Learn about the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

What comes to mind when you think of the city of Kobe? Many people probably think of the sophisticated modern city with western influences that it is today. When you look at this beautiful city, it’s hard to imagine what it looked like 18 years ago when a huge earthquake devastated Kobe and the surrounding areas at dawn on January 17, 1995 and more than 6,000 people lost their lives.

I would like to introduce the best places to learn about that event.

 

The Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution (The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial), located in Chuo ward in Kobe, provides real insight into the tragedy and how the city managed to recover from the effects of the earthquake to come back as one of the most beautiful cities in Japan. It also has plenty of resources on disaster management and an earthquake simulation theater, both of which have contributed a lot to national and international disaster risk reduction.

 

Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution

 

Recreation of the earthquake’s aftermath

 

Next to Kobe’s iconic Port Tower, there is the Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park. The park maintains a small area of earthquake – damaged land as it was immediately following the earthquake. The aftermath is also shown in pictures as a reminder of the disaster. Visitors can enter for free.

Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park

 

Next to Kobe’s iconic Port Tower there is the Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park. The park maintains a small area of earthquake – damaged land as it was immediately following the earthquake. The aftermath is also shown in pictures as a reminder of the disaster. Visitors can enter for free.

Hokudan Earthquake Memorial Park

Located a short 50 minute drive away from Kobe, Hokudan Earthquake Memorial Park is another great place to learn about natural disasters. Nojima Fault, an exposed fault line which is a national natural monument, is on display in the park.

 

 

A new facility called Memorial House was established in 2008 to make it easier to learn about earthquakes by building a model structure of earthquake. The Earthquake Simulation Theater offers visitors to experience a 40 second quake of intensity level 7 on the Japanese Earthquake scale.

There are several places to learn about earthquakes in Hyogo Prefecture. I’m sure visitors will appreciate the beauty of Kobe by learning the background of the city and the work people have put in over the years towards its recovery.

More information

Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution (The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial)
http://www.hyogo-tourism.jp/english/spot/11_disaster.html

Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park

http://www.hyogo-tourism.jp/english/spot/13_merikenpark.html

Hokudan Earthquake Memorial Park

http://www.hyogo-tourism.jp/english/spot/138_hokudanphoenixpark.html

 

Soo