Nippon Yusen (Japan Mail Shipping Line) Hikawa Maru

A gorgeous luxury liner open to the public on which the legendary Charlie Chaplin sailed!

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Following its magnificent completion as a luxury liner, it was used as a hospital ship during the war and then after the war, it returned to its route and went through some turbulent times. It boasts a permanent popularity as a symbol of Yamashita Park.
Business Hours
Tuesday ( 10:0 AM ~ 5:0 PM )
Wednesday ( 10:0 AM ~ 5:0 PM )
business_hours.thursday ( 10:0 AM ~ 5:0 PM )
Friday ( 10:0 AM ~ 5:0 PM )
Saturday ( 10:0 AM ~ 5:0 PM )
Sunday ( 10:0 AM ~ 5:0 PM )
Price
Adult: 300 JPY
Children: 100 JPY
Address
Hikawa Maru, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa
Phone
(045) 641-4362

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About

A luxury liner, a hospital ship…the Hikawa Maru has gone through a fascinating destiny

Completed in 1930, the Hikawa Maru carved out a route as a ship service for cargo and passengers through the northern Pacific with the United States and Canada. It was a luxury liner which accommodated 289 passengers and was equipped with cutting-edge engines. The ship was named after Hikawa Shrine in Saitama Prefecture. In its wheelhouse, there was a household Shinto shrine, and it is said that the captain would always make the effort to pray for a safe voyage at the shrine whenever the ship entered Yokohama. The Hikawa Maru made its grand debut as a luxury liner on the Seattle route and was forced into service as a hospital ship in World War II. It was the only ship among the large ships in the Nippon Yusen fleet to not sink, and after the war, it returned to service on the Seattle run. After 30 years of service in 1960, it was retired from the front line. Thereafter, it was designated as a Tangible Cultural Property by the city of Yokohama and was opened to the public in 2008.

Charlie Chaplin’s cabin

The ship’s interior, refurbished to its original appearance, has facilities such as a first-class dining room, a first class smoking room and first-class special cabins which can be toured, and there is also an exhibition corner which introduces the history of the Hikawa Maru and from the Promenade Deck, the scene of Yokohama Harbor can be viewed. Even when taking into consideration the era of luxurious voyages through the Pacific Ocean, the Hikawa Maru was a vessel that took care of its passengers. The first-class special cabins inside not only had sleeping rooms but also had parlors and bathrooms, and in 1932, Charles Chaplin used one of them to head home from Japan. The retro atmosphere still remains of that time when every luxury imaginable was provided.

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