World War II Tourism in Guam

People travel to experience adventure, to conduct business, to see things they might never see at home and much more. Some travelers travel to learn and see historical sites.

For travelers interested in World War II, the Pacific Rim offers lots of travel opportunities and important World War II sites, including Guam.

According to Guam’s tourism website, the island nation is home to more than a dozen World War II sites. Guam’s position in the Pacific Ocean made the small island an important strategic position during the war.

Many of the sites in Guam require visitors to take to trails and hike toward them.

If visiting a park dedicated to the war in the region sounds like a good way to see the sights, consider visiting the War in the Pacific National Parks. There are six in total, and each one is dedicated to a different aspect of the conflict. The parks have various remnants of the war, including Japanese coastal defense guns, foxholes and mountain guns from the era.

South Pacific Memorial Peace Park commemorates one of the bloodiest battles the island saw during the course of the war. The park sits on the location of the last garrison of Japanese troops on the island, who fought desperately to keep the island from American attackers in 1944. The park is dedicated to everyone who lost their lives fighting in the Pacific during World War II, and represents the efforts to build a lasting friendship between the United States and Japan.

If you’re traveling to Guam for World War II, you should visit in July. July 21 is Liberation Day, where Guam celebrates the end of Japanese occupation. Parades, fireworks and more mark the entire month.

According to Guam, more than 25,000 American and Japanese troops lost their lives fighting for the island.