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The world’s largest battleship, Yamato, sank off the coast of Okinawa during the final days of the Pacific War, taking with it approximately 3,000 crew members. Its massive hull still rests on the East China Sea floor today.
However, the spirit and technology of the Yamato live on at the Yamato Museum in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
Japan’s technological prowess that enabled the construction of the world’s largest battleship, along with the story of Kure City and its people who supported this achievement - stepping into the museum feels like traveling back in time as these magnificent historical pages unfold before you.
The centerpiece is the enormous 26.3-meter model of the Battleship Yamato. Other notable exhibits include the Zero Fighter, torpedoes, and the Kaiten human torpedo. The impressive 41cm main gun barrel, once the world’s largest, stands proudly at the entrance.
This is a special space where cutting-edge technology, the passion of its creators, and prayers for peace intersect.
Let’s explore the highlights of the Yamato Museum.
The Yamato Museum (officially known as the Kure Maritime Museum) is located in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture. It showcases the history of Kure, which built the battleship Yamato, and the science and technology behind shipbuilding and steel manufacturing. The museum features a 1/10 scale model of the Battleship Yamato and actual artifacts like the Zero Fighter.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General (University students and above) | 500 yen |
| High school students | 300 yen |
| Elementary/Junior high school students | 200 yen |
Outside the Yamato Museum, visitors can see the life-sized 41cm main gun barrel and anchor that were once mounted on the battleship Mutsu, even before entering the building.
The 41cm guns mounted on the battleship Mutsu were developed at the Kure Naval Arsenal and were the world’s largest ship-mounted guns at the time of Mutsu’s construction. The Arsenal’s Gun Manufacturing Department completed the first production gun in 1918 and went on to manufacture 74 guns in total.
Also on display are the screw propeller and anchor, both of extraordinary size befitting their battleship origins.
The museum’s greatest attraction is the precise 1/10 scale model of the Battleship Yamato.
This model measures 26.3 meters in length and is crafted with incredible attention to detail.
Battleship Yamato was the world’s largest battleship, built by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Construction began at the Kure Naval Arsenal in 1937 and was completed in December 1941. With a length of 263 meters, width of 38.9 meters, and standard displacement of 65,000 tons, it was the world’s largest warship of its time.
Its most distinctive feature was its main armament of nine 46cm guns in three turrets, the largest caliber naval guns ever mounted on a warship. These guns had a range of 42km and could fire shells weighing approximately 1.5 tons each. The ship also featured formidable armor protection up to 410mm thick and the most advanced fire control systems of its time. This technological marvel was crewed by approximately 3,000 personnel.
Despite commissioning in December 1942, Yamato had limited opportunities to serve as a capital ship in actual combat. On April 7, 1945, while participating in Operation Ten-Go (the Okinawa special attack operation), it was sunk by American aircraft off Cape Bonomisaki in Kagoshima Prefecture. In this final battle, of the approximately 3,000 crew members, 2,740 lost their lives, with only 269 survivors.
Battleship Yamato represented the pinnacle of Japanese shipbuilding technology, but its massive size required enormous resources for construction and maintenance. Moreover, in the Pacific War where aircraft became the dominant force, it never had the opportunity to fully demonstrate its capabilities. Today, Battleship Yamato remains in our memory as a significant symbol that conveys the history of war and the importance of peace. This enormous model carries on that important mission.
When discussing the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet during World War II, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto immediately comes to mind.
Under his leadership, the Imperial Japanese Navy operated Type Zero Reconnaissance Seaplanes throughout the entire Pacific War. A model of this aircraft is on display.
The Type Zero Reconnaissance Seaplane was a three-seat reconnaissance aircraft designed and manufactured by Aichi Clock and Electric Company (later Aichi Aircraft Company). It excelled in range and weapons payload capacity, with a maximum range of 2,089km and the ability to carry one 250kg bomb. During World War II, it was widely deployed on many cruisers and battleships, serving not only in reconnaissance but also in patrol and attack roles. While most production was handled by the Watanabe Iron Works (later Kyushu Aircraft Company), some were also manufactured at the 11th Naval Air Arsenal.
The Type Zero Reconnaissance Seaplane was developed for fleet battle reconnaissance and artillery spotting, and was officially adopted in 1940.
A model of the Battleship Missouri’s main gun is also on display. In 2015, the Battleship Missouri Memorial and the Yamato Museum established a sister museum agreement. This main gun turret model (1/20 scale) was gifted by the Battleship Missouri Memorial at that time.
The Battleship Missouri, commissioned in 1944, played a significant role from the final stages of World War II. Its most historic moment came on September 2, 1945, when the Japanese surrender documents were signed on its deck in Tokyo Bay. This signing ceremony, attended by General MacArthur for the Allied Forces and Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and Chief of the Army General Staff Yoshijiro Umezu for Japan, officially marked the end of World War II.
The first floor’s permanent exhibition showcases the history of Kure.
This area is packed with information, condensing the history of Kure, its naval heritage, and the story of the Yamato.
This Hotchkiss rapid-fire gun barrel was originally located at Minatomachi Elementary School in the Kawaraishi district of Kure City and was once mounted on either the battleship Mikasa or the first-class cruiser Asama. The Hotchkiss gun, developed by the French Hotchkiss company, was a 47mm caliber weapon known for its speed and high accuracy. It was widely adopted by battleships and cruisers worldwide in the latter half of the 19th century.
The displayed Hotchkiss gun barrel was manufactured at Armstrong’s Newcastle factory after the British company acquired the patent from Hotchkiss.
This is a model of the Battleship Kongo at 1/100 scale.
The Battleship Kongo was Japan’s last major warship ordered from abroad for technology transfer purposes, completed as a battlecruiser at Britain’s Vickers shipyard on August 16, 1913.
This is the Yarrow boiler that was installed on the Battleship Kongo. It’s remarkably large.
At the time, the Kongo was equipped with 36 Yarrow boilers that used both heavy oil and coal. The Yarrow boiler, developed by Britain’s Yarrow company, was a representative naval boiler worldwide in the early 20th century.
The large exhibit hall displays life-size exhibits including the Zero Fighter (Type 0 Carrier Fighter Model 62) and the Kaiten Type 10 (prototype) special attack weapon.
The Kaiten was a special attack weapon where a human operator would pilot a torpedo to crash into target vessels, also known as a “human torpedo.”
The displayed Kaiten Type 10 was developed using the Type 92 electric torpedo for submarines and was designed for close-range combat in the defense of the home islands.
Various models existed including Types 1, 2, 4, and 10, but only Type 1, which used the Type 93 oxygen torpedo, was actually deployed in combat. Approximately 420 units were manufactured.
More than 100 operators alone lost their lives, most of them around 20 years old.
The Yamato Museum also features a special exhibition area with rotating themes. Special exhibitions require a separate admission fee.
The current special exhibition, titled "80th Anniversary of Completion: Battleship Yamato and Kure Naval Port", explores how Kure’s port, once known as the finest naval port in the East, was constructed and what enabled it to build the Battleship Yamato.
Lathe (metal-cutting machine)
Battleship Mikasa Main Gun Barrel (section)
Battleship Mikasa Deck Material
Battleship Mutsu Main Gun Turret Armor Plate (section) and Mounting Bolts
Model of Battleship Yamato’s 46cm Gun Main Turret
The museum shop at the entrance offers original limited-edition merchandise related to the Battleship Yamato and Kure City.
The Yamato Museum presents the history of the Battleship Yamato, Kure’s history as a naval port, and the stories of its residents, supported by extensive documentation.
Whether through original artifacts from the era or reconstructed exhibits.
The consistent message conveyed through these exhibits is “Learn from history to envision the future we should create.”
Even today, conflicts continue around the world.
What is “peace”? How should we utilize these environments and places where we can learn from history?
The Yamato Museum is a facility that encourages us to contemplate these questions. We hope you’ll visit and experience it for yourself.
