As you enter, battleship Yamato appears suddenly in front of your eyes!

The 26.3 meter long 10:1 model of the battleship has an overwhelming impact!

Built at an actual shipyard, this model Yamato was recreated as close to the original as possible based on blueprints, photographs, footage from underwater investigations, among others.

Even for a woman like me, it was very interesting to see.

Next off, let’s head to the exhibition room!

A normal tour takes about 2 hours, but if you read all the panels, you might need half a day.

For those visiting for the first time, try a tour with a volunteer guide – there are plenty of new things to learn.

There are so many highlights that you won’t get tired no matter how many times you visit. If you look at the facts written on the panels, you can learn why Yamato was made in Kure, and about Kure’s history.
I learned that shipbuilding techniques were applied to a wide variety of fields such as the manufacture of automobiles and household electronics, and that the industry supported post-war technological superpower, Japan.

And here’s a point you cannot miss!

Each time I visit the museum I am moved by the legacy of the Yamato crewmembers who were in their early twenties.

As well as the video of Yamato crewmembers being rescued, family members give real accounts of how the ship was at the time.

After finishing the tour of the museum, I head to the exhibition room where a real Zero fighter plane is on display.

It’s almost as if you’ve slipped back in time.

Yamato Museum is not only a place where you can find out about battleship Yamato, but also a place where you can learn about science and technology, too.

Last, you need to check the souvenir corner! “Kaigun-san no Curry” (‘Sailor’s curry’) is very popular. Did you know that in the current Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces, ‘Rice and Curry’ is served onboard ship every Friday? Apparently, it’s so that the crew don’t lose their sense of weekdays!

There’s also plenty of other marine themed stationary and other cute goods that can only be bought here.

When the weather’s good, we recommend taking a walk along the Yamato-shaped wharf located by the sea, and having a picnic on the grassy area.

On the other side of the port, you can see the dock where the 263 meter long battleship Yamato was built in 1941.

In 2015, Yamato Museum celebrates its 10th year of operations, and even now it’s bustling with tourists both from home and abroad.

It doesn’t look like its popularity is going to wane anytime soon.

If you’re wondering why it’s so popular, come by for a visit – you should be able to discover its charms!

Yamato Museum
Address: 5-20 Takaramachi, Kure city, Hiroshima prefecture
TEL: 0823-25-3017
Access: 5-minutes walk from Kure station
http://www.yamato-museum.jp/ (Japanese)
http://www.yamato-museum.com/en/ (English)

Setouchi Finder Photo-writers: Makoto Esaki & Yoko Suganami (Rainbow Sake Co., Ltd.)

Show larger map>

Give us your Like

Follow @setouchifinder

Keywords

Art Museum Hiroshima Kure City

Written by

Rainbow Sake

Yoko Suganami Rainbow Sake, Inc. After an extended stay in Hawaii, in 2011, I returned to my hometown of Kure, Hiroshima. Having worked at advertising companies in both Japan and Hawaii, I founded Rainbow Sake - a PR company with the goal of spreading Sake abroad. I hope that sake will ""bring the people of the world together"" and that I can be a part of that. I often travel abroad, and mostly to Hawaii and Singapore. Every time I come back home, I rediscover the beauty of my hometown and the happiness the easygoing, calm, fresh and simple sea and mountains of Setouchi bring. http://www.rainbowsake.com

> More Articles writtern by "Rainbow Sake"

> to Photo Writer List