Japan has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the most earthquake prone countries in the world. Traditional Japanese would only commemorate such disasters with temples or stone markers, however only since the 1980s have education museums related to the topic been built.
Whilst often local history museums sometimes give reference to Japans past Earthquake this list identifies mainly only the major museums on the subjsect. The first part of the list specifies museums in the Tokyo area with the latter referring to major museums in other parts of Japan. The museum website links are given so please do check them before you visit as sometimes there are irregular closing periods due to renovation/changes in exhibits. Some museums only have Japanese webpages therefore please use Google translate http://translate.google.com/
Five Most recommend museums from list
- Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park
- Honjo Bosai-kan
- Tokyo Memorial Hall
- Disaster Reduction Museum Kobe
- Tsunami Disaster Storm Surge Station Osaka
Tokyo Area Museums
Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention park
Whilst it does not have the particularly catchy name or easy web address to find, the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park is Tokyo`s newest earthquake museum. There is a multilingual DS Nitendo handheld guide system to take you around an imaginary earthquake devastated Tokyo asking you questions to help you recognize hazards. Second floor has displays of Emergency equipment from around the world as well as an multilingual Fuji TV animation of a large Earthquake in modern day Tokyo. Is family friendly and often has events for children though the dark and noisy 72 hour simulation zone is a little scary for babies/toddlers. Has an `Emergency cafe` selling refreshments and a few emergency items.
When the author of this blog last visited (June 2011) it had the most up-to-date information on the predicted next big Tokyo earthquake provided in a handout but sadly some of the second floor information boards are only in Japanese, though the staff are reasonably bilingual and happy to help.
Closed: Mondays except national holidays, New Year
Open times 9.30am to 5pm
Admission: Free
Earthquake museums in Tokyo with Simulators and interactive training
Honjo Bosai-kan (10min walk from JR Kinshi-cho station)
Newest and Main Tokyo Fire service Emergency Museum with Earthquake Simulator, 3D movie, Smoke maze, Typhoon simulator, Firefighting and first aid training room plus a small children`s play area. Staff reasonably bilingual and English info available.
Closed: Wednesdays and the 3rd Thursday of every month,
Open times 9am to 5pm
Admission: Free
Tachikawa Bosai-kan (bus ride from Tachikawa station)
Similar to Honjo museum however doesn`t have a Typhoon simulator.
Closed: Thursday and the 3rd Friday of every month
Open times 9am to 5pm
Admission: Free
Ikebukuro Bosai-kan (5min walk from the West exit of Ikebukuro station)
Oldest of the Bosai-museums, has only smoke maze, 3D movie, first aid and firefighting practice areas. But does not have an Earthquake simulator, Typhoon Simulator or kids playroom..
Closed: Tuesdays, and every 3rd Monday of the month.
Open times 9.00am to 5pm
Admission: Free
Science of Museum of Earthquake North Tokyo (Nishigahara Metro station)
Is the original model of the Bosai style museum providing general details on earthquakes preparedness and Earthquake simulator, smoke room, and firefighting info.
Closed: Mondays except national holidays
Open times 9.00am to 5pm
Admission: Free
Museums providing historical info on the 1923 Tokyo Earthquake;
Tokyo Memorial hall
Temple to the unidentified dead of the 1923 Kanto Earthquake includes a small 2F museum hall with information and pictures of the event and recovery. The Temple and Hall is built in an area of particular sad significance as it was part an open space former army depo, where many people from the poorer downtown area fled to escape the fires of the Earthquake, however the strong wind and flames caught up with them and it is estimated some 30,000 people where engulfed in flames on the site and died, leaving only ashes to be entombed in the Temples Pagoda. Not reccomended if you believe in places of bad Karma. English leaflets available.
Closed: Mondays
Open times 9am to 4:30pm
Admission: Free
Edo Tokyo Museum
Has some sections which provide information on the earthquake effect on Tokyo as well as the history of Tokyo as the Capital of Japan.
Closed: Mondays
Open times 9;30am to 5:30pm
Admission: 600yen Adults 300yen children and over 65s
Other Museums in Tokyo which include Earthquake references
Fire Museum (near Yotsuya-sanchome subway station exit 2)
10Floor building with historical information on Tokyo Fire service, major fires and earthquakes. Has many fire trucks and equipment on display.
Closed: Mondays, Dec 28th – Jan 4th
Open times 9.30am to 5pm
Admission: Free
National Musuem of Nature and Science (Ueno Park)
Previously an entire hall on the top floor was devoted to the geologic formation of Japan and about its earthquakes, however when last visited by this blog author in May 2011, the display had been reduced to only a corner section with a display of early seismographs and monitoring equipment on the ground floor.
Closed: Monday except national holidays, New year
Open times 9am to 5pm
Admission: 600yen adults
National Museum of Emerging Science and innovation (Odaiba, )
Has section on the earthquake Monitoring network across Japan and Chikyu drill project http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/index.html which making deep sea drilling to analyze the earth to understand Earthquake tectonics.
Closed: Most Tuesday and Newyear (check website)
Open times 10am to 5pm
Admission: 600yen adults 200yen kids Free for preschoolers
Outside of Tokyo;
Kobe Earthquake Museum (The Disaster Reduction Museum)
Recreated movie of Kobe earthquake 1995, Full of information on the Kobe Earthquake, the recovery and general info on preparing for Earthquake disasters.
Closed: Mondays
Open times 9am to 4:30 (last admission)
Admission: 600yen Adults, 300yen children
Seismic Faults Observation & Experience House Gifu prefecture, Motosu
Museum about Japans Largest inland earthquake Nobi M8. Limited English information (pamphlet).
Closed: Probably Mondays
Open times 10am to 4pm
Admission: 500yen adult 250yen children
Tsunami Museums
Tsunami disaster storm surge station Osaka (Awaza Subway station)
Simulation video of 3m Tsunami water-flow. On surround screen and information on Tsunamis and local area protection. English subtitles for movie and Pamphlet.
Closed: Mondays
Open times:10am till 4pm
Admission: Free
On speaking to an Assistant of the Osaka Tsunami Museum it seems like a Museum will be built in Tohoku about the 2011 March 11th Tsunami/Earthquake disaster although no exact details have been decided.
Tsunami Museums outside Japan
The Pacific Tsunami Museum ***Hawaii Big Island***
Aceh Tsunami Musuem
