Samurai Houses and Kamikaze Museum
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Port
Kagoshima, Japan
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$210
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
A visit to Chrian Samurai House and the Peace Museum transports you back in time, allowing you to explore the well-preserved samurai residences and gain insight into Japan’s wartime history.
Chiran, just nineteen miles south of Kagoshima, is sometimes called Little Kyoto for all the Samurai residences that have been preserved there. Several houses have been preserved along with several beautiful gardens, all approximately 250 years old. The gates to the residences, moss-covered stone walls, hedges and black tile roofs help recapture the flavor of the Edo Period. Several of the residences are still used by the samurais’ descendants. The visit to this historic location will be from the outside only.
Next you will tour the Chiran Peace Museum, not far from the Chiran Samurai Houses. This museum explores the background of Japan’s kamikaze pilots. They trained nearby before embarking on suicide missions against allied sea vessels. The museum includes photos and the final letters of the young pilots, many of whom were teenagers, and it makes a plea for World Peace.
Please note:
The museum presents information about kamikaze missions from a Japanese perspective. It is important to note that in Japanese culture, kamikaze pilots were (and perhaps still are) considered heroes. While the portrayal of their story may be at odds with American sentiment, it is nonetheless an interesting visit and, in the end, hope for enduring peace is the overriding message. The samurai houses in Chiran are not wheelchair accessible. This tour is not recommended for guests with walking difficulties. Tour order may vary.