Hello, fellow travel lovers！
This time, I visited the Kanagawa Prefectural Disaster Prevention Center.
Here, visitors can learn about disaster preparedness through hands-on experiences, including earthquakes, powerful winds, fire extinguishing, and smoke evacuation.
It is less like studying and more like learning with your whole body.
The exhibitions are also impressive, making this an educational place even for adults.
Start at Reception
After entering the center, tell the reception staff that you would like to join the disaster experience tour.
They will give you a meeting time, and until then, you can explore the exhibitions freely.
When we arrived, firefighters were training on the grounds next to the building. It made us feel a little more serious before we even went inside.
Exploring the History of Firefighting
Inside the center, you will find a firefighter photo panel and costumes, a Mazda fire pump vehicle, and firefighting tools from the Edo, Meiji, and Taisho periods.
Mazda fire pump vehicle
Firefighting tools from the Edo
Firefighting tools from Meiji, and Taisho periods
Historical firefighting tools from Showa, Reiwa, & Heisei period
One of the most memorable exhibits was a banner showing the height of the tsunami recorded during the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Standing in front of it, I honestly thought, “There is no way we could compete with something this powerful.”
There is also an exhibit showing how different types of buildings shake during an earthquake.
The Disaster Experience Tour Begins
At the scheduled time, we gathered in front of a large television screen.
Earthquake Experience: It Was Impossible to Stand
The first activity was the earthquake experience.
東日本大震災の映像をもとに作られた体験型施設で、かなりリアルです。
Even while holding tightly onto a pole, it was extremely difficult to remain standing during a seismic intensity 7 earthquake.
I crouched down but still managed to hit my knee against the pole.
We may know what we are supposed to do, but during such violent shaking, our bodies do not always move as planned.
【Photo: Earthquake experience, provided by the Kanagawa Prefectural Disaster Prevention Center】
Strong Wind Experience: Wind Alone Was Frightening
Next came the strong wind experience.
Visitors wearing contact lenses can borrow protective goggles.
Thanks to the goggles, I could keep my eyes open and look at the wind-speed display. My two friends, who tried it without goggles, said they could not open their eyes at all.
We experienced only wind, but imagining heavy rain and flying objects added to it was frightening.
【Photo: Strong wind experience, provided by the Kanagawa Prefectural Disaster Prevention Center】
Fire Extinguisher Experience: Aim at the Source
During the fire extinguisher experience, we used training extinguishers and aimed at the source of a fire shown on a screen.
It would be easy to panic during a real emergency, so practicing even once can be reassuring.
Smoke Evacuation Experience: Staying Low Was Hard
Our final activity was the smoke evacuation experience.
We moved through a smoke-filled room while staying low and following the illuminated emergency exit signs.
This was harder than I expected!
Still, experiencing it once helped me remember two important things: stay below the smoke and look for the emergency exit signs.
More to Learn After the Tour
After the hands-on experiences, we watched a disaster-awareness video in the theater room.
After the earthquake, strong winds, and crouching through smoke, I was honestly relieved to sit down for a while!
The center also has an AED training area, a model private room for an evacuation shelter, and displays of recommended emergency supplies.
- AED training area
- Private evacuation room
- Emergency supplies
There were far more emergency items on display than I expected.
However, after experiencing a seismic intensity 7 earthquake, I found myself wondering whether these supplies would actually remain undamaged and accessible after a real disaster.
Of course, preparing emergency supplies is important.
But perhaps it is even more important to have the knowledge to use whatever is available and to learn through hands-on experience.
Some things cannot be fully understood through television or the internet.
This was an educational place that I believe everyone should visit at least once.
The journey continues... Wishing you all a wonderful trip!
＊＊TabiJun＊＊
