TAIWAN POW CAMP TOURS

GOOD NEWS - Taiwan has opened up again to overseas visitors and now we are once more accepting applications for POW camp tours. 

As mentioned previously, it would be wise to come by as direct a route as possible. Taiwan's national airline CHINA AIRLINES and also EVA Air both have direct flights from the UK, Australia, Canada and USA to Taiwan, and it is recommended that these - or any other airline that flies to Taiwan directly from those countries, be used.

NOTE: It is advisable not to transit through Hong Kong or China due to the volatile political situations there.

We hope that those wishing to visit Taiwan for our POW camp tours will continue to come in 2024.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Once you have decided on visiting Taiwan, kindly get in touch with us as soon as possible so that we can provide a more thorough explanation of your tour, information regarding your visit, and arrange a detailed itinerary.

Please do NOT book / confirm your airfares completely until you contact us to make sure that we are available to conduct the tour and also that the date(s) is/are suitable. We do not usually run tours on the weekends - especially on Sundays, due to traffic congestion, and for those wishing to visit the Taihoku Camp 6 Memorial, the Ministry of National Defense HQ is not accessible on Saturday, Sunday or government holidays. Also the museum and mine tunnel exhibit at Kinkaseki are closed on the first Monday of every month, so that day is not suitable as well. We recommend that you do not plan your visit over a weekend - it is best to visit during weekdays. It is very important that you contact us well in advance and work with us to make your tour the best it can be. Thank you!

INTRODUCTION . . .

Over the past 27 years the Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society has researched and documented the history of the 16 former World War II Japanese prisoner of war camps on the island of Taiwan, then known as Formosa. During this time we have conducted many tours to the camps and related areas during our annual November "Remembrance Week" events, and also throughout the year at the request of individuals, families and groups.

The Taiwan POW camps held over 4,350 Allied POWs and were some of the worst in all of the Far East, including those on the infamous Death Railway. More than 10% of the Taiwan POWs died in captivity from starvation, sickness, overwork and beatings from cruel guards.

We specialize in the WWII history of Taiwan and can research the stories of individual POWs, something that those with a family connection to the camps will find valuable, fulfilling and meaningful. Our tours are personally planned and tailored to meet the special and individual needs of the participants.

We are not a "tour company" for normal tourist activities such as sight-seeing etc., but we provide specialized tours and personal pilgrimages to the camps, as well as behind-the-scenes insights into what took place here in World War II. We cater to individuals and families, as well as small and large groups.

Tours are expertly guided by historian Michael Hurst MBE, Director of the Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society and the foremost authority on the Taiwan POW camps. Michael has lived in Taiwan for over 35 years and knows the island well, having also worked in the tourism industry for a number of years.

We try to provide great value as well as a memorable and meaningful experience for our POW guests. The many that we have had over the past years will attest to this, and that our tours have not only provided knowledge about the POWs and the camps, but peace and closure for them as well.

We try to bring alive the story of the former Taiwan POW camps and the men who were interned in them, through a moving and enriching experience. It will give family members and those interested a chance to retrace the footsteps of brave veterans and beloved family members.

If you want to follow in the footsteps of a loved one, or just learn more about the Taiwan POWs' story, then please contact us for more information and a quotation.

To read about the advantanges of taking our tours click here.

No-one is more knowledgeable or qualified to conduct tours to the former Taiwan POW camps than the Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society . . . and the 'reputable' local Taiwan tour companies don't even offer POW camp tours as their guides have little or no knowledge of the FEPOWs' story or the camps and what happened in them. They usually refer inquiries for POW camp visits to us.

We want our guests to have a ‘true’ POW camp experience, and also to be able to get comprehensive information about their loved ones and their time in the camps. So for the most authoritative, comprehensive and ‘personal’ tour possible, be sure to contact us for help with your visit.

      Wartime photo of Kinkaseki POW Camp    -    The same area today           /      Former Shirakawa Camp Entrance Site

TYPES OF TOURS . . .

We offer 1 day tours to camps that can be visited in a short time and also 2 and 3 day tours that require more travel time and overnight stays at various places around the island. In addition to seeing the former POW camps, visitors can also experience a panorama of scenery and culture from all across Taiwan.

Costs vary according to the visitor's requirements, length of the tour and number of camps visited, so please kindly contact us for more information and a quotation.

NOTE: ALL TOURS ARE CONDUCTED ON REQUEST AND MUST BE PRE-ARRANGED, PRE-BOOKED AND CONFIRMED WITH THE SOCIETY AS FAR IN ADVANCE AS POSSIBLE.

1. Tours for overseas visitors. . .

Individual and Family Visits / Tours

- for individuals and families who want to visit the places and camps where their loved one or family member was interned as a POW on Taiwan. We can accommodate those who know something of their family member's time here, as well as those who know very little and wish to learn more. It is always advisable that people contact us well in advance so that we have enough time to research the POW's story and better prepare for their visit.

We are also able to accommodate people just stopping over in Taiwan on vacation or business trips, but there may be limitations as to where they can go and what they can do, depending on the duration of their visit and the amount of notice we get.

In every case we will always do our best to research the particular POW's story and prepare as comprehensive a tour as possible, given the resources and time available.                                            

                                                                                                                           Former Taiwan POW Ken Pett visiting Kinkaseki

Group Tours

- for extended families and / or groups of up to 20 persons who wish to visit as a group and who can work through a travel agent in their home country to arrange the flights to and from Taiwan directly, and also other possible non-Taiwan arrangements – such as stopovers and hotels and tours in Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand etc. en route to or from Taiwan.

The Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society arranges all hotels and travel, tours and events within Taiwan, so the visiting group should not ask their local travel agent to do that part.

POW family members at Heito Camp    /    Remembering a dear grandfather    /          At the Karenko POW Memorial

2. Local Taiwan Tours. . .

Tours are available for individuals, schools, youth organizations, clubs, groups and associations wishing to visit any of the former POW camps on the island. Arrangements should be made as early as possible with the Society and are subject to the availability and the schedule of the director to run the tour. Calling early when the desire for the tour comes up, and being somewhat flexible with dates, will usually ensure that the request is accommodated. Contact us any time for more information and a quotation. 

NOTE: Local tours are not conducted during the Society's annual Remembrance Week event or at any time during the month of November. 

               Local International School students visiting the POW Memorial Wall

RECOMMENDED TIMES FOR VISITS TO TAIWAN FROM OVERSEAS

We highly recommend that persons wishing to visit Taiwan do so during our Remembrance Week Event which is held every year in mid-November in the week around Remembrance Day. At that time we organize visits to many of the camps and arrange memorial services, and participants will be able to fellowship with other family members and veterans in a common purpose of honouring and remembering their loved ones. This also provides a greater opportunity for sharing stories and information about many of the FEPOWs.

If November is not convenient, then visitors may come at pretty well any time throughout the year - subject to the availability of the Society director to host the tour. This needs to be worked out well in advance by contacting the Society and providing the proposed dates of the visit as early as possible.

HOW TO ARRANGE / PREPARE FOR YOUR TAIWAN VISIT

Normally we tell those who contact us regarding visiting Taiwan to just book their airfares and to leave all the other arrangements regarding the Taiwan part of their visit to us. This includes hotels and travel and sightseeing while in Taiwan.

The Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society arranges all hotels and transportation – including airport transfers, tours and events within Taiwan, so those visiting should not ask their local travel agent to do this part as we are better able to handle this.

If however, people want to stop over in places like Singapore, the Philippines or Thailand either on the way out or on their return journey, then they can ask their travel agent to arrange for hotels and tours etc. at those other places.

We look forward to hearing from those who are interested in our "Following in Their Footsteps" program and tours!

                   A visit to the Taiwan camps and the POW Memorial Park with its 17 meter (56 foot) Memorial Wall, will be a moving and unforgettable experience!

Note:  As with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC, USA, perhaps the most defining characteristic of the Taiwan POW Memorial Wall is the visitor's ability to see his or her reflection while looking at the engraved names, thus connecting the past and the present like few other monuments can.

I

COMMENTS AND COMPLIMENTS ON THE TAIWAN POW CAMP TOURS. . .

These are just a few of the many notes of appreciation we have received from those taking our POW camp tours. We hope they might inspire others to also follow in the footsteps of their FEPOW relative and loved one.

From a former Taiwan POW’s grandson . . . “Like so many others who suffered greatly at the hands of their Japanese captors, my grandfather never spoke about it after the war. It was, therefore, with great anticipation and excitement that I finally found myself flying to Taiwan’s capital city Taipei in November 2023, to participate in the Society’s annual Remembrance Week event.

      In addition to visiting the former sites of Kinkaseki and Kukutsu Camps and participating in memorial services there, at the Remembrance Day service I had the opportunity to say a few words in tribute to my grandfather and his comrades during the service, and to lay a poppy wreath at the camp memorial: a moving experience which left me with a tremendous sense of personal fulfilment.

     When I was visiting the sites of the former camps, I would always ensure to have a quiet moment to myself, to look around me and think how incredible it was to be standing there, 6,000 miles from home, with the exact same view that my grandfather had 80 years previously when he was there under such different circumstances.

     “I learned so much during my visit to Taiwan.  The stories about the camps and the prisoners were real eye-openers into the past.   The experience has left me with an enormous sense of personal fulfilment and of having honoured my grandfather. The memories of my trip will stay with me for the rest of my life.” 

     Thank you once again on behalf of our whole family for all the help you have given us, and on behalf of my grandfather, for everything you have done over the years to remember and commemorate the Taiwan POWs.”  SW

From a POW's grandson. . . "I’ve had a bit of time now to reflect on my experience in Taiwan, and I can quite confidently say it is one of the most personally fulfilling things I have ever done and I am so glad it could finally happen after a couple of years in the planning. There is no way I would have learned even a fraction of what I did without your expertise, guidance and help and for that, once again, I thank you sincerely. The personal touches you provided made my visit feel so much more meaningful – to have been able to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps and try to get even a fraction of a sense of what he and his comrades experienced all those years ago made it an experience I will never forget."  WS

From a POW's granddaughter and her husband. . . " We sincerely appreciate the entire experience with you. It was an incredibly humbling opportunity. Thank you very, very much for all of your time and expertise. I can't wait to show my Dad and Mom all the photos and share our incredible experience with you." SJ-W 

From the daughter and son-in-law of a former Heito and Kinkaseki POW - both camps were visited. . . "Our time in Taiwan was the highlight of our trip to Asia. We wanted to see the prison camps where F. spent so much time, but you showed us so much more and gave us a great insight into Taiwan, Taipei and its people.

      I was not quite sure what I expected from our visits to the prison camps, it has helped, but I still find it difficult to comprehend the conditions which the prisoners survived. The trip has left me wanting to know a lot more. I wish I had spoken to him about his experiences. It does show the importance of your work today and over the years to help and ensure that future generations are able to follow the journeys of their relations.

      I cannot thank you enough for the time you spent with us to make our trip come alive, and we could not have done it without you."  JB

From the son and grandson of a former officer POW. . . "We just wanted to say thank you so much for organising such a fantastic trip. Your attention to detail and subject knowledge are unparalleled.  It was an experience that I for one will treasure and never forget." 

Kind regards,  N B 

From the daughter and son-in-law of another POW. . . "We both had a wonderful experience and would like to thank you so much for your planning and organisation. The tour exceeded our expectations and all your hard work through the years is resulting in a great visitor experience. It has helped me to remember my dad and have a greater understanding of his time in Taiwan. Thank you once again and we hope you realise how great the work is that you are doing and how much this is appreciated."

Best wishes,  A & P

From a POW's granddaughter. . . "I had an absolutely wonderful time, I can't express enough how grateful I am for everything. Seeing my grandfather’s name on the wall and taking a moment to remember him there, really meant the world to me. Again thank you for everything."

All the best,  JR

From a POW's granddaughter, great grandson and partner. . . "We had a really good trip to Taiwan. Thank you so much for all your help in organising everything; it made it all so nice and easy for us, right from the beginning with meeting us at the airport and taking us to our lovely hotel.

     Thank you again, Michael, for your excellent arrangements and guiding. You are such an expert, it was a privilege to hear about your extensive knowledge and research at all the three camps we visited. All of us have learnt so much about the prisoners of war in Taiwan from you and I think this will be an enduring interest. We were all astonished at what you have achieved over the last couple of decades in remembering the prisoners of war."

Thank you again and very best wishes,  NS   

Another POW's daughter says. . . "It's been quite a life enhancing journey for me and I know I've already told you, but it needs saying again what an amazing contribution you've made to discovering and subsequently making people aware of the POWs ordeal in Taiwan. I know that they would be forgotten for sure if it had not been for your intervention, doggedness and persistence to have their story told. 

I thank you again from my heart and I hope you know how much my visit to your country meant to me. Good luck and keep in touch."  JT

The son of a former POW sent these words of thanks. . . "It was a privilege to meet you and we would both like to thank you sincerely for organising everything and showing us, not just the camps, which was very moving, but also around Taipei. We were overawed by the time and effort you have put in to keeping alive the memory of all the POW's."

All the best,  JK

The niece of a POW at Kinkaseki, Heito and Shirakawa wrote, "It was very special to be in the exact location and to understand what life was like for those dear men and the horror and suffering they lived with for all that time. It was an extraordinary moment for me. Thank you very much for bringing the day alive and for such an informative tour.

We are grateful for the work you have put in to create the memorial park and to gather so much information. I have enjoyed telling others about it, not many people knew about this part of the war."

Best wishes, LS

The grandson of a Heito and Shirakawa POW - "I would like to thank you so much for opening up so much history for us. The memorial site and service are a testament to what you have achieved. The two days we spent with you were perfect and we were made to feel very welcome. This all would have been impossible without you. Thank you so much for your hard work."

Kindest regards, MP

British visitors wanting to know more about the POWs’ story – referred to us... "We must thank you for giving us the most incredible experience of visiting the POW camp on Monday. It was a real insight, although very sad for those who experienced such inhumane treatment whilst interned.

Like many, we were ignorant about the atrocities done to the POWs in Taiwan, but due to your hard work and perseverance, you are ensuring that this dreadful period of history is not forgotten. We will spread the word amongst our family and friends, and hope we can find more people with stories to tell. 

Again, we thank you for enriching us; we feel humble and thankful."
 
Kind regards,  JA

Overseas school teacher after class visit to Kinkaseki... "I just wanted to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the POW camp and I really admire your dedication and hard work. The effort that you’ve put in for these prisoners to be remembered really shines through, and the fact that you had a personal connection with them made the experience extra special. I’m so thankful that we had you as our guide, as I don’t think the experience would have been as intimate and fruitful had it not been for you. I just want to let you know that your work has really touched the hearts of each and every student present that day and we will be sure to continue raising awareness about these POWs to ensure that they will never be forgotten!"

Warmest regards, ST

History enthusiast and wife on a visit to Taiwan...

We are safely back [home], and it was such an honor and a joy to meet you and spend such a fascinating day getting to know you and the amazing work you have done. We will certainly keep in touch and be certain to reach out next time we return to Taipei. In the meantime, if there is anything at all I can do to assist with supporting the Society, etc. please do let me know.

All my best regards, DS