Kure, Japan
呉市
Kure is a town of 214,592 people in Hiroshima, Japan, founded in October 1, 1902.
Why visit Kure
Townapedia lists 23 museums and landmarks, 58 parks and trails, 225 places to eat, 18 places to stay and 15 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Akinada Bridge, Hiroshima International University, JMSDF Kure Museum and Yamato Museum.
Weather in Kure
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Kure
Kure (呉市, Kure-shi; Japanese pronunciation: [kɯ̈́.ɾè̞, kɯ̈̀.ɾé̞.ɕì], locally [kɯ̈̀.ɾé̞]) is a city in the Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 April 2023, the city had an estimated population of 208,024 in 106,616 households and a population density of 590 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 352.80 square kilometres (136.22 sq mi). With a strong industrial and naval heritage, Kure hosts the second-oldest naval dockyard in Japan and remains an important base for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
From the Wikipedia article Kure, Hiroshima (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Kure on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do15
Hiroshima International University
School · 14.3 km
Private university in East Hiroshima, Japan
Kure University
School · 9.0 km
Higher education institution in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Prefectural University of Hiroshima
School · 17.4 km
Higher education institution in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
3 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks23
JMSDF Kure Museum
Museum · 1.5 km
Japanese military museum located in Kure, Hiroshima
Mo-Tu,Th-Su 10:00-18:00 "last admission is 17:30"; We off
11 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds58
46 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes225
213 more on the map.
History
The area of Kure is part of ancient Aki Province, and the port of Kure was an important seaport for Hiroshima Domain in the Edo period.
The Kure Naval District was first established in 1889, leading to the construction of the Kure Naval Arsenal and the rapid growth of steel production and shipbuilding in the city. Kure was formally incorporated on October 1, 1902. From 1889 until the end of the Pacific War, the city served as the headquarters of the Kure Naval District.
Kure dockyards recorded a number of significant engineering firsts including the launching of the first major domestically built capital ship, the battlecruiser Tsukuba (1905) and the launching of the largest battleship ever built, the Yamato (1940).
During the Pacific War, Kure acted as the Imperial Japanese Navy's single-largest naval base and arsenal. Most of the city's industry and workforce were employed in the service of the naval installations, munitions factories and associated support functions. In the later stages of the conflict Kure came under sustained aerial bombardment culminating in the bombing of Kure in June and July 1945.
From February 1946 until the end of Japan's postwar occupation in 1952, military establishments in Kure served as the operational headquarters for the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.
From the History section of Kure, Hiroshima on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay18
Churches and places of worship83
Shopping26
Gas and EV charging11
Schools, colleges and libraries49
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Organization Kure National College of Technology
School · 3.2 km
Healthcare48
Map of Kure
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport (IWK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 31 km away.
- Etajima 8 km west, about 8 min by car
- Kumano 11 km north, about 11 min by car
- Saka 12 km north, about 12 min by car
- Kaitaichi 15 km north, about 15 min by car
- Fuchū 18 km north, about 18 min by car
- Hiroshima 22 km northwest, about 22 min by car
- Gion 24 km north, about 24 min by car
- Higashihiroshima 25 km northeast, about 25 min by car
- Hatsukaichi 25 km northwest, about 25 min by car
- Niihama 74 km southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Ondono-seto Bridge and Watashibune Hiroshima, Hashi photo, CC BY 3.0
- IHI shipyard, Kure, jkyZjdjNjN, CC BY 3.0
- Stern of JS Kaga(DDH-184) left rear view at JMSDF Kure Naval Base May 6, 2019 02, Hunini, CC BY-SA 4.0
- JS Kaga(DDH-184) right side view at JMSDF Kure Naval Base May 6, 2019, Hunini, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mk.15 Mod.31 SeaRAM mounted on ahead of JS Kaga(DDH-184) right rear view at JMSDF Kure Naval Base May 6, 2019, Hunini, CC BY-SA 4.0
- JS Kaga(DDH-184) left rear view at JMSDF Kure Naval Base May 6, 2019 02, Hunini, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mast of JS Kaga(DDH-184) right rear view at JMSDF Kure Naval Base May 6, 2019, Hunini, CC BY-SA 4.0
- JS Kaga(DDH-184) behind view at JMSDF Kure Naval Base May 6, 2019, Hunini, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mk.15 Mod.31 SeaRAM mounted on stern of JS Kaga(DDH-184) left rear view at JMSDF Kure Naval Base May 6, 2019, Hunini, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Stern of JS Kaga(DDH-184) left rear view at JMSDF Kure Naval Base May 6, 2019 01, Hunini, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Building of JMSDF Band, Kure Aug-2023, Doricono, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kure Line - panoramio, warabi hatogaya, CC BY 3.0
- 1 Chome Hondōri, Kure-shi, Hiroshima-ken 737-0045, Japan - panoramio, warabi hatogaya, CC BY 3.0
- Akinada Bridge 319865 2, Hiroshi Nakai, CC BY 2.0
- Ondo Bridge 20130303-01, Taisyo, CC BY 3.0
- Kenritsu Hiroshima daigaku Hiroshima campus 01, Taisyo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- JMSDF-KureMuseum, Fuji-s, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Yamato Museum in October 2008, Nick-D, CC BY-SA 3.0
- JMSDF AKISHIO, Taisyo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- You me Town Kure 2014, ja:User:Sanjo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- AEON.Hiro, Asasa198, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ichiritu Kure highschool 20200731, Taisyo, CC BY 3.0
- Kure Municipal Museum of Art Annex, Twilight2640, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kure-Miyahara highschool, Asasa198, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shimizugaoka highschool 20200815-1, Taisyo, CC BY 3.0
- Haigamine, Tamtarm, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kure Medical Center, Asasa198, CC BY-SA 3.0
- JMSDF-Oyashio-class submarine in Kure Naval Base, melvil, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 工廠神社入口, Miyabi605, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hiroshima International University, OS6, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 呉市二河野球場, 慧生, CC BY-SA 1.0
- Kure National Colllege Of Technology 20200731, Taisyo, CC BY 3.0
- The post box before Ondo Tourism & Culture Center Uzushio, Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, CC0
- 呉市立和庄中学校, 慧生, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kuremiyahara High School 20200815, Taisyo, CC BY 3.0
- 呉市立美術館, 慧生, CC BY 3.0
- Alley-Karasukojima, TRJN, CC BY-SA 4.0
- AEONHIRO-01, Tc117-1, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Rekisino mieruoka, Lumi iori, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 入船山紀念館 (48118220931), Wei-Te Wong from Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Irifuneyama Park 1988, retouch: M9106TB, Attribution
- Submarine "Shinkai" near Yamato Museum, そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0
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