Japan’s largest sailing ship “Nippon Maru” open to the public! 50th anniversary event of the opening of Himekawa Port from 4(Fri.) (Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture)

2023.8.1

姫川港Niigata PrefectureItoigawa City

Nippon Maru comes to Himegawa Port in Itoigawa City for the first time in 10 years!

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of Himegawa Port in Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture, one of the largest sailing ships in Japan, the Nippon Maru, will enter Himegawa Port on Friday, August 4, for the first time in 10 years.

Himekawa Port is a regional port located at the southernmost tip of Niigata Prefecture and plays a major role as an economic contact point connecting Niigata, Toyama, and Nagano. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of Himekawa Port, one of the largest sailing ships in Japan, the Nippon Maru, will enter the port. In conjunction with this event, events will be held for three days starting on Friday, August 4.

 

On Saturday the 5th, three vessels will be open to the public!

The event will feature the training sailboat Nippon Maru of the Organization for Maritime Education and Training, the minesweeper Hirashima of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the patrol boat Tatsugiri of the Joetsu Coast Guard Station, and the interior of the three boats will be open to the public.

Sailing ship “Nippon Maru” open to the public

The Nippon Maru is a beautiful ship known as the “Swan of the Pacific.” With a gross weight of 2,570 tons, a length of approximately 110 meters, and a width of 86 meters, it is one of the largest sailing ships in Japan. This will be the first time in 10 years that the Nippon Maru will call at the Port of Himekawa since the 40th anniversary event of the port’s opening.

The public is invited to board the ship and tour the deck on August 5 (Sat.) and 6 (Sun.) only. Numbered tickets distributed at the reception desk on the day of the tour are required. Tickets will be distributed until 30 minutes before the end of the open hours. During the mooring period, the ship will be illuminated until 10:00 p.m.

■Date: August 5 (Sat.) 13:00-16:00 / August 6 (Sun.) 9:00-11:30, 13:00-16:00
Numbered tickets will be distributed at the reception desk on the day of the exhibition.
■Venue: Himekawa Port, West Pier No. 3 Quay (in Teramachi Himekawa Port, Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture)
Lights up until 22:00 during the anchoring period from August 4 (Fri.) to 8 (Tue.)

In addition, on the 4th (Fri.) and 5th (Sat.), the interior of the wooden minesweeper HIRASIMA, which belongs to the Sasebo District Unit of the Maritime Self-Defense Force and is used to search for and destroy mines, will be open to the public, and on the 5th (Sat.), the interior of the patrol boat TATSUGIRI of the Joetsu Coast Guard Station will be open to the public. This will be a rare opportunity to see three boats at the same time.

Minesweeper “HIRASIMA” open to the public

Source: Maritime Self-Defense Force website

■Date: Friday, August 4, 13:30-16:00; Saturday, August 5, 9:00-11:30, 13:30-16:00
*Reception for boarding is until 30 minutes before the closing time of each exhibition.
■Venue: Himekawa Port, West Pier 1 Quay (in Teramachi Himekawa Port area, Itoigawa City)

Patrol boat “Tatsugiri” open to the public

■Date: Saturday, August 5, 10:00-12:00, 13:00-15:00
■Venue: Himekawa Port, West Pier 1 Quay (in Teramachi Himekawa Port area, Itoigawa City)

 

A marché will also be held at the West Pier of Himekawa Port!

The “Himekawa Port Marche” will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on both Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th at the West Pier of Himekawa Port, which is normally off-limits to the public. This is the first time that a marché will be held at Himekawa Port.

The Marche will feature about 10 food and beverage booths, kitchen cars, and workshops. In addition to selling food such as curry rice, shaved ice, beverages, beach yaki, black yakisoba, etc., there will also be workshops such as sea glass making, police vehicle display, and work experience.

Free shuttle bus service will be available between Itoigawa Station and the event site on Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th. Please take advantage of this service as well.

Free shuttle bus service (Itoigawa Station Alps Exit – Himegawa Port venue)
■From Itoigawa Station Alps Exit (destination)
(1) 9:00 (2) 10:00 (3) 11:00 (4) 12:00 (5) 13:00 (6) 14:00
■Departure from Himegawa Port (return)
(Return) Departure from Himegawa Port (Return) ①10:30 ②11:30 ③12:30 ④13:30 ⑤14:30 ⑥15:30 ⑦16:30

■Inquiries:
Inquiries: Nippon Maru port call, Marche TEL025-552-1511 (Himegawa Port 50th Anniversary Commemorative Project Executive Committee Secretariat: Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Section)
TEL025-552-1511 (Itoigawa City Self-Defense Forces Cooperation Association Secretariat: General Affairs Division)
Home Page:https://www.city.itoigawa.lg.jp/4511.htm