A quieter side trip from Hiroshima.
Visit Kure is an illustrated English travel guide to Kure City, Hiroshima — the home of the battleship Yamato, naval curry, and the Seto Inland Sea. Each guide is verified against primary sources, illustrated in original watercolor, and written for travellers who want depth, not bullet points.
Featured guide
Okunoshima Rabbit Island: Complete 2026 Visitor's Guide
Okunoshima (Rabbit Island) is a 4km island in the Seto Inland Sea packed with hundreds of wild rabbits — and a darker WWII past. Ferry ¥360 from Tadanoumi, 15 minutes. Day trip from Hiroshima or Kure.
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One Day in Kure: The Complete 2026 Itinerary
How to spend one day in Kure from Hiroshima: Yamato Museum (¥1,000), JMSDF submarine museum (free), naval curry lunch, plus afternoon options for warship cruises, Etajima, or film locations.
Etajima Naval Academy: Complete 2026 Visitor's Guide to Japan's Historic Officer School
Visit Japan's former Imperial Naval Academy on Etajima Island — free guided tours, red-brick buildings from 1893, and a 20-minute ferry from Kure. Full access guide for foreign visitors.
JMSDF Kure Open-Ship Days: How to Apply for the Lottery and Board a Warship (2026)
Board an active JMSDF warship in Kure for free — entry requires a lottery as of 2026. Step-by-step application guide for foreign visitors.
Kure Harbor Warship Cruise: How to See Active JMSDF Submarines Up Close (2026 Guide)
Book the Kure harbor cruise (¥2,200 adults, ~40 min) to see active JMSDF submarines and destroyers from the water, one minute from the Yamato Museum.
In This Corner of the World: Kure Filming Locations Guide (2026)
How to visit the real Kure settings of the anime film In This Corner of the World — Suzu's house, the Aoyama Club, the free hand-drawn location map, and how to do the pilgrimage respectfully.
Hiroshima to Kure Day Trip: Complete 2026 Visitor's Guide
How to get from Hiroshima to Kure: the JR Kure Line takes about 35–50 minutes for ¥510, plus bus, ferry and car options, what to see, and sample half-day and full-day itineraries.
Kure Naval Curry Guide: How to Eat the JMSDF's Friday Curry in 2026
Kure's certified Kure Kaiji Curry network serves ~22 JMSDF ship recipes at local restaurants. Complete 2026 guide: which shops to visit, what to order, and how to combine with the Yamato Museum day trip.
JMSDF Kure Museum (Tetsu no Kujira): Complete 2026 Visitor's Guide
Visit Tetsu no Kujira (Iron Whale Museum) in Kure — free admission, inside a real 76-meter submarine, and 5 minutes from JR Kure Station. Complete 2026 guide.
Yamato Museum (Kure): Complete 2026 Visitor's Guide After the Grand Reopening
Visit the Yamato Museum in Kure, reopened April 23, 2026. Hours, ¥1,000 admission, English Sunday tours, the 26.3m scale model, and a half-day plan from Hiroshima.
Why Visit Kure
Editorial depth
Every price, opening hour, and historical claim is verified against primary sources. Fact-checks are reviewed by a multi-perspective editorial team before publishing.
Illustrated, not generic
Our guides use original sumi-e watercolor illustrations grounded in real reference photography. No stock photos, no generic AI scenes.
Written for travel, not SEO
We write for visitors who want to understand why a destination matters — not just what the opening hours are. Most guides take 30+ hours to research.
About the editor
Visit Kure is written by Masayuki Ogasahara, born and raised in Kure. The site is independent and reader-supported through affiliate links to verified booking partners. Illustrations are generated with AI (Gemini) using real reference photography; this is disclosed on every article. More about the editor →
Coming soon
- Hiroshima → Kure day-trip itinerary
- Where to eat kaigun curry in Kure
- Mt. Haigamine sunset guide
- In This Corner of the World location map