Kure, known for its port, shipbuilding industry, and naval base, is particularly famous for its association with Japan's mightiest battleship, the Yamato. Located in southwestern Hiroshima Prefecture, the city has an excellent natural harbour serving as Japan's second-largest naval port to this day. The Yamato Museum, officially known as Kure Maritime History and Science Museum, illustrates Japan's maritime history with a scale replica of the Yamato battleship and countless relics and exhibits. The JMSDF Museum traces naval defence and houses a decommissioned submarine, the Akishio. East of the city, trails lead to the peak of Mount Noro (膳棚山). On Kamikamagarijima (上蒲刈島), the Kure Kamagari Observatory (呉市かまがり天体観測館) overlooks the curved Kenmin-no-Hama beach.
The best way to see the harbour and its entirety of commercial and naval facilities is the Kurewan Kansen Meguri (呉湾艦船めぐり), the Kure Bay Ship Tour. It starts at the Kure Central Pier Terminal, next to the Yamato Museum. The cruise takes about 45 minutes and offers fascinating views of the JMSDF base, vast shipyards, and the remains of the dock where the Yamato was built. We were lucky enough to join the final trip of the day, the Sunset Kure Cruise, which allows you to enjoy an unforgettable sunset over Kure Bay.
Sunset over Kure Bay
The range of vessels, frigates, destroyers, and submarines is impressive, not only to navy aficionados!
JS Hibiki (AOS-5201) is a Hibiki-class ocean surveillance ship of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Behold the submarines!
There are all sorts of naval hardware:
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force submarine depot and rescue ship Chihaya (ASR-403)
JS Setoyuki (DD-131)
JS Setoyuki (DD-131) and JS Shimayuki (DD-133), two Hatsuyuki-class destroyers
And one of the JMSDF's jewels, the Izumo-class multi-purpose destroyer JS Izumo (DDH-183):
Views of Kure Bay:
View more photos in the Kure Port Cruise album.
Several tour operators are offering Kure Bay cruises. You can buy tickets next to the Yamato Museum, at the Kure Central Pier Terminal, but there are other operators in neighbouring ports, too. In the image below, the Kure port cruises are indicated in red.
The best way to see the harbour and its entirety of commercial and naval facilities is the Kurewan Kansen Meguri (呉湾艦船めぐり), the Kure Bay Ship Tour. It starts at the Kure Central Pier Terminal, next to the Yamato Museum. The cruise takes about 45 minutes and offers fascinating views of the JMSDF base, vast shipyards, and the remains of the dock where the Yamato was built. We were lucky enough to join the final trip of the day, the Sunset Kure Cruise, which allows you to enjoy an unforgettable sunset over Kure Bay.
Sunset over Kure Bay
The range of vessels, frigates, destroyers, and submarines is impressive, not only to navy aficionados!
JS Hibiki (AOS-5201) is a Hibiki-class ocean surveillance ship of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Behold the submarines!
There are all sorts of naval hardware:
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force submarine depot and rescue ship Chihaya (ASR-403)
JS Setoyuki (DD-131)
JS Setoyuki (DD-131) and JS Shimayuki (DD-133), two Hatsuyuki-class destroyers
And one of the JMSDF's jewels, the Izumo-class multi-purpose destroyer JS Izumo (DDH-183):
Views of Kure Bay:
View more photos in the Kure Port Cruise album.
Several tour operators are offering Kure Bay cruises. You can buy tickets next to the Yamato Museum, at the Kure Central Pier Terminal, but there are other operators in neighbouring ports, too. In the image below, the Kure port cruises are indicated in red.
