You can reach the museum by bus from Kagoshima (80 min, 1070 yen from Kagoshima Chuo Station, every 1-2 hours). The bus also stops at Hirakawa Station (30 min to Chiran). Get off at the final stop, Tokko-kannon-iriguchi (特攻観音入口). The bus also stops near the Chiran Samurai District, about 2 km north.
5
Chiran Tokko Museum
1 of 1 in attractions in Satsuma Peninsula
Chiran Tokko Museum (知覧特攻平和会館, Chiran Tokkō Heiwa Kaikan) offers a deep, emotional look at the lives of the kamikaze pilots from World War II. Located on the site of a former airbase, the museum preserves letters, photos, and personal items of these young pilots, focusing on their stories rather than glorifying the attacks. Visitors can learn about the pilots’ final missions, their hopes, and sacrifices. The museum also displays technical information, including recovered planes and models of the special attack units, or Tokko-tai.
Adjacent to the Tokko Museum is the Chiran Museum, which showcases local history and culture. For an additional 100 yen, visitors can explore this museum with a combination ticket, offering further insight into the region’s past.
Hours and Fees
Chiran Tokko Museum
- Opening hours
-
9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
- Closed
-
No closing days
- Entrance fee
-
500 yen (Tokkyo Museum only)
600 yen (in combination with Chiran Museum)
Chiran Museum
- Opening hours
-
9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
- Closed
-
Wednesdays (except national holidays)
July 1-3
December 29-31
- Entrance price
-
300 yen (Chiran Museum only)
600 yen (in combination with Tokko Museum)
Getting there
Resources
English
Chiran Tokko Museum
Official website
Japanese
Chiran Tokko Museum
Official website
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