From Kure to Etajima: A Tour of the Former Imperial Japanese Naval Academy

This course takes you through the Yamato Museum and the JMSDF Kure Museum standing side by side near the port of Kure, followed by a boat ride to Etajima for a guided walking tour of the grounds of the Former Imperial Japanese Naval Academy. It links Kure, a town that developed as a naval base, with Etajima, where naval officers were trained, across the sea in a single day.

History and Regional Appeal

Kure developed as a naval base and became a town where warship-building technology was concentrated. The battleship Yamato, completed in 1941 (Showa 16), was also built at the Kure Naval Arsenal.

To the west of Kure, across the sea on Etajima, the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy was relocated from Tsukiji, Tokyo, in August 1888 (Meiji 21). This location was chosen because it was close to the Kure Naval District, could accommodate the anchoring of warships, and offered a favorable environment. Before the war, Etajima was virtually synonymous with the naval academy. Following the end of the war, it was placed under the administration of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force and others, and in 1956 (Showa 31), it was handed over to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Today, it houses institutions such as the JMSDF Officer Candidate School and the JMSDF 1st Service School.

A town that built warships and an island that trained officers. Tracing the historical traces remaining in these two places offers time to mourn those who lost their lives in the war and to reflect anew on peace.

Key Highlights

• ​Yamato Museum​​: A museum whose official name is the Kure Maritime Museum. In the first-floor Yamato Hiroba, a 1/10-scale model of the battleship Yamato, measuring 26.3 meters in length, is on display. After a major renovation, it reopened in its new form on April 23, 2026 (Reiwa 8).
• ​JMSDF Kure Museum​​: A museum affectionately known as the "Iron Whale" (Tetsu-no-Kujira Kan). From the third floor, visitors can step inside the actual submarine Akishio, which is mounted on land beside the building, to view the captain's cabin and the control room, or look through the periscope. The second floor introduces the history of minesweeping operations that cleared naval mines from sea routes after the war.
• ​Former Imperial Japanese Naval Academy​​: Buildings from the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods remain in use today, including the red-brick student hall built in 1893 (Meiji 26) and the granite Great Auditorium built in 1917 (Taisho 6). The Kyoiku Sankokan Museum displays around 1,000 items relating to the former navy, where the farewell letters and personal belongings of Kamikaze special attack corps members leave a profound impression on visitors.

Recommended Route and Duration

The recommended route takes approximately 7 hours. First, visit the JMSDF Kure Museum, located about a 5-minute walk from JR Kure Station, and the Yamato Museum right across from it. The model course on Hiroshima Prefecture's official tourism website suggests allowing about 90 minutes for the Yamato Museum and about 70 minutes for the JMSDF Kure Museum.

To reach Etajima, take a boat from Kure Central Pier, located beside the Yamato Museum. It is a short boat trip to Koyo Port on Etajima, taking about 20 minutes by car ferry or about 10 minutes by high-speed craft, with frequent departures from Kure. From Koyo Port, it is about a 7-minute bus ride or about a 7-minute taxi ride. The Former Imperial Japanese Naval Academy is located approximately 7.5 kilometers in a straight line west across the sea from the Yamato Museum.

The tour of the Former Imperial Japanese Naval Academy is a guided walk of about 90 minutes that starts at set times. Reception takes place at the main gate between 30 minutes and 5 minutes before the start time. Plan your visit by coordinating your sightseeing time in Kure with the boat timetable to arrive in time for the tour. As leaving halfway through the tour is generally not permitted and a considerable distance is covered on foot, please wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Tours may occasionally be canceled due to circumstances. For the return journey, take a boat from Koyo Port back to Kure.

Experience Summary

After viewing a massive battleship model and a submarine mounted on land, cross the sea by boat to walk through grounds lined with red-brick and granite buildings. Connecting the town that built warships with the island that trained officers brings the modern history intertwined with the sea into view as a continuous story. Take time to pause before each exhibit and spend a day reflecting on the importance of peace.