Kunisaki was laid down on 7 September 2000 and launched on 13 December 2001 by Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Maizuru.

[1] This ship was one of several in the JMSDF fleet that participated in disaster relief after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

She provided Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines with medical aid and carried out cultural exchanges.

[6] Beginning on 5 May 2017, Kunisaki performed joint training with the French Navy's Mistral in the waters around Japan.

[9] On 18 June, while participating in the training, she was towed by a tugboat and tried to turn around to leave Brisbane, Australia, but she collided with the quay of the port.