The Kaiyomaru Museum centers around a full-scale reconstruction of the Kaiyomaru, a Western-style warship that played a role during the final years of the Edo period. Even before stepping inside, the ship itself immediately captures your attention—its tall masts and detailed structure standing proudly against the coastal backdrop. We visited as part of our Hokkaido 179 travel goal, and it turned out to be one of the most engaging historical stops in Esashi. Walking onto the ship feels like stepping back in time. The exhibits inside are well-curated, showcasing artifacts, models, and detailed explanations about the ship’s history, naval technology, and its connection to the turbulent transition from the shogunate to modern Japan. What makes the experience particularly immersive is the ability to explore different parts of the vessel—from the deck to the interior cabins—giving you a real sense of life at sea during that era. The attention to detail in the reconstruction is impressive and helps bring history to life in a tangible way. Outside, the surrounding harbor area adds to the charm. With the sea, nearby attractions, and open space, it’s easy to spend time simply enjoying the view and reflecting on the region’s deep maritime heritage.

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A fascinating historical window on an important moment in Hokkaido's history. The 3-masted state of the art, Dutch built sailing/steam powered warship has been recreated as a building closely modelled on the original ship. See how the crew lived and the mighty gins roared. Worth an hour or two.

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Possibly skip the ship and just walk round the island. Still interesting on board.

Very serene and Nostalgic

2025. 11 . 24 first arrival by sea—no, first visit to the memorial museum Closed: April–October, open every day November–end of March, Mondays・the day after public holidays (However, if a public holiday falls on Monday, closed the following day and the day after that) December 31–January 5, closed for the year-end and New Year period, apparently I was overwhelmed by the size of 開陽丸 and the distance it traveled .ᐟ‪ The cannons also give you a feel for that era. It was a wonderful memorial museum. In the area behind the memorial museum and 開陽丸, there was also a ship made by stacking stones. Please do take a look~ 🚢🙆🏻‍♀️ According to wiki, the presence of 開陽丸 in 江差 harbor was confirmed in Showa 49, more than 100 years after it sank. Following that, it seems Japan's first full-scale investigation of an underwater archaeological site began the next year, Showa 50. The recovered artifacts ranged from ship equipment and weapons to everyday items, apparently totaling around ３万 pieces 😳

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