Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Kure Museum

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Museum, also known as the "Iron Whale Museum" (Tetsu no Kujira Kan), is a unique military museum located in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture. Established in 2007, the museum serves as an educational facility dedicated to showcasing Japan's submarine and minesweeping operations. This facility stands as the only museum in Japan that displays an actual full-size submarine above water, making it a distinctive attraction for visitors interested in naval history and maritime defense.

The museum's centerpiece is the JMSDF diesel-electric submarine Akishio, decommissioned in 2004. This Yūshio-class submarine served Japan from 1986 to 2004 and measured 250 feet long with a crew of 75 and six torpedo tubes. After being decommissioned in March 2004 and salvaged by Japan's largest crane ship in November of the same year, the Akishio was transformed into the museum's primary exhibit. The submarine operated using diesel engines on the surface and electric motors when submerged.

The museum focuses on two primary missions of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force: submarine warfare and minesweeping operations. Minesweeping was one of the primary missions of its forerunner agency after World War II when the islands had been effectively blockaded. The facility complements other JMSDF museums, with museums related to aircraft at Kanoya, Kagoshima and surface vessels at Sasebo, Nagasaki.

Visitors can explore the cramped interior of the Akishio submarine, experiencing firsthand how life was for the 75 submariners of the ship's crew under the ocean. The tour allows guests to walk through the submarine's compartments and peer through the periscope. The museum also displays a number of torpedoes and various materials related to submarine operations and coastal defense activities.

The JMSDF Kure Museum is located at 5-32, Takaramachi, Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture. The museum offers free admission to all visitors. The museum is a short walk from JR Kure Station, about 45 minutes from Hiroshima Station on JR Kure Line. The facility is conveniently located immediately north of the Yamato Museum, and visiting both museums together is recommended. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, though when Tuesday falls on a national holiday, it is closed on the following day instead.