Memorial to the Western Pacific War Dead

Architecture and Design

The memorial's design reflects Kikutake Kiyonori's mastery of integrating modernist forms with natural surroundings. The site itself juts out at Peleliu's southern tip, and the layout deliberately preserves the existing environment. A linear approach road passes through jungle, then suddenly opens into a view dominated by a symbolic standing tree surrounded by a rotary. Between the rotary and the sea-facing rock shelf, the ground is carpeted with kawoyasol groundcover.↗

The monument itself is positioned on an axis connecting Japan to the existing trees, making the orientation toward the homeland unmistakable. The circular form visible on the front is said to represent the eye of the Buddha, imbued with the meaning of pacifying souls. On the reverse, an arrow is carved pointing toward Japan — a gesture so the spirits of the fallen may find their way home.↗↗↗

Supplementary facilities within the approximately 4,000-square-meter park include a national flagpole, stone walls, garden paths, benches, tables, and a parking area. The entire site is officially called Peleliu Peace Memorial Park and is maintained by the Peleliu State government on behalf of Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

The Imperial Visit of 2015

On April 9, 2015, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko traveled to Peleliu to pay respects at this memorial during their 70th anniversary commemorative journey. They offered white chrysanthemums brought from Japan, bowing deeply before the monument as surviving veterans and bereaved families looked on. The Emperor also faced the direction of Angaur Island, acknowledging those who died there. In honor of the visit, Peleliu State designated April 9 as a public holiday, and a commemorative stone marking the Imperial visit stands within the park.↗↗

The View and Its Neighbors

From the park, the open Pacific stretches in every direction, and on clear days Angaur Island is visible offshore — a somber reminder that it, too, was a deadly battlefield. Just a short distance away along the coast, the memorial to the US Army's 81st Infantry Division marks the American sacrifice at what became known as Orange Beach. The proximity of both monuments, each honoring different sides of the same conflict, gives the southern tip of Peleliu a layered quality of remembrance that few battlefield sites can match.↗↗

Visiting Peleliu Island

Peleliu lies about 30 nautical miles south of Koror, Palau's commercial center. The journey itself is stunning: the ferry or speedboat passes through the famous Rock Islands, those mushroom-shaped limestone formations crowned with green vegetation rising from turquoise water. Peleliu is a small island home to roughly 400 to 600 people, with an atmosphere of quiet stillness that suits its wartime history.↗↗

Beyond the memorial park, the entire island is an open-air battlefield museum. Rusted Sherman tanks lie where they were knocked out. Half-submerged amphibious landing vehicles have become coral reefs. The ruins of the Japanese airfield headquarters are being swallowed by strangler figs, and bullet holes remain visible in the concrete. Japanese 200 mm anti-ship guns still sit in their coral caves, never fired. The island is not heavily curated or commercialized — its rawness is part of its power.↗↗

Practical Information

Getting there: Fly to Palau International Airport (on Babeldaob, near Koror). From Koror, take the public ferry (departs approximately Mondays and Fridays, about 2.5 hours, around $6 per person) or book a speedboat transfer (about 1 hour, approximately $65 per person one-way) through tour operators such as Peleliu Adventures. Small aircraft also make the crossing.↗↗

What to know: Peleliu has very limited accommodation — a small inn is the main option. Most visitors take guided day tours from Koror organized by operators specializing in WWII battlefields. Bring water, sun protection, and long sleeves or pants to navigate the dense vegetation and sharp coral. Do not touch or remove any wartime relics — many sites are not cleared of unexploded ordnance.↗↗

The memorial park itself is open-access and free. It is a place for quiet reflection rather than active tourism. Japanese visitors often come specifically to pay respects here; local Palauans also enjoy the peaceful seaside setting. The best time to visit is during Palau's dry season (December through April).↗