Koror

Koror is the largest city in Palau, located on Oreor island, where the town stretches along the western side with low buildings and shops lining a main road that winds through residential areas. Along the coast, small harbors and docks hold fishing boats beside tour vessels.

Japanese settlers developed a larger town here in the 1920s and 30s, building administrative offices and infrastructure. During the Second World War, bombing raids destroyed much of the settlement, but it was rebuilt and expanded afterward.

On weekends, families gather at small neighborhood stores and street markets to exchange news and buy fresh produce. Older men often sit on the porches of traditional meeting houses, sharing stories or discussing weather patterns.

Many shops and offices close around midday for an extended break, with some reopening later in the afternoon. The main road is easy to walk along, though distances between points can feel longer than expected.

Beneath the main road lie remnants of a Japanese tunnel system once used as air raid shelters. Today, trees and brush grow over most entrances, with only a few still visible or accessible.