Beyond Hiroshima: An Untold World War II Story of Kaiten

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.

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.