[Kamaishi] Learn about disaster prevention while having fun in a town hit by a tsunami after the Great East Japan Earthquake! [Tohoku/Iwate]

【table of contents】

1. What is "Unosumai Tomos"?

2. Learning with a free guide Memories of the disaster and lessons for future generations

3. An experience program to walk around the site with a storyteller

1. What is "Unosumai Tomos"?

" Unosumai Tomos " is located in a position where it can be seen from Unosumai Station on the Sanriku Railway Rias Line . The Rias Line doesn't have many trains, so it's a good idea to check the timetable in advance. Access by car is about 15 minutes from Kamaishi city, and a large parking lot can be used free of charge. The current Unosumai Station was rebuilt through restoration work. The station building was washed away by the tsunami, and there were many casualties in the Unosumai district, which was an area with extensive housing. On the other hand, the survival rate of children is extremely high at over 98%, and it is also an area where disaster prevention education has been highly evaluated.

2. Learning with a free guide Memories of the disaster and lessons for future generations

One of the facilities in the area is the Miraikan that connects lives, a facility for learning about earthquake disasters and disaster prevention. Admission is free, and if you make a reservation in advance, you can have a tour guide guide you through the exhibition while listening to the commentary. Guide time is about 20 to 30 minutes, and you don't need to tip the guide. This program is highly recommended for those who want to gain a deeper understanding of the exhibition, as they will also answer questions.

The building consists of 3 rooms. Room 1 shows the state of damage caused by the tsunami in Kamaishi and what happened in the seven days after the earthquake. Room 2 displays events at the Unosumai Disaster Prevention Center, where many people died. You can walk around the 3rd room, which displays the movement of children in Kamaishi who were expensive to evacuate, and learn what the earthquake really was like.

In addition, there is a library space where you can browse books and materials related to the Great East Japan Earthquake, as well as donated photos. It seems that it will be an opportunity to think about disaster prevention based on the lessons of the earthquake disaster.

Miraikan that connects life

4-901-2 Unosumaicho, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture 026-0301

A facility that conveys the events and lessons learned from the earthquake and promotes disaster prevention learning to protect future lives...

3. An experience program to walk around the site with a storyteller

We also recommend an experience program where you can actually walk through the Unosumai area after leaving Miraikan.

In Kamaishi, although there was a lot of damage, all the students who attended elementary and junior high schools in the city that day survived, and their disaster prevention education was highly evaluated. In the program, the children of Kamaishi walk along the evacuation route that the children used to follow, and tour the Kamaishi Unosumai Reconstruction Stadium, which was built on the site of the school building. All experience programs require advance registration and are charged.

・Experience evacuation routes

Many people died in the Unosumai district, but most of the children in the district survived. While the results of daily disaster prevention education were highly evaluated, they faced various difficulties during the actual evacuation. In this program, you will depart from Miraikan and, while listening to a guide, walk about 1.6 kilometers from where Unosumai Elementary School and Kamaishi Higashi Junior High School used to be, to an evacuation route to higher ground.

・Tour of the water gate seawall

The gigantic Unosumai River Floodgate, which is 14.5m high and 180m long, was built after being damaged by the tsunami. I am still in charge of disaster prevention in the area. In the tour program, you will learn about the role of floodgates and seawalls and the importance of awareness of disaster prevention while listening to stories from local floodgate managers and guides about what happened in this area at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

・Visit Kamaishi Unosumai Reconstruction Stadium

The reconstruction stadium is a symbol of the reconstruction of Unosumai. The site where the stadium was built was once home to the district's elementary and junior high schools, but was submerged in the tsunami. Both schools have now moved to higher ground.

The stadium is surrounded by the rich sea, mountains, and rivers, and has an open stand that uses local wood, so you can feel the nature with your whole body. It was also the stage for the 2019 Rugby World Cup held in the midst of reconstruction.

This program will visit the reconstruction stadium, listen to episodes related to the earthquake and construction, and see the inside of the locker room etc. (You cannot enter the ground).

Kamaishi Unosumai Memorial Stadium

〒026-0301 5-1 18th Chiwari, Unosumaicho, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefect...

2019 Rugby World Cup, maintenance as a symbol of reconstruction. Built on the site of Kamaishi Higashi Junior High School and Unosumai Eleme...

We introduced some recommendations from the disaster prevention programs held at "Unosumai Tomos"!

In addition to this, "Unosumai Tomos" also has "Unosato Koryukan" where you can eat and purchase Kamaishi souvenirs, and "Kamaishi Prayer Park" where you can mourn and mourn the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake. . Why don't you spend half a day or one day here and think about disaster prevention?

Unosato Visitor Center

4-901 Unosumaicho, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture 026-0301

Tourism exchange base facility A base facility that promotes tourism exchange by transmitting the charm of the region and creating a lively...