Mae Wang Japanese Soldiers Memorial

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Open Days: Every day (outdoor memorial area within the school grounds)

Opening Hours: 08:00–17:00 (daytime visit recommended for safety and convenience)

 

Mae Wang Japanese Soldiers Memorial is one of the most important historical sites in Northern Thailand related to World War II. It is located behind Ban Kad Witthayakhom School in Don Pao Subdistrict, Mae Wang District, Chiang Mai Province. At first glance, this small area may appear simple and unassuming, yet it holds profound stories that connect war, loss, and the “humanity” shared between two nations that once stood on opposite sides of the battlefield, before gradually transitioning into a relationship of friendship in later years.

 

The core idea expressed through this memorial is the hope that humankind will turn toward building peace together, while not forgetting the tragedies of the past that cost countless lives due to conflict. The memorial serves both as a “remembrance” of the Japanese soldiers who fell in the northern theater of Thailand, and as a “lesson” for future generations to recognize the painful consequences of war.

 

The story begins during World War II, when Japanese troops advanced into Thailand. The 15th Army had the key responsibility of constructing transportation routes between Thailand and Burma, both railways and roads. One important route linked Mae Malai Junction in Mae Taeng District to Pai District in Mae Hong Son Province, continued on to Khun Yuam District, then crossed into Burma at Ban Ton Ngun and headed toward Taungoo. This route was used during both their advance and their later retreat from the Burmese front.

 

Along this route, areas in Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai Provinces served as transit corridors, encampments, field hospitals, and logistics points. Large numbers of Japanese soldiers marched through mountain ranges, forests, and rivers in the North under conditions as harsh as any battlefield. Evidence that can still be seen today—such as vehicle wrecks, military equipment, and personal belongings—is displayed in various museums and learning centers in Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai, telling the story of a wartime route that many people have never known about.

 

As the war reached its turning point in 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allies. Japanese forces stationed along the Burma–Thailand frontier were then ordered to withdraw, retreating through treacherous mountain paths. Morale was low, supply lines were cut, and food and medicine were in short supply. Many soldiers were sick, exhausted, or wounded during the retreat. In these difficult times, villagers along the route from Mae Hong Son down to Chiang Mai—especially in the Mae Wang area and nearby communities—offered what help they could: food, water, temporary shelter, and basic care for the injured, all within the modest means of small rural villages.

 

Although, in the lens of international political history, Japanese troops of that era were often labeled as “invaders,” at the level of ordinary human lives, the small acts of kindness from Lanna villagers became something the surviving Japanese soldiers never forgot. After the war, many of them returned to life in their homeland, yet memories of fallen comrades along the retreat route and of Thai villagers who had reached out to help remained deeply engraved in their hearts. These memories eventually led to the formation of Japanese “war comrades” groups who wished to return, locate the burial places of their friends, and build memorials in their honor.

 

Today, Ban Kad in Don Pao Subdistrict is recognized as one of the key points on that route. It is said that in the final phase of the war, many Japanese soldiers died “like falling leaves” due to illness, exhaustion, and the severe conditions of retreat. Mass burials had to be carried out in haste. One such burial site was an abandoned well near Wat San Khayom (now an abandoned temple) in the Ban Kad area. That location effectively became a large graveyard, before time and changes in the community gradually altered the appearance of the land.

 

Several decades after the war, when the wounds had begun to scar over, groups of Japanese war comrades returned to survey their former route. They compiled information from documents, maps, and local villagers’ memories. Eventually, remains of Japanese soldiers from various sites in the North were collected and enshrined beneath the memorial structure at Ban Kad, Mae Wang. Some sources state that a significant number of remains were transferred here, making it a central point of remembrance for Japanese soldiers who died along the Burma–Northern Thailand front.

 

The construction of the Mae Wang Japanese Soldiers Memorial resulted from cooperation between Japanese war comrades’ associations, private foundations from Japan, and the local community. Ban Kad Witthayakhom School allocated a portion of its grounds for the memorial in the 1990s. From there, the area was gradually developed into the permanent remembrance space we see today.

 

The memorial itself consists of a raised concrete base topped with a simple stupa-like monument. Plaques inscribed in Japanese and Thai convey messages about world peace and remembering the tragedies of World War II. The surrounding landscape is modestly arranged with trees and open space, creating a serene, humble atmosphere suitable for quiet reflection and prayer for those who lost their lives.

 

One particularly striking aspect is that the memorial stands within a functioning school environment. Students of Ban Kad Witthayakhom walk past it daily on their way to class, under the shadow of a war monument. This juxtaposition vividly illustrates the continuity between “past” and “future”: the past of war, loss, and mass graves, and the future embodied by children growing up with access to education, peace, and new opportunities born from post-war international friendship.

 

Beyond the physical memorial, Japanese war comrades and associated foundations established the “Eto Foundation” to provide scholarships for children and youth in Mae Wang District and Chiang Mai Province. This ongoing support is a tangible way of “repaying” the kindness shown by Thai villagers in the past and of passing on the concept of peace to the next generation through scholarship programs and memorial ceremonies held regularly at the site.

 

From a tourism perspective, the Mae Wang Japanese Soldiers Memorial is not a flashy, photo-driven attraction with grand structures. Rather, it is highly meaningful for visitors interested in war history, Thai–Japanese relations, and quiet places for remembrance or contemplation of the “price of war.” The surrounding landscape remains that of simple Lanna countryside, with rice fields, streams, and mountain backdrops. Many visitors take the opportunity to stroll through the village, speak with locals, or combine their visit with nature-based and conservation activities in Mae Wang District.

 

Although the memorial grounds are not large, standing silently before the monument and inscriptions, thinking of the thousands of young soldiers who died far from home and the villagers who once shared food and water with those they had once viewed with suspicion, often leaves a deep impression. It reminds many people of a shared “humanity” that exists beyond the boundaries of nation, religion, and politics. In some years, delegations from Japan, diplomats, or study groups travel here to participate in remembrance ceremonies, keeping the place alive in the shared memory of both nations.

 

Getting There You can reach the memorial from Chiang Mai city via Highway 108 (Chiang Mai–Hang Dong–San Pa Tong), heading toward San Pa Tong District. From there, turn right onto the San Pa Tong–Mae Wang Road. The distance from Chiang Mai city to Mae Wang District is about 28 kilometers. When you reach the Mae Wang Subdistrict Municipality area, turn right onto a local road and continue for about 1 kilometer until you see Ban Kad Witthayakhom School on the left-hand side. The Mae Wang Japanese Soldiers Memorial is located behind the school. Visitors can park within the school grounds or nearby, as appropriate. Daytime visits are recommended, and modest dress is advised because the site is within a school area and close to a temple.

 

To make the visit more complete, travelers can combine the memorial with other cultural and nature-based attractions in Mae Wang and nearby districts, such as rafting on the Mae Wang River, visiting elephant conservation centers, exploring agricultural tourism sites, or staying overnight at homestays and resorts surrounded by nature before returning to Chiang Mai city. This creates a trip that offers both historical learning and peaceful relaxation in the embrace of mountains and waterways.

 

 

A: Yes. It is accessible as a memorial space within the school and community. In general, visits are recommended during daytime. Groups or those planning remembrance activities should contact Ban Kad Witthayakhom School or relevant authorities in advance.

 

A: Yes. Ceremonies are held periodically, especially when delegations from Japan or diplomatic representatives visit. The Eto Foundation also regularly provides scholarships to local students, reflecting the ongoing post-war friendship between Thailand and Japan.

 

A: Modest clothing is recommended, as the site is within a school and near a temple. Visitors should keep noise to a minimum, behave respectfully, and use the area with consideration. Those wishing to lay flowers, incense, or conduct a short ceremony should consult teachers or site caretakers beforehand.

 

A: Photography is allowed, but visitors should take photos respectfully, avoid stepping on or disturbing the area around the monument base, and refrain from inappropriate poses, as this is a place of remembrance for those who died in war.

 

A: You can plan a half-day or full-day trip, starting with the Japanese Soldiers Memorial at Ban Kad Witthayakhom School, then continuing to natural attractions in Mae Wang such as rafting on the Mae Wang River, elephant conservation sites, or nature resorts before returning to Chiang Mai city in the evening.