Kure Yamato Maritime Museum

Kure City once prospered as the home of Japan’s largest naval arsenal. After the war, it leveraged that technology to build many of the world’s largest tankers, helping make Japan the world’s leading shipbuilding nation. The Yamato Museum introduces not only Kure’s history but also a wide range of science and technology, including shipbuilding and steelmaking.
On the first floor, visitors are welcomed by a replica of the battleship "Yamato" built in Kure. Although it is one-tenth the size of the real ship, it is still about 26 meters long—an impressive sight that conveys Kure’s technical prowess. The floor also includes exhibits on Kure’s history and a gallery for large-scale artifacts. For families, the recommended area is the third-floor "Technology of Building Ships" section, which features hands-on attractions such as a ship-handling simulator and an experimental water tank, making it fun to learn science and technology through experience. Access to the Yamato Museum is a 5-minute walk from Kure Station and a 1-minute walk from Kure Port. Paid parking is also available for private cars.