Chiran Peace Museum in Kagoshima

Moving and deeply sad experience. Japan is a land of contrasts, and that includes the severe tragedy of kamikaze pilots during the second world war. The exhibits are intensely personal and define the loss of their lives and context of their sacrifice. Go see this museum. I consider myself a stoic person but I was profoundly affected by what I learned there. While you are in Chiran, look for the remains of the airfield the pilots departed from. Stand there yourself. Feel what they felt, even if just for a moment.

I found this museum upsetting. It glorifies the futile acts of the kamikaze pilots while failing to express any sense of guilt over Japans role in the war. For example there was a video showing attacks on American ships interspersed with pictures and letters from the pilots who died. Many American sailors died in those attacks also, but this fact is not even acknowledged.

I wonder if there is anyone in Japan today, so young, who were willing to protect this country that our predecessors sacrificed themselves to protect our homeland Japan.I think that every single Japanese should come here and know clearly how we were protected and who wished for our happiness.

Beautiful museum within the last Kamikaze base in Japan. We attended a remembrance ceremony. Many letters from the young pilots and so much emotion through the entire place. Far from the city and far from regular tourist spots, it is an excellent experience if you have time to spend a couple of hours there.

Highly meaningful museum , can see. goodwill letter of pilot ’kamikaze’there I

At the end of the Pacific War, in the fierce battlefield of Okinawa, the Japanese troops sent a young man around the age of 20 to sortie.From here, 439 people took off.They rushed into the US military with one-way fuel. However, most of them died a short life on the Pacific Ocean without serving their purpose.What they left in the letter during their lifetime…I want to read a book,I want to go to schoolI want to help my momI want to meet my brother and sister…All of this can be achieved as a matter of course for us today. I would like to thank and silently pray for the peace they have achieved in place of their lives.

Historical place in kagoshima

The absolute best museum in all of Japan. This is a truly humbling place to visit thats priced perfectly for what via given. This museum should be at the top of any tourists list, well before Hiroshima and Nagasaki because of its humbling nature. I’ve visited every museum in all of Japan and this one bests them all. Make sure to bring tissues when you visit!

Love the place and the Musium

One of the most iconic and historical place where you can see the Kamikaze special force members will and some historic displays. No dry eyes ever leave this place.

While there are a few places with English translation, the majority of the museum is in Japanese, so the ability to read Japanese will be very helpful. That being said, I was very surprised at how powerful the museum is. I definitely left with an appreciation and understanding of something I thought I knew a lot about.

Was glad i visited this place.Knew lots of second world war history....kinda sad about those young sucidal pilots.....

A salute to all the soldiers.

Museum that stores the last letters, wills, and photos of the Tokko(meaning “special attack force”, known as “Kamikaze”pilots, who sacrificed their lives, in their wish and belief to defend Japan, their families and honor at the final phase of the WWII, against the American naval forces. You’ll shed a lot of tears and feel pity. They flied from the then-military airbase having existed in Chiran. They took their final flight with a bomb and just a one way load of fuel to attack the then-enemy the US naval fleets. Unfortunately very little explanation is given in English. But the true sorrow and sadness prevail in the hall and moves the hearts of visitors.

Came for the planes, left with tears.

This is a very thoughtful museum which offers a lot of information about the pilots that served in WWII. Hundreds of photos of the pilots, their names, their birth prefectures, they look so young, fierce and patriotic. It’s only 500yen to enter, with a brochure in a few languages. Audio is available but I think you can understand enough from the exhibits. Best to drive here or catch a tour bus, very far from Kagoshima City but worth the trip.

Good quality museum which includes a good amount of English information. Costs 500 yen to enter but no photography is allowed. I suggest you get the audio guide for 200 yen and walk around with that. Then, walk around without it as it is a different experience

I love this museum very much, a great record of WWII

Well worth visiting. Reading the final thoughts of these young men was humbling. Truly gives a different perspective to a brutal war

Good to.learn something about WWII

Powerful. It’s hard to grasp everything as not everything is translated in English. Mostly teenagers that had to go on their mission for the sake of war and country, knowing they will not have enough gas to come back. Their letters to their families and their portraits on the walls are enough to move you.

I thank the young people who tried to protect the country with their lives.I was impressed and shed tears.

Those who dont know the war are places to visit.

It is a very heart moving museum. Private good-bye letters are posted by the Tokko pilots (known as Kamikaze in western countriesbefore they went on their mission. After reading those letters you will see that those pilots indeed died for the country...

Sobering peace museum, dedicated to the memory of Kamikaze pilots. Contains artifacts and translated letters from the pilots to their loved ones.

A beautiful and a very respectful museum the displays were very moving and some amazingly rare aircraft are on display

Airfield young people took off in order to protect and risking their lives

Nicely done for residents of Japan. This museum gives you an insight and strong sense of valor into the Kamikaze pilots during 1941 of which 469 of them were from Chiran. There are no English translations on the items but there is an introductory video available in English upon your entrance.

Absolutely the best Museum I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. We rode motorcycles all the way down from Tokyo on Golden Week 2018. For a ¥500 yen fee this place is more humbling than Hiroshima or Nagasaki even though they may be more popular. Photos are prohibited except in certain areas to respect the deceased. It’s location isn’t easily accessible except by vehicle but plan on spending at least 2 hours to so you can read some of the many translated notes written by actual kamikaze pilots. But anyone who visits will be glad they did guaranteed. Best museum in the world in my opinion and I’ve been all over the world.

Taxi cost 4000 yen from kiire station, too hard to get to if you don’t have your own vehicle. Not really worth the trip as it is primarily tailored towards domestic tourists and is commemorating the efforts of kamikaze pilots. Not really suitable for international tourists, some may find it mildly offensive.

With English guide for foreigners to understand

It is a must go place despite the museum itself is quite far away from Kagoshima! It has the fullest history of Kamizake unit in the world. It will blow you mind!!!!

Very informative museum but respect the dead pilots as there are many of their letters before they died. A somber reflection of war... many uniforms and some planes from WW2..

Very thought provoking. Many interesting artifacts and human stories.

Nice museum partly dedicated to the kamikaze pilots on the former airbase.

I have visited a number of museums and memorials related to the War in the Pacific throughout Asia and this is by far the best. A huge collection and perhaps the only museum in Japan that has decent multi language guide via iPad (a must if you goThe letters home from the pilots that did not go willingly are very moving whilst other stories are all interesting and thought provoking. I have been twice yet I feel I could go a third time to really appreciate it all. Highly recommended.

Well organized museum dedicated to WW2 pilots and Kamikaze pilots.A long bus ride from Kagoshima.

Gives a good insight of the horror of war.

The Japanese War Museum displays all the olo weapons used in World War ll

War is just the way human kind learn more about life.

Built on a former Imperial Japanese Army airfield, this museum is a peace memorial in honor of those army pilots who flew the final sortie to Okinawa. Looking at the rows of photos of the young pilots who died puts a very human perspective to the loss and respect for their bravery. The museum has a few aircraft, models, paintings, a temple and a large number of stone lanterns lining the roads.

Regardless of your perspective on the events being memorialized here, the letters from the Tokko pilots bring home the human cost of war. It is well setup, and has enough in English to make well worth the visit. The planes are a big plus.

Limited English exhibitions but English audio guide is available (for a fee)Smaller than the peace museum in Hiroshima but many interesting exhibitions inside.Bring tissues as some of the pilots letters will make you cry.

You can read some of the soldiers messages here, its built for the base training the kamikaze soldiers. It has the planes that flew that day as well. Sadly its mainly in Japanese

“Brave men”This museum represents the brave men who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, its hard not to get a little emotional here when you see the exhibits, if youre non Japanese then get the English translation, I was lucky as my friend is Japanese and he explained enough to me, everything in this museum is a must see. I must say that the Japanese honour the fallen comrades in a very noble way no matter which peace museum you visit.

This museum is very well made and they provide good english guides (ipad).

Very sad to see how many brave young men died for a lost cause. May they and their victims rest in peace.

Wow this museum is definitely great. It offers an excellent insight to Japans past. Its definitely worth the trip if you can go by car or bus. All of the materials are interesting with translations. You can even rent an audio guide for ¥200.

A part of history that western people rarely see.

The museum is easily accessible by bus from JR Kagoshima Chuo station (the station number was 16.. Although we went there yesterday, I forget numbers easily....). The fee is little bit less than 1000JPY. It takes roughly an hour from Kagoshima. The bus stops basically in front of the museum - just 5 minutes by foot, you cant miss it. Make sure you check the return schedule to Kagoshima!! The bus goes every hour or so and last one is at 18:xx.The entrance fee to the museum can consist of two - you can either pay ticket just for the peace museum, or also buy ticket to nearby Chiran folk museum. The fee was about 600Yen for both.The peace museum prohibits taking pictures or videos. With, phone, camera, doesnt matter if without flash. You have the option to rent an audio guide, as not everything is translated. Its strange, some things are translated and some not. It doesnt seem to make any sense...Now, Ive been to horrible places like Auschwitz, Dachau, Nagasaki and Hiroshima. But this place is more personal, as you can read letters from the pilots to their families. Most of them were in their twenties, few even 18 or even 17 at the time they "fulfilled their duty". Some letters show human insanity, most of them show people who know what they are doing and that they do not want to so. Its extremely moving. Ive read that this place is just propaganda, right wing propaganda and so on. I cannot agree less. There are few places in the museum where you can see videos where they present facts. Facts how everything started and also how impersonal the war was. They dont try to present "bad side" or "good side". Just raw information. Thats all.Although they may were our enemies once, its 2016 now. Pay respect to them, or just dont go here. Your choice