Flow characteristics of the inflow ahead of a rotating propeller attached to a container ship model were investigated using a two-frame PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) technique. Ensemble-averaged mean velocity fields were measured at four different blade phases. The mean velocity fields show the acceleration of inflow due to the rotating propeller and the velocity deficit in the near-wake region. The axial velocity distribution of inflow in the upper plane of propeller is quite different from that in the lower plane due to the thick hull boundary layer. The propeller inflow also shows asymmetric axial velocity distribution in the port and starboard side. As the inflow moves toward the propeller, the effect of phase angle variation of propeller blade on the inflow becomes dominant. In the upper plane above the propeller axis the inflow has very low axial velocity and large turbulent kinetic energy, compared with the lower plane. The boundary layer developed along the bottom surface of stern hull forms a strong shear layer affecting vortex structure of the propeller near-wake.