Naruto German House (Doitsukan)

The Naruto German House (ドイツ館, Doitsukan) is an unusual and compelling museum dedicated to the extraordinary history of German prisoners of war interned in Japan during World War I. After Japan seized Germany’s Asian and Pacific territories, nearly 1,000 German soldiers were sent to the Bando Prisoner of War Camp, located near what is now Naruto City. Unlike many wartime camps, the German prisoners at Bando were treated humanely, fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect and cultural exchange with the local Japanese community. This remarkable relationship not only made life at the camp more bearable but also laid the foundation for a lasting bond, culminating in a sister city partnership between Naruto and Lüneburg in Germany.

Constructed as a symbol of international friendship, the Naruto German House offers visitors an immersive look into daily life at Bando Camp through a wide array of models, period photographs, documents, and personal artifacts. Multilingual displays in Japanese, German, and English help bring the story to life for visitors from around the world. Just a short ten-minute walk from the museum, the German Village Park serves as a peaceful memorial dedicated to the memory of German soldiers who died while interned at Bando, further commemorating the enduring legacy of goodwill and cultural connection born from an unlikely chapter in history.