Mt. Haigamine

In short

Mt. Haigamine is a mountain approximately 737 meters high, rising directly behind the city center of Kure. A road leads to the summit, and the mountain shows different faces depending on the time of day: sweeping daytime views of the port and islands, and at night the lights of Kure, which developed as a naval port city.

• ​Grand Daytime Panorama​​: From the observation plaza at the summit, you can take in Kure Port and the shipyards directly below and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea beyond. On clear days, the silhouettes of Shikoku's mountains can sometimes be seen beyond the islands
• ​One of the Three Great Night Views of Chugoku-Shikoku​​: The night view is counted alongside Hinoyama Park in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Mt. Godaisan in Kochi City. It is also popularly said that the pattern of light resembles the hiragana characters for "kure"
• ​Summit Radar Dome​​: The white dome is a weather radar facility of the Japan Meteorological Agency. Visitors cannot enter the facility grounds, so please view it from the outside

History and Highlights

​Mt. Haigamine​ is a mountain approximately 737 meters high, rising directly behind the city center of Kure. Visible directly in front of Kure Station, its summit houses a weather radar observation station of the Japan Meteorological Agency. When looking up from the city streets, the white, round radar dome atop the mountain serves as a prominent landmark. A paved road leads all the way to the summit, allowing visitors to easily enjoy an expansive view.

From the summit, you can overlook downtown Kure, Kure Port, the large cranes of the shipyards, boats coming and going in the harbor, and the islands floating in the Seto Inland Sea. At dusk, the lights of the town and factories spread out along the coastline, and the night view from Mt. Haigamine is counted as one of the "Three Great Night Views of Chugoku-Shikoku," alongside Hinoyama Park in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Mt. Godaisan in Kochi City. Offering sweeping daytime views of the port and islands, and nighttime vistas illuminated by the lights of Kure, which developed as a naval port city, it is an observation mountain that shows different faces depending on the time of day.

Viewing and Experience Highlights

• ​Grand Daytime Panorama​​: A wide, panoramic view opens up from the observation plaza at the summit. You can take in the geography of Kure—a city that has grown alongside the sea—all at once, from Kure Port and the shipyards directly below to the islands of the Seto Inland Sea stretching out beyond. On clear days, the silhouettes of Shikoku's mountains can sometimes be seen beyond the islands.
• ​One of the Three Great Night Views of Chugoku-Shikoku​​: At night, the lights of the port and city stretch along the coastline. It is also popularly viewed that the pattern of light resembles the Japanese hiragana characters for "kure" (くれ), and finding where it looks like that shape is part of the fun.
• ​Summit Radar Dome​​: The white dome is a weather radar facility that monitors rain cloud conditions. Visitors cannot enter the facility grounds, so please view it from the outside.

Travel Tips

To reach the summit from the city center of Kure, take National Route 185 toward Kuregoe Pass, and turn onto the mountain road leading to the summit from the Nishihata traffic light. The road is narrow and has many curves, so please drive cautiously at reduced speeds, especially at night. The summit parking lot has space for only a few cars, so if you wish to enjoy the transition from twilight to the night view, it is best to arrive well before sunset. The temperature on top of the mountain is lower than in the city center, so be sure to bring an extra layer of clothing when visiting at night.