Yamato Museum, Naval museum in Kure, Japan
The Yamato Museum is a naval museum in Kure displaying a scale replica of a historic warship at one-tenth size. Additional halls present documents on shipbuilding techniques, original aircraft and demonstrations of marine engineering.
The facility opened in 2005 on the hundredth anniversary of an early naval war and the sixtieth end of the last world conflict. Both occasions mark important turning points in the military past of the region.
The name recalls the battleship built in local shipyards, whose replica forms the central display. Visitors see through tools and blueprints how the dockyard town became an industrial base for the navy.
The building opens at nine in the morning and closes at six in the evening, with tiered admission for different age groups. Photography is allowed in the main hall, and interactive stations can be found on the upper floor.
An original A6M Zero fighter hangs in one of the galleries and shows details of metalwork from wartime production. Nearby, experiment stations with water and models explain the principles of buoyancy and ship speed.
Location: Kure
Inception: April 23, 2005
Architects: Kume Sekkei
Official opening: April 23, 2005
Address: 広島県呉市宝町5-20
Website: https://yamato-museum.com/eng
GPS coordinates: 34.24114,132.55581
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:23
This collection brings together warships that shaped naval warfare across three centuries, from wooden sailing vessels to nuclear-powered submarines. The ships represent turning points in maritime military technology, including the age of sail, the transition to steam and iron hulls, and the advent of nuclear propulsion. Preserved vessels such as HMS Victory and USS Constitution demonstrate life aboard warships during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812, while USS Missouri and USS Nautilus illustrate the strategic role of naval forces during World War II and the Cold War. Visitors can explore the decks where historic battles were commanded, examine artillery from 18-pound cannons to modern naval guns, and walk through the cramped quarters where crews lived during extended deployments. The collection spans continents, with museum ships located in Portsmouth, Pearl Harbor, Stockholm, and Saint Petersburg. Each vessel tells the story of its nation's naval ambitions and the sailors who served aboard, offering a tangible connection to maritime history that no textbook can match.
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