Kure City and Battleship Yamato: Learning Japan's Modern and Contemporary History at Naval History Town

Kure City, Hiroshima functioned as an important Japanese Navy base from the Meiji era through the end of World War II as a naval port city. The "Battleship Yamato," built as the world's largest battleship at 263 meters length and 64,000-ton displacement, was completed at Kure Naval Arsenal in 1941.

Yamato Museum (Kure Maritime Museum)

The "Yamato Museum" opened in 2005 features a 1/10 scale (26.3m total length) precision model of the Battleship Yamato as its main exhibit. With a concept conveying the cutting-edge technology used in Yamato's construction and wishes for peace, it receives approximately 1 million visitors annually as one of Hiroshima Prefecture's leading tourist facilities.

Iron Whale Museum

"Iron Whale Museum (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Museum)" standing across from Yamato Museum allows viewing the interior of an actual submarine (Akishio). Exhibits teaching how submarines operate are enjoyable for everyone from children to adults.

Kure Navy Curry

Kure's specialty gourmet is "Navy Curry." A modern arrangement of the curry conceived by the navy to maintain physical strength in the Meiji era, it can be enjoyed at many restaurants in Kure City.

Access

About 10 minutes on foot from JR Kure Line Kure Station (to Yamato Museum). About 35-40 minutes from Hiroshima Station by Kure Line.