Chiran Samurai Houses & Kamikaze Museum

Get a firsthand look at Japan's history on this half-day tour. Your first stop is Chiran, the stronghold of the Shimazu samurai during Japan's Feudal Era. Upon arriving, you'll stroll down a lane lined by residences of warriors who lived in the Edo period (17th through mid-19th centuries) and their small gardens. Chiran was also a kamikaze base during World War II. Today, a peace museum dedicated to the pilots, the Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots, marks the site. You'll visit the museum and witness its comprehensive collection of recovered aircraft, models, mementoes and photographs of the Special Attack Corps. You'll be awestruck as you view letters to loved ones, final letters before departure, pictures during breaks in training, and photos of every single pilot. Your tour concludes with a relaxing drive back to the pier.