About Suicide Cliff
Suicide Cliff is a World War II historic site on the northern coast of Saipan where large numbers of Japanese civilians and soldiers died at the end of the Battle of Saipan in 1944. The site is recognised for its historical importance and is marked with memorials.
The main attraction for visitors is the coastal overlook and memorial area that provides views down the steep limestone cliffs to the sea and interpretive information about the battle. The adjacent Banzai Cliff is often visited on the same trip.
The cliffs were the scene of civilian and military mass deaths during the island battle in June and July 1944; postwar memorials and signage have been placed to commemorate those events. Today the site is accessible by road on the northern part of Saipan and is a stop on local historical tours.
Suicide Cliff sits on Saipan’s northern tip in the Marpi area, with sea views to the north and west and public parking close to the viewing area.
- Memorial: Interpretive signs and memorial plaques mark the site and explain its significance from the Battle of Saipan in 1944.
- Nearby site: Often visited together with nearby Banzai Cliff as part of the northern Saipan wartime historic sites circuit.
What to See#
- Viewpoint and memorial: A roadside overlook with plaques and a designated viewing area that faces out over sheer coastal limestone cliffs and the open ocean; this is the principal place where visitors pause to view the site and remember the events of 1944.
Nearby Attractions to Suicide Cliff
Best Time to Visit Suicide Cliff
Best visited in the dry season (roughly December-June) for clearer skies and moderate humidity.
Weather & Climate near Suicide Cliff
Suicide Cliff's climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 24°C to 31°C. Heavy rainfall (2012 mm/year), wettest in September.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 24° - 29° | 26° | 111 mm | - | - | 5.9 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 24° - 29° | 26° | 79 mm | - | - | 5.9 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 24° - 29° | 27° | 78 mm | - | - | 5.8 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 25° - 30° | 27° | 89 mm | - | - | 5.4 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 25° - 31° | 28° | 94 mm | - | - | 4.7 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 26° - 31° | 28° | 116 mm | - | - | 4.7 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 25° - 31° | 28° | 244 mm | - | - | 4.2 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 25° - 31° | 28° | 298 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 25° - 31° | 28° | 344 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 25° - 30° | 28° | 267 mm | - | - | 4.7 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 25° - 30° | 28° | 172 mm | - | - | 5.0 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 25° - 29° | 27° | 120 mm | - | - | 5.6 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Suicide Cliff
Suicide Cliff is reached by road from Saipan’s main settlements; it is a short drive northeast of the island’s centre and is usually signed as a historic site or memorial area. Guided tours of wartime sites include this stop.
Tips for Visiting Suicide Cliff
- Be respectful at memorial sites and heed any signage that protects flora and human remains.
- Visit early in the day to avoid the heat and to see the viewpoint with the best light for photographs.
- Combine a visit with other Saipan World War II sites for broader historical context.