ANN/THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN – A new guesthouse has been unveiled in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, aiming to immerse guests in the ambiance of a submarine stay.
Situated in Kure, historically renowned as the premier naval port in the East and now housing a Maritime Self-Defence Force base, the submarine-themed accommodation known as “Red Submarine” replicates the interior of a submarine down to the minutest details.
From the distinctive light green and gray colour scheme to the exposed pipework and stainless steel fixtures reminiscent of submarine interiors, every aspect has been carefully crafted to evoke an authentic submariner experience.
The primary objective of this unique guesthouse is to provide visitors with the sensation of being crew members and to offer them a firsthand encounter with life aboard a submarine.
Originally, the guesthouse in central Kure was a building that contained the long-established public bath, Akabiru Onsen (Red Building Hot Springs).
Maho Kojima, 43, became the president of Akabiru 3C&Spa, the operator of the public bath, when she took over the family business in 2022.
Aiming to revitalise the public bath facility, which was in danger of closing down, she decided to open a hotel.
Kojima’s father, Mikio Taguchi, 74, is a former submarine crew member of the MSDF.
Following his advice on the interior design, she renovated a space of about 110 square metres on the fourth floor of the building and opened the Red Submarine on December 8.
The guesthouse can accommodate up to 15 guests. There are five private rooms called the “Captain’s Private Quarters” each with a name taken from one of the five submarines that Taguchi crewed.
The dormitory-style shared bedroom was equipped with capsule hotel-like beds that resemble compact bunks used by crew members.
The shared room, called the “Ward Room”, is a cylindrical room with walls that round off to the ceiling. The colour of the lights can be switched to red, creating the ambience of nighttime aboard a submarine.
