This is one of the nicest earthquake exhibitions in Japan. Takes about an hour or 1.5 hours for the whole journey. First you will usher to a dark room to watch the events before earthquake itself. After that to another hall to watch a show about the victim how she grew up with that earthquake experience. Is quite emotional even though I don’t speak Japanese. The English translation is good enough. Can understand the pain they went through. I was in my young age when I watched the news .
After that. You can walk to the port to see the actual earthquake site and short write-up. Happens to have an event as well. A nice walk to the port
Honestly the experience is a bit heavy and serious for me, it's not what I expected before visiting, so you may need to prepare yourself before going. It's an emotional journey filled with lot of sadness and memories, with lot of photos, videos, interviews related to the disaster, people suffering and rebuild the city. I hope there are more interactive installation and information to enhance the experience. It was weekend but not much people visiting.
Definitely worth a visit if you are in Kobe! Very interesting and informative museum and the staff gave english explanation on lots of things which is a huge plus!
We wanted to visit, as we remembered the earthquake on the news and never forgot how much destruction it caused.
The first exhibit is in a room where there is a simulation/film of the earthquake. You are warned beforehand if you experience any nausea to let the staff know and they will lead you out. Just be aware that it was quite loud, as if you were in the middle of the earthquake.
Our favourite exhibit was the replica of a destroyed neighbourhood, very atmospheric.
The exhibits are well displayed and informative, but some were only in Japanese, but not an issue with a translator app.
We met a lovely lady who worked there, who had experienced the earthquake. We communicated via translation app. She was in the education system, and told us that a lot of people went back into their homes to get what blankets they could, as it was so cold.
The earthquake was a lesson in understanding how to make more resilient infrastructure and as a result Kobe is much stronger today not to mention other quake prone regions that learnt from it.
She thanked us on behalf of the mayor of Kobe for staying in the city.
The second building had more exhibits and a small shop. Free entry every 17th of the month.
Kobe is a great city, will be back again ❤️
Took my son here so he could learn about the earthquake which hit Kobe before he was born. A great exhibition centre full of useful information, an excellent video to begin with and the staff were incredibly polite and helpful. Well worth a visit if you interested in the history of Kobe before and after the earthquake.
More about Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum from our blog
