Experience Japan’s flood control technology at the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel.
October 2018
The Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, located in Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture,
is a facility where you can learn about Japan’s flood control technology.
■Facility Overview
The Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel is the world’s largest underground river which puts to use Japan’s cutting-edge engineering technology. The facility is located in an area where natural disasters such as typhoons would often lead to flood damage at ground level. However, since beginning operations there, flood damage has drastically reduced and it is believed that this prevention method has saved more than 120 billion yen in damages.
■Tour
The tour lasts about 50 minutes. We can observe the underground water tank structure by descending about 100 steps down the stairs.
This explanation is only provided in Japanese, but there is an exclusive app you can download using the facility’s Wi-Fi which will help you understand the contents.
The underground water tank has a width of 78 meters, a length of 177 meters (about the size of a soccer field),
and a height of 18 meters. Looking up at the sight of 59 giant pillars will leave you with a sense of awe.
By the way, why do you think these giant pillars are needed?
These pillars are needed to bear the uplifting pressure from all the water. You can feel the astonishing power of water.
The final point of observation is the pit. You can take a peek at the 70 meter deep pit from above.
At such a massive height and scale it left me feeling weak in the knees.
■Important Points
Reservations for the guided tour can be made in Japanese and English.
All material in this article was up-to-date at the time of writing.
However, please understand that some things may have changed since then.
Admission Fee 1000 yen
Tour Schedule depends on the day.
Please check the time schedule at the reservation website.
Address 720 Kamikanasaki, Kasukabe-shi, Saitama-ken 344-0111
Access
10 minutes by bus from Minami Sakurai St, Tobu Urban Park Line
25 minutes by bus from Kasukabe St, Tobu Urban Park Line
Official site https://www.ktr.mlit.go.jp/edogawa//edogawa_index045.html
