Japanese Cemetery

Japanese Cemetery

Japanese Cemetery
4
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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles343 reviews
Excellent
117
Very good
160
Average
56
Poor
7
Terrible
3

ITRT
Virginia46,502 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
This is the final resting place for 900 Japanese pearl divers who died working in Broome's pearl industry. Most of the headstones are made of sandstone and are of various shapes and styles. Most are carved with the name, birthplace, and date of death of the deceased person. Some headstones have a cross. These are believed to mark those Japanese who converted to Catholicism after being taken care of by nuns at the local hospital. This cemetery is thought to be the largest one outside of Japan.
Written 3 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Oldjack
Greater Melbourne, Australia29,493 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2024 • Couples
The Japanese cemetery in Broome, opened in 1896 is quite a "moving" place where over 900 Japanese pearlers are buried in 707 graves, the largest such cemetry in Australia. Most display sandstone headstones engraved in Kanji showing the name and from where they originated in Japan. Most were from the Wakayama Prefecture south of Osaka and most died from drowning or the bends, but many were lost in two cyclones in 1887 and 1935. It is an immaculate and well kept place and a must see in Broome.
Written 8 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mjail5
Perth, Australia1,399 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
Coming from Roebuck Bay, we alighted the Broome Explorer opposite the Recreation Centre and walked back towards the main road to visit the Japanese Cemetery.

There was some information about the Japanese Cemetery with a mention of a large stone obelisk of those lost in the 1908 cyclone. Hence, when I came to a monument that stood out, I knew that was it although there were no English words inscribed. It would be better though if there was a small board stating as such as I am sure many people would not have realised its significance.

(Regardless, it was much better than the Chinese Cemetery which had absolutely zero information which was rather sad. It had a beautiful Chinese gate at the entrance but nothing more.)

Of interest were headstones in English towards the back of the Japanese Cemetery of a family of 3; Kakio Matsumoto (a diver), his wife Mary Ellener Matsumoto nee Corpos (Aboriginal Filipino descent) and their son, Eichi Matsumoto. I was intrigued by this family and googled them up and I found a 11 min film was done in 2004 of Kakio narrated by his grandson.

Make sure you walk all the way to the end and visit the Catholic section where the Sisters of St John of God are laid to rest. There is a Celtic Cross erected in 1912 by the Japanese in memory of Sister Mary Immaculate Leahy who died as a result of her duties as a nursing sister at the Japanese Hospital.

Worth coming for a visit to appreciate Broome's past pearling history and culture.
Written 27 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jean H
17 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2020
Luckily we had preread about this cemetery before visiting as there was little information in English to read. Tragic loss of so many young pearl divers due to diving sickness (the bends). Some headstones have been replaced and original headstones left at the town museum. Perhaps these should be incorporated into the original graves. It seemed sad to see the headstones leaning against a fence.
Written 28 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Oldjack
Greater Melbourne, Australia29,493 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Couples
It may seem odd that a cemetery is a tourist attraction but the Japanese Cemetery in Broome is more a history lesson and an interesting one , more than a tourist site. There are 919 people buried in 707 graves, all neatly maintained many with their original sandstone head stones with inscriptions in Kanji showing names, from where they came in Japan, the birth and death dates. Many died from diving illnesses but some from cyclones and other incidents. Well worthy of a visit.
Written 28 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Justine
Sydney, Australia13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022 • Couples
We went here on our own without a tour and had a pleasant walk around ourselves. It’s unlocked during the day but locked at night I believe for obvious reasons. This was actually a site I didn’t expect to be stunning but was, I’m not sure what it was but walking through he you could really feel the ambiance. Worth a visit if you’ve got a car and are just roaming around.
Written 24 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

vbinCBR
Canberra, Australia134 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021
The Japanese presence in Broome is of long duration and this cemetery gives you a feel for that. The tombstones are beautiful and austere. The stories of the pearl divers are fascinating. You can also visit the Chinese and Muslin Malay cemeteries which are right nearby.
Written 26 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ellemay 🍹🐠🐳
Sydney, Australia47,213 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
The Japanese Cemetery is situated on Port Drive, next to the Chinese Cemetery. It is the largest Japanese cemetery in Australia​ and dates back to 1896. Most of the graves are of the Japanese migrants who settled in Broome to prosper from Broome’s rich pearling industry.
Written 17 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DiggerDeals
Maddington, Australia116 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2017 • Family
The Broome cemetery has a Japanese section that has been rebuilt and fenced following vandalism. Credit has to go to BCC for how well the cemetery has been repaired.
Written 19 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cathy C
Sydney, Australia14 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2014 • Couples
The cemetery is very well maintained. At the entrance is a plaque giving a little info about the cemetery.
However, once inside, all headstones are in Japanese. If they want to present this as a tourist venue, I wonder if an English translation next to the headstones would be possible?
I realise they have to be respectful of the graves, but it would have been interesting to know how they died, whether it be from the "bends" from pearl diving or whatever.
Written 16 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Japanese Cemetery, Broome

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