🗺️ Wu Port Ship Tour呉艦船めぐり

The sightseeing boat "Kure Bay Ship Tour," which cruises around the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Base, operates 4 to 5 regular trips daily, as well as an evening cruise called "Yuu Kure." During the approximately 35-minute boat ride, passengers can get very close to the moored submarines and destroyers of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, making it quite popular among tourists. After completing the boarding procedures at the Kure Central Pier, you can enter the boat. You can clearly see the view from the windows inside the boat, but it is especially recommended to go to the open deck on the top level. In this unobstructed open space, you can fully enjoy the maritime scenery of the moored ships. The sightseeing boat departing from Kure Central Pier, guided by a narrator, passes by ships under construction and repair at the shipyard, as well as the old dry dock where the Yamato battleship was built in extreme secrecy, before arriving near the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Base. The types of ships moored vary depending on the time, providing a rare opportunity to observe submarines, destroyers, and transport ships up close from the sea. If the timing is right, the Self-Defense Force personnel working on the ships may even wave to the passengers! The narrator will point out the best photo spots, so be sure not to miss any information. The daytime ship tour is also highly recommended, but the highlight is definitely the "Yuu Kure" cruise that departs before sunset. Standing on the sea with the ships against the backdrop of the setting sun creates a breathtaking scene. The lowering of the Self-Defense Force flag accompanied by a trumpet ceremony is a special advantage that can only be seen on the Yuu Kure cruise. After the ship tour, it’s worth taking a look from the land to see the view of Ukoshima Island from the sea.

You can watch the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships up close from the sea on a sightseeing boat that takes about 35 minutes. You can visit ships under construction at Kure Port and the old dock where the battleship Yamato was built. There are four regular boat departures a day (five on weekends and public holidays), as well as the "Yū Kure Cruise" before sunset. The guide will explain the best photo spots, so you won't forget to press the shutter. On the Yū Kure Cruise, you can also observe the flag-lowering ceremony of the Self-Defense Force ships.