Exploring Hikawa Maru | January 2025 Tours from Tokyo

Photo Credit: Pinterest - 林 昭良

Looking for a unique historical adventure just a short trip from Tokyo? Set your sights on Hikawa Maru, a beautifully preserved ocean liner moored in Yokohama’s Yamashita Park. Once a glamorous trans-Pacific passenger ship, today Hikawa Maru offers travelers a fascinating journey through Japan’s maritime past — blending culture, history, and seaside scenery into an unforgettable day tour.

 

From Tokyo to Yokohama — A Perfect Day Trip

Yokohama is just a quick train ride from Tokyo and makes an ideal day escape. Whether you’re coming from Tokyo Station or Shibuya, the journey to Motomachi-Chukagai Station on the Minatomirai Line is smooth and scenic — and from there it’s only a short stroll to Hikawa Maru’s dockside berth.

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor

Step Aboard History

Built in 1930 for the Japan-Seattle line, Hikawa Maru was one of the most modern and luxurious liners of her time. She crossed the Pacific 254 times, carrying tens of thousands of passengers between Japan and North America.

Over her life, the ship played many roles:

  • A luxury ocean liner with elegant interiors

  • A hospital ship during World War II

  • A repatriation vessel after the war

  • Today, a museum ship and cultural treasure that preserves nautical heritage from a bygone era
    Hikawa Maru was officially designated a National Important Cultural Property, making her one of Japan’s most historically significant preserved vessels.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

What You’ll See on Board

Once you step aboard, Hikawa Maru feels like stepping back in time. Highlights include:

  • First-class lounges with Art Deco charm

  • Authentic cabins and dining salons

  • The bridge, engine room, and crew areas

  • Deck spaces with stunning views of Yokohama’s skyline - soaking in stories of global voyagers, wartime resilience, and life on the open sea.

Photo Credit: NYK HIKAWAMARU

Hikawa Maru offers a concise yet meaningful look into Japan’s maritime past, reflecting its role in international travel, wartime history, and shipbuilding heritage. As a preserved museum ship in Yokohama, it adds valuable historical depth to a Yokohama Tour and serves as an educational highlight for travelers joining Tours from Tokyo, illustrating Japan’s global connections throughout the 20th century.

 

Book a Private Yokohama Tour with us and visit Hikawa Maru during the tour!

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