Tinian
A quiet island just south of Saipan, home to the North Field bomb-loading pits from which the atomic bombs for Hiroshima and Nagasaki were dispatched, as well as Tachogna Beach and the latte stone ruins.
Tinian lies about 5 km south of Saipan. It covers roughly 100 square kilometres, has a population of only two or three thousand, and is unhurried, with very few visitors. During WWII, after American forces captured Tinian, they built North Field in the north of the island, the largest bomber base in the world at the time. The atomic bombs Little Boy, dropped on Hiroshima, and Fat Man, dropped on Nagasaki in August 1945, were loaded onto B-29 bombers at the bomb-loading pits here. Both pits are now protected by glass covers and have information boards, and the four enormous runways are still clearly visible. Near the village of San Jose in the south is Tachogna Beach, where visitors and locals love to dive from the rock platforms into the blue bay. Next to it, the House of Taga preserves giant latte stone pillars from the ancient Chamorro people, most of which have collapsed. Long Beach and Chulu Beach are also beautiful. Getting there: a small propeller plane from Saipan airport takes about 10 to 15 minutes. On the island you need to hire a car or join a local day tour. North Field covers a large area, so a car is strongly recommended. Note: facilities on the island are limited, so plan transport and lunch in advance. The coordinates given are for Tachogna Beach.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Ladder Beach
- Obyan Beach
- Laulau Bay
- Forbidden Island
- Mount Tapochau
- Old Japanese Jail
- NMI Museum of History and Culture
- Sugar King Park