Overview

This day trip around Kure and Etajima offers a deep experience of Japan’s maritime defence history, shipbuilding culture, and the charm of a port town surrounded by the sea, providing a vivid picture of the past and present of the Japanese navy.

In the morning, we cross from Kure Port to Etajima by ferry to visit the First Technical School, the nerve centre of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force. On the campus, with its imposing Meiji period buildings, you can experience first-hand the history of military education, view historical exhibits, and feel the disciplined environment. An interpreter guide offers deeper insights.

After returning to Kure from Etajima, enjoy a lunch featuring local dishes, including the famous Navy curry. The afternoon involves a stroll through the historic district, recognised as a Japan Heritage site. At the Irifuneyama Memorial Museum, an Important Cultural Property, you learn about architecture associated with the former Navy and the cultural backdrop that supported Kure’s development. The city walk reveals the life of both naval personnel and civilians.

The journey concludes with the Kure Bay Fleet Tour, a cruise unique to this port town that built the battleship Yamato. Timed for sunset, the cruise offers magnificent views of shipyards and active naval vessels bathed in the evening light, allowing you to experience the scale of the maritime city of Kure up close. This is a one-day trip blending history, culture, and breathtaking scenery – an experience found nowhere else.

Features

The greatest appeal lies in experiencing all this in a single day: visiting the First Technical School on Etajima Island, strolling through Kure’s historic district, viewing the Irifuneyama Memorial Museum, and taking the Kure Bay Fleet Tour to see the fleet of vessels gleaming in the sunset. A professional guide provides clear explanations of naval heritage and port town scenery, creating a tour that blends learning with inspiration.