"Asama" continued to make training cruises until she ran aground again in 1935, after which she became a stationary training ship for the rest of her career. "Tokiwa", converted into a minelayer in 1922–24, was placed in reserve in 1927 after an accidental explosion of several mines damaged her. The ship became a training minelayer in 1940. During the Pacific War of 1941-1945, "Tokiwa" participated in the occupation of the Gilbert Islands (1941) and Rabaul and Kavieng (1942) in New Guinea. Damaged by American aircraft shortly afterwards, the ship was forced to return to Japan for repairs. "Tokiwa" laid minefields during 1944–45 until she was twice damaged by mines in 1945. Shortly before the end of the war, American aircraft inflicted heavy damage on the ship and her crew had to beach her. "Tokiwa" was salvaged in 1947 and subsequently broken up for scrap. "Asama" survived the war intact and was scrapped in 1946–47.