacts for the museum.130 views
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Kuka Folk History Museum is part of the learning village.129 views
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Yanai, Yamaguchi129 views
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Yanai, Yamaguchi129 views
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129 views
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129 views
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129 views
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Bus stop128 views
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Approaching Towa128 views
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Car ferry back to Tokuyama Port. It takes about 45 min. to Tokuyama Port from Ozushima.128 views
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Private home blending in with the white-walled street in Yanai, Yamaguchi.127 views
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Yanai, Yamaguchi127 views
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Drawing of a kaiten being transported to the test launching site on Ozushima.127 views
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Drawing of a submarine loaded with kaiten sailing away from Ozushima with a seaplane overhead.127 views
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Kintaikyo is a popular destination for school trips. Kids snake over the arch bridges.127 views
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Oshima Ohashi Bridge. Across the bridge is Yanai.126 views
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And a few white-sand beaches.126 views
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This is the Kunimori family home, open to the public. Important Cultural Property. Admission 200 yen. Yanai, Yamaguchi Prefecture.126 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.125 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.125 views
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Nagisa Park had this retired sea plane from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.125 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125 views
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Forest for international exchange.125 views
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124 views
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