Visit The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution to Equip Yourself with Disaster Preparedness via Hands-on Experience!

Smooth access is available via public transport from Osaka Station, Umeda Station, Hyogo, and Sannomiya Station areas, either by JR or Hanshin railways. The closest JR station is Nada Station on the Kobe Line, about a 12-minute walk from the south exit. For those using the Hanshin railway, either Iwaya Station or Kasuganomichi Station would be the closest, both approximately 10 minutes away on foot. While there's a distance of about 2.25km from the station, a leisurely 30-minute walk from JR Sannomiya Station or any Sannomiya station, exploring the streets of Kobe, is also feasible.

After checking in, the first stop is the Disaster Re-experience Floor on the 4th floor of the West Wing. Here, a large diorama replicating the cityscape right after the disaster is on display, allowing visitors to vividly grasp the immense damage and devastation by comparing it with the city's pre-disaster state. There's also a theater where one can experience the shock of the disaster that struck at 5:46 am through large-screen visuals and sound, as well as a hall showcasing programs that zoom in on the city and its people's journey to recovery. It feels almost like reliving the disaster firsthand, reigniting a sense of commitment towards disaster preparedness. However, visitors should be cautious as the realistic re-enactment footage is showed fully from start to finish, so other exhibits may be subtitle for patrons with young children, pregnant women, or those triggered by personal disaster experience in the past.

Next, take the escalator up again to the Disaster Memory Floor. This floor extensively showcases disaster-related materials provided by the survivors. In the Preserving Disaster Memories section you’ll find exhibits like a clock stopped at 5:46, rubble debris, and poignant firsthand accounts vividly conveying the emotions and thoughts of those who donated each item. Visiting sections like Passing on the Tale of the Disaster, where survivors narrate their experiences through video, and Tracing Recovery from the Disaster, which explains the post-earthquake and reconstruction phases through graphics and narratives, are sure to stir your heart with a closer sense of it all.

Proceed to the Disaster Prevention & Mitigation Experience Floor on the 2nd floor of the West Wing to learn practical knowledge useable during disasters. With visuals capturing the impacts of ongoing global natural disasters, and unique exhibits illustrating the magnitudes of earthquakes from 5 to 9 using spheres, visitors can acquire accurate knowledge. There's also a chance to engage in board games that make learning about disaster prevention and mitigation fun and interactive. Additionally, the lively experimental stage held regularly is guaranteed to captivate both adults and children. The experimental programs, including Seismic Isolation & Earthquake Resistance Experiment, Soil Liquefaction Experiment, and Furniture Fall Prevention Experiment, are ready to go, providing hands-on demonstrations that illuminate the science behind it all, right before your eyes.

Access the East Wing through a connecting passage from the West Wing's 2nd floor. Renovated in 2021, the BOSAI Science Field that waits on the other side features cutting-edge experiential areas. The tour starts with the Disaster Wall, introducing natural phenomena and human interactions leading to disasters on a large screen. From there you’ll make your way to Geo & Sky Hall, where you can learn about disaster mechanisms and science via hands-on exhibits. At Hazard VR Port, equipped with 360-degree VR visuals and seat vibrations, you can go full-on, virtually experiencing the real threat of natural disasters. The Mission Room is a notable highlight you won’t want to miss, that realistically recreates a residence and convenience store, allowing visitors to simulate the best course of action during disasters. Through such rich, original, and immersive exhibits, visitors are empowered to think, decide, and act to prevent natural phenomena from becoming natural disasters.

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The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution is a disaster museum where visitors can understand the terrifying impact and recovery process of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, grasp knowledge about disaster prevention and reduction, and learn how to prepare for potential future disasters. With multilingual displays, translation device rentals, and foreign-language-speaking volunteer staff guiding visitors through the exhibit floors, the institution's warm hospitality is well-received even by international visitors. If you're visiting the Kansai region, consider including The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution in your travel itinerary.