Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Kure Museum

Didn't actually know about this one. But once you reach the Yamato museum you can't miss the hint. -Yes they put the biggest map mark in front of it I've ever seen!
Besides of seeing a real sub from the inside it offers a lot about the recent defence forces and mine sweeping.
-Did I already mention the real sub in front of it?

Worth a visit. And. You need to see it to believe it. All exhibits are well presented, preserved. All employees of the museum is very friendly and courteous.

I will definitely bring my mother here even just for the submarine and then she can tell that she was aboard on one.

Also the exhibitions were very informative and the temporary exhibition about the Antartic expeditions... Those crochet penguins got me well.

Cool experience. No complaints. If I remember correctly, then the big submarine outside actually has an interior that you can see. Highly recommended for people nearby.

Note: no entry cost, no queue

Very interesting museum of Japanese Navy Defense. Must visit if you're coming to Kure.

It’s a must visit for World War 2 history nerds like me and military fans in general. No wait time and no lines made our visit very convenient. It’s surrounded by many ships so you will have a lot to explore and admire. Exhibits are well-maintained and this is definitely a good place to bring your children also. Located just around 500 meters from JR Kure Station and there’s also You Me shopping mall across the museum. You can easily spend half day on this place.

Enlightening museum about Japan’s submarine and minesweeping history. I’d say about 80% of the museum displays were translated to English. Unfortunately some were not. Great museum to visit if you appreciate military strategy and history though.

Free museum with a real submarine to enter and visit. Informative about minesweeping. Some english available for some displays.

When you go to Kure city, you must visit there. And only weekday, their café serves great Japanese navy curry and rice which was served in military submarine.

From far away you notice this museum because it's part is actual submarine!

Oh what a exciting experience. First part is about minesweeping but then it's getting interesting.

Before you get a board of real submarine there is history of submarines and some other things. But then you are in a real submarine where you pass command bridge, dinning room, "bedrooms" and from bridge you can see torpedo room.

Pretty awesome to board submarine and feel it for yourself.

Very informative excellent exhibits would have liked to have seen more of the submarine interior like the torpedo room but still well worth the visit

This place outshines the Yamato Museum - you can lie down in crew bunks, sit in the driver's seat of the Arashio, and chat with MSDF veterans. Well-designed exhibits showcase the fascinating history of mine sweeping and reemergence of ship building after the war. If you only have time for one museum in Kure, this is hands-down the one to visit.

A must must must visit place to visit if youre a fan of military and stuff! You can even go into the submarine outside and even use the periscope and play around with the steering thing. Theyre more of a history-kind but they also have a lot of very interesting pieces.

Interesting museum that contains a collection of mines from around the world and gives an insight into submarines and minesweeping. The highlight of the museum is decommissioned submarine Akishio, which one can walk through.

The grounded giant submarine caught the attention of my wife and me soon after we arrived Kure from Hiroshima city on January 12, 2018. The highlight of the Museum visit was getting inside the submarine, passing through the cramped quarters of submariners and the captain‘s room into the control room, trying out the periscope to look into the Hiroshima Bay, and pulling and pushing the controlling gears. We contributed to the free Museum by buying lots and submariners’ curry squares home at its souvenir shop and had a submarine+torpedos styled sausage curry rice at its cafe！

Detail and fun. Good experience in walking inside the decommissioned submarine.

JMSDF has done a great job with this exhibit. Shows the extraordinary role they have played in saving the world's waterways and the incredible amount of work that goes into it. Stop by and support the JMSDF in their unique and stocked gift shop! The submarine tour gives an eye opening perspective to life on a submarine. Well done! Thank you JMSDF! Awesome crew and staff.

Great museum, especially considering its free you can go and visit the inside of a submarine there. Definitely recommend if you are in the area

Perfect, excited to walk into marine

Visited this museum 4 years ago from Tokyo by adventure bike. Well worth the trip to see after the coronavirus goes away.