Irifuneyama Memorial Museum

In 1889, the Kure Naval District was opened. At that time, the "Irifuneyama Memorial Museum" preserved and opened the building that was built as the commander-in-chief's office. In 2016, it was certified as one of the components of the Japanese heritage "Chinjufu Yokosuka, Kure, Sasebo, Maizuru town”, where you can experience the dynamics of modernization in Japan".

It was damaged by the Geiyo Earthquake in 1905 and rebuilt. It was designed by Kotaro Sakurai, who was the first Japanese architect to be certified by the Royal Institute of British Architects at the young age of 18. Today, this second building has been restored and is open to the public.

The building is a blend of Japanese and Western styles, with the Western style part being the commander-in-chief's office and guest house, and the Japanese style part being the living quarters, and was designated as a national important cultural property in 1998. The English-styled, Western-style building where the commander-in-chief worked has an opulent interior that includes his office, a reception room, and a spacious dining room. It is also worth noting that the wallpaper is made of kinkarakami/gold karakami paper, a traditional Japanese craft. This kinkara paper is a type of leather-like paper that was created by making woodblocks from the few remaining wallpaper patterns. There are five different patterns of kinkara paper pasted throughout the museum, so take your time to admire them!

There is also a history and folklore museum where special exhibitions are held, The Old Naval Arsenal Clock Tower, and the relocated building of the house where Heihachiro Togo lived during his tenure in Kure.