I-202 had reached the open sea when bombing of the base began, but as it was unable to dive it was hit on the aft deck by strafing aircraft.

A convoy of 35 small cargo vessels, some minesweepers, and five submarines including I-202 and I-201 left Kure at the end of June to run the Kanmon Straits by night.

I-202 made the dangerous passage surfaced, on battery power, with the entire crew except for essential personnel assembled on the top deck and forbidden to move.

On 15 August the war ended with the surrender of Japan but two days later I-202 sailed with I-201, I-121, Ro-500 and one other submarine and deployed in a line 150 mi (240 km) off Vladivostok.

The submarines finally returned to Maizuru on 24 August after destroying their radios and other equipment, and in October sailed to Sasebo where they and their sister ship I-203 were taken out of service on 30 November and handed over to the Occupation Forces.