Bandō prisoner-of-war camp

The camp is a historic site in Naruto, Japan, consisting of several preserved and reconstructed wooden barracks. The facility also includes a museum with exhibition rooms displaying personal belongings and documents of the German prisoners.

The facility received around 1,000 German soldiers in 1917 who had been captured during World War I at the Chinese port of Qingdao. The camp remained operational until 1920 and was known for its comparatively humane treatment of prisoners.

The prisoners founded an orchestra and performed classical music, including the first complete performance of Beethoven's Ninth in Japan. These concerts took place in a purpose-built hall and attracted visitors from the surrounding area as well.

The museum on the former grounds displays photographs, documents, and personal items of the German prisoners and is open daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. A walk around the grounds takes about an hour and leads to the main preserved structures.

The prisoners built a wooden bridge using German engineering techniques that has been preserved on site to this day. This bridge demonstrates the soldiers' craftsmanship and is among the few structural remnants from that period.