Naval Arsenal Clock Tower
landmark
Naval Arsenal Clock Tower
旧呉海軍工廠塔時計
Overview
The Naval Arsenal Clock Tower was originally mounted atop the former Kure Naval Arsenal Engineering Department, where it was used to coordinate the work of engineers and shipyard workers.
This 10-meter clock tower was built in 1921 to coordinate production schedules at the Kure Naval Arsenal, one of the first large-scale military production sites in Japan. Each of its four faces has a dial 1.5 meters in diameter, and the internal mechanism is made of naval brass, an alloy developed for seawater resistance. It is the first electromechanical master-slave impulse clock built in Japan, with a central unit sending simultaneous electrical signals to all four dials. After World War II, the clock was moved to the Irifuneyama Memorial Museum. It was repaired and designated a Tangible Cultural Property in 1981, and now chimes four times a day with a melody written by local school students.
Practical info
- Japanese name
- 旧呉海軍工廠塔時計
- Nearest station
- Kure Station (5 min walk)
- Payment
- Cards accepted
- Reservations
- not required
Want to visit Naval Arsenal Clock Tower?
Build a trip to Kure