Discover Kure: Submarine History, Art and Walking Trails

Kure appeals to travelers who want to combine maritime history, art and walks. A stay connected with Kure also includes impressions of the surrounding municipality, where the offerings range from a submarine you can explore to museums, green trails and seasonal streetscapes. When looking for a holiday apartment, a simple question can help: Should your stay focus mainly on naval history, art and architecture, or walks through the streets? These themes provide a sense of direction without setting a fixed itinerary.

Maritime history up close

The JMSDF Kure Museum shows the interior of the “Akishio” submarine, which was in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force until 2004. You can enter the submarine on display and get a sense of the conditions and life during a dive. You can also talk with active and former members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

The Kure Bay Ship Tour offers close-up views of large ships under construction, as well as ships and submarines of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Passengers can listen to a guide’s explanations on the open-air second-floor deck. The two experiences offer different ways to explore the maritime theme: a look inside a former submarine and guided commentary during the tour.

Museums at the crossroads of history and art

Irifuneyama Park is home to the Irifuneyama Memorial Museum, which tells the story of Kure as a former naval port town. The museum is centered around the former residence of the commander of Kure Naval Base, designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1998. Here, history is brought to life through a specific building.

The Kure City Museum of Art is also located in Irifuneyama Park. Its collection comprises 919 works by Japanese and international artists, including Bourdelle’s “Hercules the Archer” and Renoir’s “Girl in a Straw Hat.” The striking architecture of the imposing brick building is another feature: its hipped roof is covered with Japanese roof tiles, while the façade is clad in brick-red hexagonal tiles. A haiku monument to Masaoka Shiki adds to the cultural impressions in the park.

Walking trails, seasonal colors and hillside scenery

Museum Street is a tree-lined promenade paved with red bricks and featuring 18 sculptures. Around Irifuneyama Park, the streetscape is also shaped by artworks, green pines and a natural woodland setting. The path is used for walking and relaxation. Azaleas bloom along Kuramoto Street in spring, and the ginkgo trees turn color there in autumn. Together with the brick-patterned sidewalk, they give the street a seasonal character.

In the Ryōjō area, you can see an unusual hillside neighborhood known as “Staircases (Ryōjō’s 100 Steps).” The name describes the landscape; it does not indicate how many steps you will climb on a particular route. Between the promenade, seasonal streetscapes and hillside homes, the scenery shifts from greenery and sculptures to architecture and landscape.

Traces of naval history nearby

Near the destination, a memorial monument stands on the former site of the technical training center of the Kure Naval Arsenal. Remains of an air observation post and bunkers have also been preserved in the area. These sites, too, reflect the region’s military history, while museums, art and walking trails offer other sides of a stay.

Each experience has a distinct character: museums focus on history, collections and architecture; walking trails take you through changing streetscapes and hillside scenery; and the Ship Tour adds onboard commentary to the maritime experience. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can plan your trip around the mix that interests you. If you want to combine several themes, you can complement the cultural and maritime experiences with walks.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Fukuyama, Sera, Miyoshi, Hatsukaichi, Fuchū, Kurogawa, Hiroshima, Mihara.

For the main travel overview: Hiroshima Prefecture.