Chiran Peace Museum
Chiran Peace Museum
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
721 reviews
Excellent
475
Very good
193
Average
40
Poor
7
Terrible
6
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MomRocco
Chicago, IL546 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
I had mixed feelings about this museum. On one hand, the kamikaze fighters were given the impression that their suicide missions would impact the war, which was not really an effective strategy and the Japanese generals knew it. So, I have sympathy for their sacrifices, but at the same time, these suicide missions cost the lives of many Americans who were killed as a result of these strikes. The museum was extremely hot and stuffy inside. Tablets explaining the exhibits were available and gave heartbreaking details about those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and families.
Written 24 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YacchanAmarone
Bangkok, Thailand42,294 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
I was told that this place was originally built as a flight training ground, but was transformed into a place from which kamikaze planes took off during the Pacific War.
It was heartbreaking to hear that the members were gathered in specific lodgings a few days before their suicide attacks, spending the night drinking and writing letters to their families, with some even crying in the middle of the night.
I was reminded once again how important it is to protect peace.
It was heartbreaking to hear that the members were gathered in specific lodgings a few days before their suicide attacks, spending the night drinking and writing letters to their families, with some even crying in the middle of the night.
I was reminded once again how important it is to protect peace.
Written 22 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anthony S
Brisbane, Australia1,860 contributions
Mar 2023
This is a must see museum for all visitors. They don’t glorify the war but do recognise the heroic nature of the pilots and provides much information about the program. Rey sad depiction of the young men who lost their lives for their country.
Written 25 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trevor N
Jersey, UK827 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
We were on a tour, so I hadn’t read any reviews beforehand, but as we had limited time in the museum I did not hire an audio guide. I wish I had as very few exhibits have an English translation. The exception were several of the letters that were sent by the 1036 pilots remembered by this museum, with that number of stone lanterns lining the roads in the area in their memory.
I can’t say I left with an understanding of why they agreed to participate in the war in this way, but the culture was very different at the time.
Very thought provoking
I can’t say I left with an understanding of why they agreed to participate in the war in this way, but the culture was very different at the time.
Very thought provoking
Written 4 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fatherhen
singapore255 contributions
Nov 2014 • Family
There were planes, boats, army uniforms, tents. But the highlight of the museum has got to be the last letters written by the kamikaze pilots before their final mission.
I could not read the japanese letters directly, but there were kiosks that allowed visitors to read the letters in english.
It was hard not to be emotional. Those last letters from sons to mothers, husbands to wifes, brothers to siblings, fiance to fiancee, etc, were tear jerkers.
But I left very saddened that the museum merely glorified the sacrifices made by these kamikaze pilots, and totally side stepped the issues of Japanese aggression and war responsibilities. In my opinion, this made the pilots' deaths totally worthless.
I could not read the japanese letters directly, but there were kiosks that allowed visitors to read the letters in english.
It was hard not to be emotional. Those last letters from sons to mothers, husbands to wifes, brothers to siblings, fiance to fiancee, etc, were tear jerkers.
But I left very saddened that the museum merely glorified the sacrifices made by these kamikaze pilots, and totally side stepped the issues of Japanese aggression and war responsibilities. In my opinion, this made the pilots' deaths totally worthless.
Written 5 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HappyZappy
London22 contributions
May 2015 • Solo
I made a special trip to Chiran, in the most beautiful, green and lush part of the country, to visit the museum. I was interested to learn why so many young and vibrant men would willingly choose to die so violently. Sadly, although I had earphones, a major part (80%) of the attraction was inaccessible to me. I could look at the exhibits but as Japanese illiterate I could not read their meaning. I tried to understand but left feeling very disappointed. I think this is true of many of the places I visited. Communication needs of overseas visitors need to be considered, especially with 2020 Olympics and Para-Olymipics just round the corner.
Written 9 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pat M
Johnsburg, IL64 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
I was really looking forward to this museum but was very disappointed to find out that nothing is in any language but Japanese so it was impossible to understand what I was looking at. Walking through the museum, I could feel the resentment from the Japanese tourists. It is obviously a very solemn place designed for only the Japanese. I was very sorry that I went and intruded on their contemplation. I do not recommend this site for anyone but the Japanese.
Written 13 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PeterCosby_Leicester
Leicester, UK255 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
We caught the Chiran local bus from Kagoshima Chuo bus station from bus stop 16 . Cost 940 Y. Take a ticket as you board and you pay when you leave. You get change from a 1000y note. Bus winds up through the mountains with good views of the sea. You know when you arrive as Chiran is lined with cloud pruned fir trees and cement shrines to the pilots. See photos. The bus takes you right to the museum and takes an hour.
The experience is very moving
Top tips
- rent the audio guide . An iPad which allows you to interpret and understand the museum
- go to the Samurai gardens on the way back. Take bus couple of stops away to nakagoromimachi and you get off opposite the Inn where the pilots spent their last night. For 500¥ you can visit 7 Samuarai gardens. Catch bus back from Bukeyashyki bus stop. This can easily be done within the hour gap between buses. See photo of map.
The museum is a memorial to the lives of the pilots. That is the purpose. It is not a classical museum with aim to educate about the whole conflict. Very moving audio interpretation of young boys 17-20 years old who flew the planes. Plenty of other exhibits, planes and other memorabilia. My wife and I found this a brilliant day out. We won’t forget the experience . Go there. Need 2 hours for peace museum, one hour for gardens and bus takes 75 min each way. See photos
The experience is very moving
Top tips
- rent the audio guide . An iPad which allows you to interpret and understand the museum
- go to the Samurai gardens on the way back. Take bus couple of stops away to nakagoromimachi and you get off opposite the Inn where the pilots spent their last night. For 500¥ you can visit 7 Samuarai gardens. Catch bus back from Bukeyashyki bus stop. This can easily be done within the hour gap between buses. See photo of map.
The museum is a memorial to the lives of the pilots. That is the purpose. It is not a classical museum with aim to educate about the whole conflict. Very moving audio interpretation of young boys 17-20 years old who flew the planes. Plenty of other exhibits, planes and other memorabilia. My wife and I found this a brilliant day out. We won’t forget the experience . Go there. Need 2 hours for peace museum, one hour for gardens and bus takes 75 min each way. See photos
Written 6 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ronrdunbogan
dunbogan9 contributions
Dec 2011
A brilliant historical and fair minded view of young men who sacrificed themselves for their country. Not the men crazy on sake as portrayed many times but a great many young men who had not yet lived, but loved their families and their country and were, maybe, not so willing to give their lives as one would believe when you read the many letters, but did so for what they believed to be the good of their country and their emperor.
The figure of 1034 pilots lost does not tally with official allied numbers of some 1900 odd, but I therefore assume the figure of 1034 was for that area alone and did not include the pilots from Formosa , Okinawa etc.
Having had friends in the Australian Navy who were on the receiving end of these attacks it was well worth the trip and visit. Both my wife, myself and grandchildren learnt a great deal from it.
The figure of 1034 pilots lost does not tally with official allied numbers of some 1900 odd, but I therefore assume the figure of 1034 was for that area alone and did not include the pilots from Formosa , Okinawa etc.
Having had friends in the Australian Navy who were on the receiving end of these attacks it was well worth the trip and visit. Both my wife, myself and grandchildren learnt a great deal from it.
Written 6 December 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ken
Hawaii97 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
After reading other positive reviews, our group decided we wanted to visit the museum enough to figure out how to get there on our own as English speaking tourists. Visiting this museum is well worth the effort to get there and by going on our own, we had control over how much time we wanted to spend there. That is a good thing because we spent more time there than we thought. Summarizing previous reviews, we are in total agreement that the words "emotional" and "informative" resonated. We were somewhat ambivalent on how we would react to what can be controversial about this museum. I am not sure at what age a young child should be taken there. The biggest tip to fully appreciate the immense time and effort that went in to collecting this amazing volume of personal items is to rent the iPad audio guide in various languages. for 200 yen, it is essential. If you don't have the time to follow this audio guide or don't want to spend the 200 yen, I'm not sure it's worth visiting.
Maybe what can be most helpful to other non-Japanese speaking travelers is to explain how to get there on your own in the most economical way if you have a JR rail pass. You can always take the bus from Kagoshima Chuo but we decided we wanted to fully utilize our rail pass and enjoy the adventure of getting there so we took the train from Kagoshima Chuo station to Hirokawa station. (Note that Hirokawa station is very small; there are clean bathrooms but like many rural areas, there is no western toilet, running water or any tissue in the bathrooms) The bus stops from the station require a few minutes walk and you can look up details of the bus stops at Hirokawa station (in different locations) depending on whether you are going from Hirokawa to Chiran or back. Time interval between the train and bus is 30 min. To get to the bus stop from the station, cross the tracks (between the station exit and the bathrooms), walk down a short, narrow road to stairs to get you up to the intersection. Turn left at the intersection and there will be the bus stop for Chiran about 20 yards from the stairs.
You have to know (memorize) the kanji for "Hirokawa" and "Chiran Tokko". Stay on the bus till the museum stop, 35 min; 560 yen. There are no English signs in the bus but the bus drivers are very helpful in telling you how many stops before where you want to get off. Buses run every hour in both directions and every bus ride we took was on-time.
There is an English map of Chiran town if you are interested in also visiting the town which you can pick up at the audio guide desk in the museum. This map also has the bus schedule in English.
Maybe what can be most helpful to other non-Japanese speaking travelers is to explain how to get there on your own in the most economical way if you have a JR rail pass. You can always take the bus from Kagoshima Chuo but we decided we wanted to fully utilize our rail pass and enjoy the adventure of getting there so we took the train from Kagoshima Chuo station to Hirokawa station. (Note that Hirokawa station is very small; there are clean bathrooms but like many rural areas, there is no western toilet, running water or any tissue in the bathrooms) The bus stops from the station require a few minutes walk and you can look up details of the bus stops at Hirokawa station (in different locations) depending on whether you are going from Hirokawa to Chiran or back. Time interval between the train and bus is 30 min. To get to the bus stop from the station, cross the tracks (between the station exit and the bathrooms), walk down a short, narrow road to stairs to get you up to the intersection. Turn left at the intersection and there will be the bus stop for Chiran about 20 yards from the stairs.
You have to know (memorize) the kanji for "Hirokawa" and "Chiran Tokko". Stay on the bus till the museum stop, 35 min; 560 yen. There are no English signs in the bus but the bus drivers are very helpful in telling you how many stops before where you want to get off. Buses run every hour in both directions and every bus ride we took was on-time.
There is an English map of Chiran town if you are interested in also visiting the town which you can pick up at the audio guide desk in the museum. This map also has the bus schedule in English.
Written 27 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
how do you get from Kagoshima Chou Station to the Chiran Peace Museum? Is it easily accessible? Are there many buses to get there?
Thanks for the help
Written 10 September 2019
鹿児島中央駅→(バス)→特攻観音入口
Kagoshima Chuo Station → (Bus) → Chiran Peace Museum Entrance
[06:47〜14:02 , 1/h]
or
鹿児島中央駅→(JR)→平川駅→(バス)特攻観音入口
Kagoshima Chuo Station → (JR) → Hirakawa Station → (Bus) Chiran Peace Museum Entrance
Written 17 November 2019
Hello,
how do you get from Kagoshima Chou Station to the Chiran Peace Museum? Is it easily accessible? Are there many buses to get there?
Thanks for the help
Written 10 September 2019
Hi, anything around the museum which is also worth to see? Like parks? Or nature sights? Is it possible to reach the museum by bus or train from Kagoshima? Thanks
Written 6 November 2018
家族に宛てる為、字の練習を幾度も重ねその日に備えた人もいたと聞いた記憶があります。
今の若い世代からすれば、達筆過ぎてその年齢で本当に書いた字なのだろうか、と過剰な演出では無いかと考える方もいらっしゃるのかも知れません。
語り部世代の方々と訪れてくれるこれからの世代の方々の感覚の違いを少し感じました。世代を超えて伝える難しさ、わずかですがお察し致します。
これからも平和を願い伝える場所としてあり続けていただきたいと日本人として望んでいます。
Written 22 August 2015
大事なことと思います。
手紙をじっくり読んでいる時間はありませんでしたが、送り出す親の心境をいかばかりかと思いながら拝見させていただきました。
只々、心が痛みました。
Written 23 August 2015
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