Hikawa Maru - an old lady

Posted by Japanalia (Yokohama, Japan) on 25 October 2009 in Transportation and Portfolio.

Built as an ocean liner, in Yokohama, in 1929, Hikawa Maru had her maiden voyage in 1930, sailing from Kobe to Seattle. She was one of the three sister ships named after important Shinto shrines in Japan; her sisters, Heian Maru and Hie Maru, were lost during the war.
During the war, Hikawa Maru was used as a hospital ship. After the war, the U.S used her for troops repatriation until 1947.
In 1954, she was refitted and returned to carry passengers across the Pacific. She went out of service in 1960.
By 1961 Hikawa Maru became a floting youth hostel and a musem. In December 2006 the musem was closed and the future of the ship raised many questions.
Fortunately, the NYK Line began restoration of the ship in August 2007 and she was reopened for the public in April 2008, just on the vessel's 78th birthday.

vfxy Photoblogs | Listed on Photoblogs.org