Hikawa Maru
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山下公園と「太平洋の女王」
Yamashita Park offers one of the most picturesque views of the Port of Yokohama, which is highlighted by the presence of the Yokohama Marine Tower, Yokohama Bay Bridge, and the iconic NYK Hikawa Maru, a retired Japanese ocean liner permanently moored alongside the park.
The Hikawa Maru sailed from 1930 to 1960, primarily as a trans-Pacific liner connecting Yokohama with Vancouver and Seattle. In her prime, she was considered the most luxurious way to cross the Pacific, attracting select passengers including members of the Japanese imperial family, Charlie Chaplin, and Babe Ruth.
Designed to carry 331 passengers with 76 of them enjoying First Class accommodations, she was manned by a crew of 147. First Class travelers were treated to exquisite cuisine prepared by chefs trained in European kitchens, and surrounded by elegant Art Deco interiors. So beloved was the vessel that she earned the nickname “Queen of the Pacific.”
During World War II, the Hikawa Maru was repurposed as a hospital ship and a repatriation vessel for Japanese citizens and soldiers. Remarkably, she survived three mine strikes without sinking, thanks to her thick steel hull.
The ship also played a lesser-known but vital humanitarian role during the war, carrying Jewish refugees escaping Nazi persecution to safety in North America. After the war, from 1945 to 1947, she transported U.S. military personnel between Japan and the United States. In 1953, following a retrofit, she resumed service as a cargo-passenger liner until her retirement in 1960.
Since 1961, the Hikawa Maru has been anchored at Yamashita Park, where she has served as a floating museum, hotel, and restaurant. I first explored her beautifully preserved decks and Art Deco interiors in the mid-1980s.
Now, nearly four decades later, I hope to board her again not only to relive those memories, but to experience her timeless charm with the eye of a slightly more seasoned photographer with the companionship of nostalgia. Dogs are not allowed onboard, so I will have to visit when I’m able to leave my border collie at home.
Location: Yamashita Park, Yokohama, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/05/28・12:53
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/30 sec. at ƒ/8
Classic Chrome film simulation
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