Thai-Japan Friendship Memorial Hall

However, it is not worth the effort of traveling all the way from Mae Hong Son to see, especially since it does not always open during the hours advertised.

The main exhibits in the museum are over 1000 items left over by the Japanese, who had a camp set up in Khun Yuam during the war. Several Japanese soldiers married local women and settled here, thus forging cultural bonds between Thailand and Japan.

The items on display include weapons and other military equipment, as well as uniforms and old photos. You can also spot samurai swords here and more mundane items such as dishes and spoons.

The museum was set up by Police Colonel Chertchai Chomthawat in 1995, who had an affinity for Word War II history. He collected items and information from the region and eventually set up the very first museum dedicated to Thailand’s participation in World War II.

The museum also highlights the reason the Japanese were in Khun Yuam (and indeed Thailand) in the first place, in order to establish a supply route from India through Burma and Thailand to feed their war effort in Southeast Asia.

Another section of the museum highlights ethnic groups such as the Hmong and Karen who live in the region, with examples of their dress, culture and crafts.