Admiral Yamamoto's Bunker is a preserved WWII-era concrete command facility located in Rabaul, on the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea's East New Britain Province. Built to serve as a fortified headquarters for the Imperial Japanese Navy's Pacific operations, the bunker reportedly still contains original wartime writing on the walls, offering an unusually intact glimpse into the theater of the Pacific War. Rabaul itself was one of Japan's most strategically important bases in the South Pacific, surrounded by a region littered with the remains of wartime hardware — including wrecked landing barges and downed aircraft. Gates investigated the site during the very first episode of Expedition Unknown, descending into the bunker as part of his search for context on Amelia Earhart's 1937 disappearance, given Yamamoto's forces controlled the skies and seas across the region where Earhart vanished.
Bunker constructed as a fortified base of operations for Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and the Imperial Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet during WWII
Rabaul serves as Japan's primary naval command hub in the South Pacific; Yamamoto coordinates major Pacific operations from this location
Admiral Yamamoto's aircraft is shot down by U.S. forces shortly after departing Rabaul, ending his command
Josh Gates investigates the bunker in Expedition Unknown Season 1, Episode 1, 'Amelia Earhart'
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is widely regarded by military historians as one of the most consequential naval commanders of the Second World War. As commander in chief of Japan's Combined Fleet, he is believed to have been the principal architect of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, and his forces were deeply involved in the broader Pacific campaign across the very waters and skies where Amelia Earhart vanished in 1937. Rabaul, as his forward base, sat at the center of a web of Japanese military activity that stretched across Micronesia and the western Pacific.
The bunker itself stands as a rare example of intact wartime infrastructure from Japan's Pacific campaign. While no Wikipedia entry was available at time of writing to confirm specific architectural details or protected status, the presence of original writing on the walls — as Gates observes on camera — suggests the site has been preserved rather than heavily restored, lending it genuine historical value. Rabaul's volcanic geography also contributed to the region's wartime importance, as the natural harbor made it an ideal staging point for naval operations.
Yamamoto's death in April 1943, when U.S. forces intercepted and shot down his aircraft over Bougainville in what is known as Operation Vengeance, marked a significant turning point in the Pacific War. The operation was made possible by American codebreakers who had deciphered Japanese communications — a detail that underscores how intelligence and secrecy defined this theater of war, and adds a layer of resonance to exploring the physical spaces from which Yamamoto directed his campaigns.
Gates' visit to the bunker in Expedition Unknown's premiere episode does not advance any direct claim about Earhart's fate, but it serves a legitimate journalistic purpose: grounding the audience in the geopolitical and military reality of the Pacific in the years surrounding her disappearance. By standing inside the command center of the man who controlled much of the Pacific, Gates invites viewers to feel the scale of the conflict — and why searching for a single aircraft in that vast, war-scarred region remains so difficult.
Gates notes in the episode that the region around Rabaul is littered with 'abandoned relics of war,' including massive Japanese landing barges — a testament to the scale of Japan's wartime presence on New Britain.
Admiral Yamamoto's aircraft was shot down in April 1943 by U.S. forces shortly after departing Rabaul, in an operation made possible by American codebreakers who had intercepted Japanese communications.
The original wartime writing on the bunker's walls reportedly remains visible today, preserved beneath the concrete structure — making it an unusually intact WWII artifact.
Rabaul sits on an active volcanic caldera, and the town was largely destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1994 — yet the WWII-era bunkers, built to withstand bombardment, survived.
The bunker is believed to be accessible to visitors in the Rabaul area, though travelers should check current local advisories before visiting, as conditions and access arrangements may vary. Rabaul itself is a small town on the Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain and is generally reachable by air via Tokua Airport. The site is one of several WWII relics in the area, and local guides may be available to provide context.
Rabaul, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea — the bunker is located within or immediately adjacent to the Rabaul township.
Papua New Guinea's dry season, generally from May to October, is considered the more comfortable time to visit, with lower humidity and reduced rainfall. The wet season from November to April can make travel in the region more challenging.
Normandy Beaches, France
Normandy Beaches represent a parallel WWII theater Gates has investigated, connecting through the shared historical period and the human cost of the Second World War.
Lake Otjikoto
Lake Otjikoto in Namibia is another site where wartime military equipment was reportedly concealed or lost — a thematic link to the sunken and abandoned hardware surrounding Rabaul.
Dyatlov Pass
Dyatlov Pass, like the Earhart investigation anchoring this episode, involves a famous disappearance that has never been conclusively explained, reflecting Gates' recurring interest in unresolved historical mysteries.