Hofu Tenmangu Mitokuji temple Izumo Taisha Omori Silver mine Xavier memorial church peace memorialpark miyajima sanctuary_outline Shukkeien Adachi garden Ikouji Rurikouji temple Amida-ji Sourin-ji Kourakuen Japanese trad.Garden_outline Matsue Yonago Shimonoseki Okayama Hiroshima HAB CITY_outline TSUYAMA TSUWANO MATSUE CHOFU IWAKUNI HAGI SAMURAI towns_outline ONOMICHI YANAI TAKEHARA KURASHIKI TOMO SHIMOKAMAGARI Xavier Cathedral SHIMONOSEKI Washi Touken Bizen Pottery Hagi Pottery & Kilns Japanese trad.artcrafts Experience-outline GEGEGENO Kitaro Matsuda museum Naval Base of Kure MAZDA,Hofu plant Modern Japan-outline Kirin beer Park in Okayama Tottori sand dune Mt.Fuji of Sanin DAISEN SHINJI Lake Iwami coast Oki Hagi coast Nagato SANIN COAST-outline SHUHODO Trail to Hikimi Hiruzen Highland Kibi Highland Tsuyama Travel with Stream locomotive Deep Inland Tour-outline SETO-OHASHI Seto-inland seas OANORAMA view Tiboli Park Tokiwa Park Inland-sea-outline List of Japanese terms Bathing in Japan 7seafood of the Lake Shinji Blow fish Stone fish Show Crab Oysters Buchwheat Noodles Peach and Other fruits Okonomiyaki
 
 
The city of Kure, a beautiful natural harbor located about 40 minutes away from Hiroshima by train, offers something a little different from most Japanese sightseeing spots. The home of a naval base that people can now tour, Kure has the only submarine training facility in Japan. Plans are underway to build a Maritime Museum (due to open in 2005) as well, which will house both a Zero fighter plane and a replica of the battleship Yamato along with many other attractions. Tours of a large ship factory and Marine Self Defense Force ships are available on certain days (call ahead for reservations, and ask for an English-speaking guide), and people are welcome to walk around Alley Karasukojima any time and see the various types of ships used by the MSDF. In addition, both the Irifuneyama Memorial museum and the MSDF Archives museum are currently open to the public. These are all must-sees for naval buffs.		  
     
 
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If you go to Kure you won't want to miss Shimo Kamagari, an island connected to the main city via toll bridge. In addition to several beautiful parks (the Shirasakien Art Park just across the bridge is particularly recommended) and beaches, there is an area of historical displays. This very concentrated section of town has a restored guard house, a lamp museum, a museum showing life-sized models and many details of the Korean envoys who came to Japan during the Edo Era, and a museum filled with spectacular Chinese ceramics. These all sit in a row, housed in restored structures that date from centuries past. The Shotoen conservation district also has the famous Rantokaku Art Museum and, further south, there is an insectarium that will delight children. (Children get in free to all of these buildings; adults are charged between \200-\800 apiece.) A day spent on Shimo Kamagari is one that will entertain the entire family. 		 
     
  Kure also offers another unique attraction: Kuramoto Avenue, which at night is lit up with the light of dozens of enclosed food stalls serving both modern and traditional Japanese dishes. Kure is known for seafood, and you can sample seasonal delicacies - along with rice wine, sake and various locally-brewed beers - while experiencing the convivial nightlife that the city has to offer.

Although not typically thought of as a tourist spot, Kure offers something unusual to visitors to western Japan. Click here (http://www.city.kure.hiroshima.jp/english/index.html) to find more information on this unique and entertaining city. 		 
     
 
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