Hikawa Maru Photography Guide: Yokohama’s Historic Liner

The Hikawa Maru is a 1930s Art Deco ocean liner turned museum ship permanently moored in Yokohama. For photographers, it offers preserved first-class salons, vintage navigation equipment, and panoramic harbor views. It is a premier location for capturing maritime history and architectural details from Japan’s golden age of travel.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here.

Historic Hikawa Maru ocean liner docked in Yokohama, framed by a bed of red roses under a clear blue sky. — *Hikawa Maru sits behind Yamashita Park’s rose garden.*

Step aboard and imagine walking the same decks as Charlie Chaplin. This ship has a history that spans from luxury trans-Pacific voyages to service as a World War II hospital ship. For photographers, this floating museum is a treasure trove of stories and images waiting to be captured.

Symmetrical Art Deco staircase with black wrought iron railings, red lamps, and a central mirrored landing.

Onboard photography highlights

What to photograph on the Hikawa Maru?

Capture the exquisite Art Deco details and imagine the luxurious trans-Pacific dinners held here.
Step on the captain’s bridge and photograph the vintage navigation equipment with sweeping views of the harbor.
First-class dining saloon
Passenger cabins
Frame the modern Minato Mirai skyscrapers using the historic railings of the ship for a perfect “then and now” shot.

The Hikawa Maru docked in Yokohama harbor, its black hull contrasted against the city skyline under a clear blue sky. — *Minatomirai’s Yokohama Landmark Tower looks down on Hikawa Maru.*

Photography challenges on the ship

Many areas on the ship lack light for good photography, so take the fastest lenses and wide angles if you have them.

No tripods: find other ways to stabilize your camera. One idea is to brace yourself against a wall. You might even use a flat space for a steady shot (and use your timer).
Passenger cabins are locked, but some have glass doors to see inside. Reflections will be a problem, so play with the angles to minimize them. If you have access to Photoshop, you can eliminate them with a few button clicks.

Vintage wood-paneled room with parrot stained glass windows, a set tea table, and classic upholstered chairs. — *First-class elegance of the 1930s*

Nearby photography spots

This list is just the beginning. The Yamashita Park area is packed with photographic opportunities, all within easy walking distance.

Berrick Hall: a registered historical Yokohama building. The architect J. H. Morgan designed it in 1930 to be the residence for a British trading merchant, B.R. Berrick.
Chinatown (great places to eat and some beautiful temples)
Harbour View Park Observatory: a lookout with benches on top of a bluff
Marine Tower
Nippon Maru: a sail training ship permanently moored next to Yokohama Landmark Tower.
Yokohama Bay Bridge
Yokohama Foreign Cemetery
Yokohama International Passenger Terminal
Yokohama Landmark Tower (with a fantastic observatory on top)
Yokohama Port

Wide view from the deck of the Hikawa Maru, showing its striped smokestack, yellow masts, and the Yokohama skyline.

Visitor information

Where is Hikawa Maru?
- Address: Yamashita Park, Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
- Here it is on a Google Map:

Closest train station: Motomachi-Chukagai on the Minatomirai Line. Use Exit 4 (It’s about one hour from Tokyo Station).
Entry costs: ¥300
Opening hours:
- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with last admission at 4:30 p.m)
- The ship is closed every Monday. It is open on public holidays but closes the following day.
Luggage: Large bags mightn’t be allowed on board, but there are lockers you can use.
Accessibility: The ship has many stairs, so it is not fully accessible for those with mobility issues.
For the most up-to-date information, consult the official Hikawa Maru website.

Ship's sleeping quarters with bunk beds, floral curtains, wooden ladders, and a porthole at the end of a narrow aisle. — *Third-class cabins were quite cramped long ago.*

A brief history of the Hikawa Maru

Yokohama Dock Co. built the ship in 1930 and gained a reputation as a luxury liner. Until WW2, she ran routes between Yokohama, Vancouver, and Seattle. In 1940–41, before Japan entered the Second World War, many Jewish refugees fled Nazi persecution to Canada and the United States via Japan, and they sailed on Hikawa Maru.

Formal wood-paneled dining room with a long set table, leather chairs, red-patterned carpet, and a large mirror. — *First-class dining at its best*

Charlie Chaplin was one of her famous passengers. His visit coincided with the May 15th Incident, where ultranationalist naval officers assassinated Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi. The plotters believed that killing a high-profile visitor like Chaplin would draw the United States into a war with Japan, but he avoided that as he was watching a sumo match.

She had two sister ships named Hei Maru and Heian Maru that were lost in the war. All were named after famous Shinto shrines. Hikawa Maru survived, but mines damaged her three times during her time as a hospital ship.

Art Deco ship lounge with red armchairs, wood paneling, a large forest mural, and a black marble fireplace. — *Charlie Chaplin probably associated with other passengers in this first-class social hall.*

She resumed cargo-passenger ship services on the Seattle route in 1953. The ship retired in 1960 after 254 voyages across the Pacific Ocean. It carried more than 25,000 passengers. Hikawa Maru has been at Yokohama’s Yamashita Park since 1961 and became an Important Cultural Property in 2016.

The stern of the Hikawa Maru docked in Yokohama, featuring its black hull and anchor chains under a clear blue sky. — *Hikawa Maru’s stern*

Is the Hikawa Maru worth it?

The Hikawa Maru is more than just a beautiful subject; it’s a witness to history. From its elegant Art Deco salons to its resilient hull that survived a world war, every corner of this ship tells a story. Whether you are a history buff, a travel photographer, or simply looking for a unique Yokohama experience, the Hikawa Maru offers a captivating journey into Japan’s maritime past. It stands today not just as a ship, but as an iconic piece of Japanese history, waiting for you to explore and photograph. To see another ship with a military past read my [Memorial Battleship Mikasa Photo Guide].