Kure, Hiroshima facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kure 呉市
Core city
JMSDF Kure District HQ JMSDF Kure Museum Yamato Museum JMU Kure shipyard Irifuneyama Museum Ondō Bridge & Ondo-no-seto
Flag Seal
Kure Location in Japan
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku (Sanyō)
Prefecture	Hiroshima
Area
• Total	352.80 km2 (136.22 sq mi)
Population  (April 30, 2023)
• Total	208,024
• Density	589.637/km2 (1,527.153/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	4-1-6 Chūō, Kure-shi, Hiroshima-ken 737-8501
Climate	Cfa
Symbols Flower Camellia Tree Oak

Kure (呉市, Kure-shi) is a city in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. As of April 2023, about 208,024 people live here. Kure is known for its strong history in industry and naval work. It has one of Japan's oldest naval dockyards. Today, it's still an important base for the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force.

Kure's Rich History

The area where Kure is located was once part of an old province called Aki Province. The port of Kure was a very important seaport during the Edo period in Japan.

Naval Base and Shipbuilding

In 1889, the Kure Naval District was created. This led to the building of the Kure Naval Arsenal. Because of this, the city quickly grew with lots of steel production and shipbuilding. Kure officially became a city on October 1, 1902.

From 1889 until the end of World War II, Kure was the main headquarters for the Kure Naval District. The dockyards in Kure made some amazing ships. They launched the first large warship built in Japan, the battlecruiser Tsukuba in 1905. They also launched the biggest battleship ever built, the Yamato, in 1940.

Kure During World War II

During World War II, Kure was the Imperial Japanese Navy's largest naval base and arsenal. Most of the city's factories and workers helped the naval base. They made weapons and supported the navy. Towards the end of the war, Kure was heavily bombed by planes in June and July 1945.

After the war, from 1946 to 1952, military groups from the British Commonwealth Occupation Force used Kure as their main base.

Kure Today

Since 2005, Kure has become a popular place for tourists. The Yamato Museum has a huge 1:10 scale model of the Yamato battleship. There's also a museum about Japanese naval history right by the water.

Kure is still a major center for sea-related activities. It has the shipyards of Japan Marine United and many facilities for the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force. These include training centers and a large hospital. Kure is also home to destroyer and submarine fleets, and a training squadron for the navy.

Important Dates in Kure's History

• July 1, 1889 — The Kure Naval District was set up.
• 1895 — The Kure naval shipyard was built.
• October 1, 1902 — Kure officially became a city.
• November 10, 1903 — The Kure Naval Arsenal was created.
• December 27, 1903 — The Kure rail line opened, connecting Kure to Hiroshima.
• April 1, 1928 — More towns joined Kure.
• April 21, 1941 — Even more towns and villages became part of Kure.
• March 19, 1945 — US Navy planes attacked Japanese warships in Kure.
• May 5, 1945 — The Hiro Naval Arsenal was bombed.
• June 22, 1945 — The Kure Naval Arsenal was bombed.
• July 1, 1945 — Kure had an air raid.
• July 24–28, 1945 — American bombers attacked the remaining fleet in Kure Naval Base.
• July 1, 1954 — The Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces were started.
• October 1, 1956 — More towns and villages merged into Kure.
• November 1, 2000 — Kure became a Special City.
• April 1, 2003 — The town of Shimokamagari joined Kure.
• April 1, 2004 — The town of Kawajiri joined Kure.
• March 20, 2005 — Several towns like Ondo and Kurahashi merged into Kure.
• April 1, 2016 — Kure officially became a Core city, getting more local control.

Kure's Geography

Kure City Hall

Port of Kure seen from Yasumi-yama

JMU Kure shipyard in July 2015

JMSDF submarine flotilla in Kure

Exterior view of the Yamato Museum and adjacent JMSDF Kure Museum

Kure is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Hiroshima city. It faces the Seto Inland Sea. The city has steep hills to the north. Mount Yasumi, which is 497 meters (1,631 feet) tall, divides the two main business and industrial areas.

Kure is also next to the Setonaikai National Park. The city includes busy urban areas and factories. It also has some islands with fewer people, like Kurahashi-jima and Toyoshima.

Kure's Climate

Kure has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot summers and cool winters. It rains a lot throughout the year, especially in summer.

Kure's Population and Economy

Kure's population has been slowly decreasing over the last 40 years.

Major Companies in Kure

Several important companies have operations in Kure:

• Disco Corporation has three factories.
• Japan Marine United has a shipyard.
• Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems
• Mitutoyo
• Nisshin Steel
• Oji Paper Company
• Sailor Pen Company
• Yodogawa Steel Works

Education in Kure

Kure has many schools for different age groups.

Colleges and Universities

• Goko Academy
• Japan Coast Guard Academy
• Kure Kyosai Hospital Nursing College
• Kure University
• National Institute of Technology, Kure College

Schools for Kids

The city government runs 37 public elementary schools and 25 public junior high schools. There is also one public high school run by the city. The Hiroshima Prefecture also operates seven public high schools and two special education schools for students with disabilities. Kure also has one private middle school and three private high schools.

Getting Around Kure

Kure station

Train Lines

JR West (JR West) - Kure Line

• Yasuura - Ato - Akikawajiri - Nigata - Hiro - Shin-Hiro - Akiaga - Kure - Kawaraishi - Yoshiura - Karugahama - Tennō - Kure-Portopia

Main Roads

• Higashihiroshima-Kure Expressway
• Hiroshima-Kure Road
• National Route 31
• National Route 185
• National Route 375
• National Route 487

Kure's International Connections

Kure has special agreements with other cities around the world. These are called sister cities or friendship cities/ports.

Sister Cities

• Bremerton, Washington, United States (since August 1970)
• Marbella, Andalusia, Spain (since December 1990)
• Jinhae-gu, Changwon, South Gyeongsang, South Korea (since October 1999)
• Keelung, Taiwan (since April 2017)

Friendship Cities

• Daisen, Tottori (since September 1995)

Friendship Ports

• Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China (since May 2001)

Fun Places to Visit in Kure

Kure has many interesting places to explore!

Museums to Explore

• Irifuneyama Memorial Museum
• JMSDF Kure Museum (You can see a real submarine here, nicknamed Iron Whale Museum!)
• Kurahashi-cho Nagato Museum of Shipbuilding History
• Kure Municipal Museum of Art and Museum Avenue
• Rantokaku Art Museum
• Sannose Gohonjin Art and Culture
• Yamato Museum (See a giant model of the battleship Yamato!)

Shrines and History

• Kameyama Shrine
• Former Kure-chinjufu (An old naval headquarters)
• Former House of Prince Takamatsu
• House of Kimiyo Fujii
• Takechimaru anti-invasion cement ships (Unique historical ships)

Parks and Gardens

• Allay Karasu Kojima Park
• Kure Port-pia Park
• Nagasako Park
• Nikokyo Park
• Ondono-seto and Park
• Setonaikai National Park
• Rekishi-no-mieru-Oka and Park

Mountains and Beaches

• Haiga-mine (A mountain)
• Honjo Suigenchi
• Mount Noro
• Mount Yasumi
• Nikyu-kyo
• Kajigahama Beach
• Romantic Beach Karuga

Festivals in Kure

Kure celebrates with exciting festivals throughout the year.

• Kure Port Festival
• Kure Fireworks above the Sea (usually in late July or early August)
• Kameyama Shrine Festival (on the second Sunday in October and the day before)

Famous People from Kure

Many talented people come from Kure.

Musicians

• Michiru Jo
• Machico
• Miyu Matsuki
• Akira Sakata
• Hitomi Shimatani

Authors

• Hiromu Ono
• Shinji Wada

Sports Stars

• Fumio Fujimura
• Shinji Hamazaki
• Ryō Hirakawa
• Tatsuro Hirooka

Politicians

• Rob Lucas

See also

In Spanish: Kure para niños