[See the 200 Steps of Ryojo (Kure)]

Kure’s population boomed in 1890 when the Kure Naval Station opened.
By 1943, it exceeded 400,000. Then, the flat land in Kure was designated for military use, so new naval personnel, craftsmen, and other residents settled primarily on steep slopes.
Houses were built by utilizing the topography of the area in Ryojo skillfully, where there are many steeply sloping sections at the foot of the mountains.
These homes were called staircase houses because of how they looked when viewed from a distance. Even today, you can still see a part of Kure’s history in the moats surrounding the houses, made of the red bricks popular in 1890s Japan.

Aside from Ryojo’s steep stairs and slopes, it also has magnificent stone walls. On top of them are historic houses that appear to have been built sometime around the turn of the 20th century.
Here, I would like to introduce the 200 steps of Ryojo. Nearby, there is an air-raid shelter used during the air raids on Kure, and you can sense the historical significance of the area.

After climbing all 200 steps, you will be rewarded with a wonderful view of Kure Bay! Don’t just admire the view from below—I recommend going up the stairs at dusk to watch the sunset so you can make an unforgettable memory of your visit to Kure.

Air-raid shelter

Many air-raid shelters were built in Kure by the navy as evacuation shelters for citizens.
Some shelters were dug into the slopes of the mountains. You can see the actual remnants of these air-raid shelters in Ryojo.

The 200 Steps of Ryojo: 2-11 Ryojo, Kure, Hiroshima

▼Recommended Tour

Kure Bay Ship Tour

Set sail on a cruise and get an up-close view of mighty ships (duration: about 30 minutes)! The evening cruise that departs at sunset is also highly recommended. *(You may want to use an extension to translate pages in Japanese.)