The ultimate guide to your first trip to Kure! From the Yamato Museum to strolling through the port town and enjoying local cuisine, we've got you covered.

Kure City in Hiroshima Prefecture is a port town with a rich history as a naval base, home to the battleship Yamato, and boasts beautiful seaside scenery. It offers a variety of unique tourist attractions, including the Kure Museum and shipboard cruises. This guide introduces must-see spots for first-time visitors to Kure, where you can also enjoy strolling through the town and sampling local cuisine.

This is what Kure is like.

Kure City in Hiroshima Prefecture is a port town facing the Seto Inland Sea. It has a rich history as the site of the construction of the battleship Yamato and once flourished as the largest naval port in East Asia. There are numerous spots throughout the city where you can learn about the former Imperial Japanese Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. In addition, Kure offers unique Kure cuisine such as Kure JMSDF curry and Kure , and if you venture a little further, you can easily enjoy island hopping on the Akinada Tobishima Kaido. With so many sights to see, it's an area where you should allocate at least one day for sightseeing.

It's so close to Hiroshima and Miyajima! A guide to accessing Kure.

Kure, located on the Seto Inland Sea, boasts an attractive location easily accessible from Hiroshima City and Miyajima. It's a short 35-45 minute train ride from Hiroshima Station on the JR Kure Line, making it easily reachable by train. Another appealing feature is the cruise-like journey from Hiroshima Port to Kure Port. Kure Port is near the Yamato Museum, allowing you to start sightseeing immediately upon arrival. From Miyajima, you can also reach Kure quickly by high-speed ferry.

Departure point	means of transportation	Destination
JR Hiroshima Station	JR Kure Line, approximately 35-45 minutes	JR Kure Station
Hiroshima Port	Setouchi Sea Ferry (approx. 45 minutes), (high-speed boat) approx. 25 minutes	Kure Port
Hiroshima Bus Center	Claire Line: Approximately 46 minutes	In front of Kure Station

Departure point	means of transportation	Destination
Miyajima Pier	Miyajima- Kure Blue Line (high-speed ferry): Approximately 45 minutes	Kure Port

1-Day Kure Pass

This pass allows unlimited rides on Hiroshima's route buses within a limited area for one day. It also includes discounts on admission fees to major tourist attractions in Kure City.

Click here for details on the 1-Day Kure Pass.

A tour of Kure's classic spots, featuring locations associated with the Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

52737180112_ff94c77c98_c — Kure, with its history as the largest naval port in East Asia, is home to numerous sites associated with the former Imperial Japanese Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Take a stroll through the city and experience Kure's unique history and the impressive scenery of its port.

Explore the city of Kure in a retro bonnet bus!

Take a ride on a rare bonnet bus that retains the atmosphere of the Showa era, and tour places like the Renga-dori shopping street and the Irifuneyama Memorial Museum. The journey itself will become a special travel memory. There is also a course that visits "Aray Karasuko-jima," where you can see submarines up close, and you can enjoy the history and culture of Kure with a local guide. *The "Renga-dori Course" operated by bonnet bus is suspended from July to September.

Also check out the Kure Bay warship tour!

From a cruise ship, you can view destroyers and submarines docked at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Base. You can also see large ships being built at the shipyard and the remains of the battleship Yamato's dock. In addition, there is a "Sunset Kure Cruise" that departs once a day to coincide with sunset.

Introducing local Kure cuisine that is loved by the community.

From naval-related specialties to local foods loved across generations, we introduce the unique cuisine of Kure.

Kure Self-Defense Force Curry

Nikujaga (Japanese meat and potato stew)

Kure

pixta_93134122_M — This bowl features springy, flat noodles coated in a sweet, sour, and slightly spicy chicken broth. It's a beloved soul food of Kure, enjoyed for over 70 years.

Melon Bread Main Store

dive_hiroshima_feature_souvenir-recommended_img21 — Unlike typical melon bread, this one is shaped like a rugby ball, is surprisingly heavy, and is filled to the brim with special custard cream! Its surprising weight and retro Showa-era packaging are its main attractions.

Edelweiss Confectionery

day2_4-3 — The signature product, the "Cream Pie," is the ultimate delicacy, with a perfect balance of custard and fresh cream in a crispy pastry crust. With its refined sweetness, it has been loved by the people of Kure for generations.

Fukuzumi Fried Cakes

DSC5575-scaled-e1710210006921 — These fried manju buns, sold in the Renga-dori shopping street, draw long lines of customers. The crispy, fragrant dough encases a generous amount of piping hot, smooth Koshi-an. The fact that you can buy them individually and their unchanging, simple deliciousness are irresistible.

See more about naval cuisine

The port town of Kure is fun in the evening and at night too! Enjoy the night view and explore the food stalls.

pixta_88516863_M — One of Kure's charms is how its appearance changes from evening to night. With sunsets, night views, and food stalls, there are plenty of things to enjoy that you can't fully experience on a day trip, so we recommend staying overnight to relax and enjoy yourself.

Evening Cruise in Kure

yugurecruise_img14 — The popular Kure Bay warship tour can now be enjoyed exclusively at sunset with the "Evening Kure Cruise." Departing 15 minutes before sunset, you can watch from the ship as the Japan Self-Defense Forces flag is lowered to the accompaniment of the national anthem, "Kimigayo," played on a bugle.

Haigamine

original — This observation spot boasts an elevation of 737m, making it the highest point in Kure City. From here, you can enjoy panoramic views of the city, Kure, and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, and at night, a beautiful night view unfolds, which has been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Night Views.

Street of food stalls

00-139 — At night, the food stalls along Kuramoto Street are lined with red lanterns. A wide variety of shops are gathered here, offering everything from classic ramen and oden to creative dishes.

Island scenic drives too! A slow trip along the Akinada Tobishima Kaido

Kure City is also the gateway to the Akinada Tobishima Kaido, a network of bridges connecting islands in the Seto Inland Sea. The scenic drive along the coast offers views of tranquil islands and port towns, with each island displaying a unique character. You can enjoy a leisurely island trip without feeling rushed, visiting scenic viewpoints, small villages, and seaside attractions. This is a route you'll want to extend your trip to include in Kure sightseeing.

Be sure to check out the tourist brochure that encapsulates the charm of Kure!

Be sure to check out " Kure Meguri," a booklet summarizing the sights and ways to enjoy the port town of Kure . It clearly introduces tourist spots and model itineraries, making it a great resource for planning your trip.