The crew rode out the typhoon and savored their first liberty ashore on the Japanese mainland during the ship's ten-day (17–27 September 1945) stay in the Tōkyō Bay area. Many of the men explored the devastated cities and purchased souvenir trinkets from the people. Vessels of every description packed the bay when "Kitkun Bay" arrived, but multiple ships departed each day, and only a few major warships, several dozen destroyers and escorts, some auxiliaries, and a variety of landing craft remained when the carrier prepared to turn for home.