Antarctic Museum and Former Research Ship Fuji

This place was amazing! Best part of the port in my opinion. They do a great job of showing the history of the ship and what purpose it served. Highly recommended for anyone remotely interested in ships or the coast guard

In the center of the bustling Nagoya Port district, it's impossible to miss the large orange and white ship with the helicopter on top. That's the "Fuji" - an ice-breaking vessel used primarily on Antarctic expeditions and now retired to the status of a floating museum.  A trip onboard the ship is another neat little part of the fun district around the Port. The Fuji was the premier ice breaking vessel of its era, hence being given its prestigious name. It first set sail in July of 1965, and took part in 18 Antarctic exploration trips between 1965 and 1983. A trip aboard the Fuji is a step into a very different kind of life.  The crew that worked on this ship lived in close quarters, and how they went about their daily lives is a big feature of this attraction.  Visitors can wander the maze of the below-deck setup, seeing the bunks, the barber shop, where the crew ate, and where they relaxed.  Rooms are carefully preserved, and are filled with era-appropriate props to give a realistic glimpse at the ship in its "working state."  Many rooms even have mannequins playing checkers or writing letters to their loved ones at home to give a good image of what life was like on board. On the top deck of the ship, guests can get up close and personal with a helicopter (although not go inside), and in front they are welcome to climb into the cockpit to man control of the steerage system. To give an image of the size of the ship based on its specifications: the ship is an even 100 meters long, 22 meters wide, and 11.8 meters deep. When active, its maximum speed was 17 knots, equivalent to about 19.5 miles per hour (or 31.5 kilometers per hour).  It could hold 3 helicopters, 5 boats, and several hundred people at its maximum capacity.

Sitting in the Port of Nagoya’s Garden Wharf, opposite the Nagoya Aquarium, is a large, bright orange and white ship with a large Sikorsky Sea King helicopter riding piggy back. This is the Japanese Antarctic survey ship, Fuji, a retired ice breaker that plied the South Pole for 18 years starting it’s first journey in 1965. 100 meters long, 11 meters wide and 22 meters high with a displacement of 5,250 tons, the diesel electric powered Fuji boasted a speed of 17 knots, (about 35 kilometers an hour) and carried a 245 capacity full crew and research team. The Fuji could break through ice as thick as 80 Centimeters. After many successful missions, Fuji was finally retired, and the fate of the icebreaker was in doubt. In 1985, the Fuji was towed into Nagoya Port for one last time before being stripped down, and put on display as a floating maritime museum centering on Japan’s extensive Antarctic research missions of the 60’s and 70’s. Aboard the ship, visitors can walk around and throughout the three levels of the ship, including the Bridge and research areas. See the helicopter that helped researchers get far into the Arctic interior and safely back on board. Wander through the galley and kitchens and accommodation areas where deckhands, crew and researchers lived and worked side by side in close proximity during the long and arduous missions, and down into the ship’s bowls to view the engines and equipment. Well produced displays and sets help you imagine the difficult conditions experienced by all who served on her, as well as the important research work undertaken on the lengthy voyages. On the dock in front of the ship is the Fuji Hiroba, a small park featuring a tribute statue to the hero sled dogs Taro and Jiro who were left behind on a mid 50’s mission, only to be found alive a year later having survived alone in the bleak and freezing conditions. There is the Fuji’s propeller and drive shaft, an anchor and even one of the futuristic looking track driven snow vehicles used by the researchers. This particular unit saw service over a 20 year span in the South Polar region. Children will love the opportunity to explore the ship, while adults will appreciate the displays and the difficult conditions under which the vessel operated. Tie the trip in with a visit to the Aquarium, port building and lookout, museum and other top class attractions at the Port of Nagoya for an enjoyable and educational day out!

This was such a nice place to visit. The shop is kept very well. Everything is well cared for and the displays are great. Alot of it is in Japanese but some displays have English. They have guides that can help you if it is needed. It offers great views of the area. The helicopter is cool. You can buy a ticket just for this ship or a combo ticket for the ship, observation tower, and aquarium for a good price.

Great place to visit and informative.