Nihon Sun » Hyogo

Earthquakes & Japan Travel Safety Tips

Shane Sakata — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:00:48 +0000

Japan has more earthquake activity than almost any place in the world. While we don’t have noticeable earthquakes everyday, they are a common occurrence – one that gets your attention but doesn’t hold it for long unless unless it is longer or stronger than “usual”. The 6.9 magnitude earthquake that was felt in Tokyo last night was an attention getter!

The hanging lamps were swaying quite violently and everything was rattling in our twelfth floor Chiba, Japan apartment for at least a minute while we waited, and wondered, when the shaking would stop. You can read a quote from both me and Honor Dargan, guest contributor on The Nihon Sun and author of Tokyotopia on Galavanting.

What can visitors do to prepare for an earthquake when visiting Japan? Not a lot I’m afraid, but some tips for staying safe include:

Locate the emergency exits closest to you at your hotel.
Prop open your hotel room door in case the building buckles – you may not be able to open it otherwise.
Crouch under a sturdy table or desk, stand under a doorframe or head for the bathroom – these locations are usually the most structurally sound and offer you the most protection.
Don’t panic or rush out of doors unless absolutely necessary – if you do need to evacuate do so calmly on foot taking only what you need.
If you are out of doors, look for open spaces and parks that offer protection from debris that may fall off buildings and hillsides.

If you happen to be in a tall building when an earthquake strikes you will likely feel the intensity of the quake more than someone on the ground. Modern buildings in Japan are built on foundations that are meant to withstand earthquakes but they tend to sway more the higher you are!

The chance of you experiencing and earthquake in Japan is pretty good, the chance of it being large enough to cause damage or take lives is much less likely. In fact you may not even notice an earthquake if you are walking or otherwise moving about.

Earthquake Simulations in Japan

The Hyogo Earthquake Engineering Research Center has some video simulations of earthquakes or if you are in Tokyo you can visit the Tokyo Northern Disaster Research Center to experience an earthquake simulator free of charge. The simulations, like the one in the video above, will allow you to experience the exact magnitude and duration of the the 1923 Kanto Earthquake and the 1995 Kobe Earthquake.

The first hand account of the 1923 Kanto Earthquake as experienced on the slopes of Mt. Fuji is also fascinating reading.

(Hat tip to Tokyotopia on Twitter for the Tokyo Northern Disaster Research Center link)

Video Credit: YouTube, Earthquake simulation

Japan:A Closer Look at Kansai – Part 1

Shane Sakata — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:00:10 +0000

Also known as Kinki or Kinai, the Kansai region of Japan includes the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Mie, Hyogo & Shiga. The region lies just south of the mid-point of Honshu, Japan’s main island, and spans the country from east to west with borders on both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. Osaka and Kobe are the large cities of the region, both of which have deep roots in the merchant class due to their location on the Seto Inland Sea, one on Japan’s main ports.

Kyoto and Nara are home to many of the county’s historical and cultural treasures and were once home to Japan’s imperial family and capital city for over 1,000 years until until it moved to Tokyo in the late 1800′s.

Many visitors to Japan only manage to fit in a brief visit to the Kansai region on their itinerary and spend the majority of their time in Kanto (Tokyo/Yokohama area). This is unfortunate as the region has a lot to offer visitors and is only 2.5 hours by shinkansen (bullet train) or a little over 1 hour in the air from Tokyo.

Our closer look at Kanto will be divided into three parts. Part 1 will cover the prefectures of Shiga, Mie & Hyogo, Part 2 will examine Osaka and Wakayama and Kyoto and Nara will be explored in Part 3.

Mie Prefecture

Visit the Mikimoto Pearl Museum and see a demonstration of Ama Diving, an obsolete technique where women dove to collect the pearl filled oysters.

Take in the scenic beauty of the 48 watefalls of Akame (Map for Akame Shijyuhachitaki Water Falls)

Visit the Ise-jingu Shrine, one of Japan’s most revered shrines where the sun goddess Amaterasu O-mikami is enshrined. Over seven million worshippers visit the shrine each year to take part in a variety of ceremonies that are held each month or visit one of the Ise-Jingu museums. View the Ise-jingu anime to learn more about this shrine.

Make the pilgrimage along Kumano Kodo (pictured on the right), a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. Explore some of the Kumano Kodo hiking trails and visit the three grand shrines of Kumano (Kumano Sanzan).

Learn more about Ninjitsu, at the Ninja Iga-ryu Muesum in Iga. Also in Iga, see the Ueno Tenjin Matsuri or Festival of the Gods each fall. See the Iga Sightseeing Map and historical information for more things to do and see in Iga.

Visit the picturesque rice paddies of Maruyama-senmaida.

To learn about more things to do and see in Mie Prefcture visit Japan National Tourist Organizations’s Mie page or the Mie Tourism Guide.

Shiga Prefecture

Take a journey to Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan

Visit Shiga Kogen, the largest Ski resort in Japan and host of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic Giant Slalom. Ski season runs from mid-to-late November and continues through the first week of May (Golden Week). If skiing isn’t your thing, you can also play tennis, golf or explore Joshinetsu Kogen National Park.

Take the cable care or ropeway up Mt. Hiei to see the Buddhist monuments at Hiezan Enryakuji (pictured on the right).

Visit the ancient Seta-no-Karahashi in Osu City. This bridge was strategic point for military purposes, transportation, and was frequently destroyed by war. The stunning view of the bridge at sunset has been memorialized by many Japanese artists and poets.

Visit Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, home to one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns and one of the oldest pottery producing areas in Japan.

Consider following one of the model tours of Shiga, browse Japan National Tourist Organizations’s Shiga information or the Shiga Tourism Site for more things to do and see in Shiga Prefecture.

Hyogo Prefecture

Explore the capital city of Kobe – highlight include:

Visit Kobe’s sake breweries
Take in the beauty of the city’s gardens & parks
Relax in Kobe’s onsen (hot springs)
Download a Kobe map and sightseeing coupons.

Take time to visit Himeji Castle, built in 1931, a national treasure, and also on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Explore the areas parks, museums and other attractions on a sightseeing bus or rent a bike (scroll down for details).

Explore Takarazuka and take in The Takarazuka Review, a famous Japanese theatre production where all roles are played by women.

Relax and take in the sights around Arima Onsen or Kinosaki Hot Spring.

Visit Awaji-shima, the largest island in the Seto Inland Sea and the third largest in Japan.

Browse Japan National Tourist Organizations’s Hyogo information or the Hyogo International Tourism Guide to learn about more things to do and see in Hyogo prefecture.

Odd Facts & Trivia

The Ise-jingu Shrine in Mie Prefecture has been rebuilt every 20 years for over 1,000 years in a ceremony called Shikinen Sengu. In October, 2013 the shrine will be reconstructed for the 62nd time.

The Akashi Kaikyo Ohashi (Akashi Strait Grand Bridge) is the world’s longest suspension bridge, at 3,910 meters and connects Awaji-shima Island with Kobe

Articles in the Japan: A Closer Look series:

Image Credit: Flickr, IMG0026, 文殊桜 (Illuminated Hieizan Enryakuji) & Carbonated Hot Spring (Arima Onsen)

Astro Boy at the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum

Shane Sakata — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:00:41 +0000

Osamu Tezuku created one of the world’s best know manga and anime characters in Astro Boy during the 1950′s. In Japan Astro Boy is better know as Tetsuwan Atomu, or Mighty Atom in English. Astro Boy was serialized in Japan from 1952-1968 and was the first domestically-produced animated program on Japanese television when it debuted in 1963. Astro Boy also became the first Japanese animation to be shown on US television with 104 of the 193 episodes shown between 1963 and 1966 on NBC.

Today you can visit the Osamu Tezuku Manga Museum in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture (about an hour by train from Kyoto – Osamu Tezuku Manga Museum Access Map ) to learn more about Osamu Tezuku, the artist, and his creations including Astro Boy, Black Jack, Kimba the White Lion Princess Night and Phoenix, his life’s work.

Known as the “Father of Anime” or “Japan’s Walt Disney”, Osamu Tezuku lived and worked in Takarazuka for 20 years – he was born in 1926 in Osaka and died at the age of 1989 in Tokyo. The museum was inaugurated in 1994 to honor his life and work.

The Osamu Tezuku Manga Museum is open Thursday through Tuesday from 9:30AM to 5PM (last admission at 4:30PM). Admission is Y500 for adults, Y300 for Junior and senior high school students and Y100 for elementary school students. Those over the age of 60 or with disabilities are admitted free.

For those of you that love Astro Boy who can’t get to the Osamu Tezuku Manga Museum in Japan you will be sure to look forward to an animated feature film titled Astro Boy that is slated for release by Imagi Studios in October of 2009 starring Academy Award®-winning actor Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Nathan Lane, Bill Nighy, Eugene Levy and Donald Sutherland, with Freddie Highmore in the title role.

Enjoy the Astro Boy move trailer below and learn more about companion Astro Boy video games slated for release around the same time.

Image Credit: Flickr, Astro Boy, Kyoto Video: YouTube, Astro Boy (2009) HD Teaser Trailer