If you heard the word ‘Kobe’, it reminds you of the famous Kobe Beef which is so tender, it just melts in your mouth when you eat it. Or you may be reminded too about the Great Kobe Earthquake in 1995.
We had a chance to visit Kobe for a day and the main attraction was visiting this museum; it is officially being named as :
The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution
Photo taking is not allowed in all areas inside the museum; but this is a common procedure in all Japanese museums we visited. Especially this is also a memorial place.
All I can say that it Is Worth The Visit if you are ever in Kobe.
The museum was Brilliantly Set Up, with storyline building up from that 17 January 1995 at 5.46 am when the Great Hansin-Awaji earthquake stroke at 7.3 Magnitude.
You were guided to see and feel from an amphitheater on how the city looked like when the earthquake happened; real buildings and roads. Not sure how the simulation documentary movie was made.
As world has heard and seen on how the Japanese behaved when Tsunami Struck; the victims kept calm, queued for provision orderly and no chaos, no self pittance that being displayed.
This earthquake incident was no difference; the documentary showed how people from all over Japan came to volunteer in helping to build temporary housing as fast as possible for the victims. I recalled a scene where after just mere few days, workers were busy clearing debris on one side of the wall where the locals can be seen started to go to work or school.
The spirit was admirable.
And amazingly, Japanese thought of what to learn from this disaster and improved things to be better; lesser damage than before.
The structure was built to stand or anticipate earthquake rattle; saw some of apartment/high rise buildings that were badly damaged between floors but it didn’t crumble to the ground.
I strongly felt after went through the whole floors of this museum; how small we are as human when natural disaster strikes.
Strongly recommend visiting this museum as early as you can or as your first destination when you are in Kobe, it will give you more time to going through this impressive museum and the bus departing from this museum operates only until 5 pm.
Girl In Design 