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 floating museum. A trip on board the ship is another neat little part of the fun district around the Port.
The Fuji was the premier icebreaking 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.
Is this a good attraction for kids? It depends on their personality. Visiting Fuji gives you a great opportunity to roam around the inside of a cool ship, and to get up close and personal with a helicopter. But a lot of the fun of the ship comes from your own imagination ("Here's the doctor's office - can you imagine getting sick and coming down here?"), rather than being full of interactive opportunities or things to play with.
Opening hours are from 9:00 am - 6:30pm, though it's closed on the third Monday of each month. Tickets cost 300 yen, though the Fuji is included in the several discounted "set tickets" that are available to enter combinations of the other popular attractions in the area, including the Nagoya Port Aquarium, the Maritime Museum, and the Port Building Observatory.
