A display of an outdoor emergency toilet at the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park in Tokyo. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
A crowded elevator in Tokyo begins to shake; the lights cut out without warning. Eyes widen as panic spreads through the confined space. Few know what to do next.
This is just one scenario that the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park, near the city’s waterfront, prepares participants for during their 72-hour earthquake tour.
The first 72 hours after a major earthquake are widely considered the most critical for survival. Access to emergency services, clean water and medical care rapidly diminishes during this time, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The disaster prevention park is a two-floor learning center whose main mission is to act as the center for recovery operations in Tokyo in the event of a large-scale disaster. They also offer a variety of simulations, training and other activities to prepare for those events.
Visitors at the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention view the simulated aftermath of an earthquake in Tokyo. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
The first-floor experience center features a 72-hour earthquake tour that simulates different scenarios in an urban environment in the event of a magnitude 7 earthquake.
The goal is to prepare residents and tourists to navigate a disaster zone and reach an evacuation site, increasing their chances of survival in the first hours after a major disaster, when survival rates drop significantly.
The half-hour tour uses iPads to guide you through each scenario. The tour guides speak Japanese, and some English, but the iPads can be set to English and are the only thing you will need to participate in the tour.
A display of essential items to have in the event of an earthquake at the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park in Tokyo. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
On the second floor, the exhibits shift from an earthquake simulation to education on surviving a tsunami. Detailed survival kits and tactics are on full display, and the versatility of an aluminum soda can was surprising.
If you are inspired after the tour, the Sonae cafe on the first floor offers food, refreshments, and all the items needed to prepare a survival kit.
The operation room at the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park where Japanese officials would gather to deal with a natural disaster. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
One Easter egg at the park is a view of the emergency operations room from the second floor.
This is where the Japanese government would set up during a major disaster, and where some movie fans will recognize where scenes in the film “Shin Godzilla,” released in 2016, were filmed.
The entrance to the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park in Tokyo. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
On the QT
Location: 3 Chome-8-35 Ariake, Koto City, Tokyo
Directions: From Kokusai-tenjijō Station take exit A heading northeast and follow the sidewalk around the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel until you get to the first crosswalk. The park is located across the street from the hotel. Google plus code: JQMW+X8 Koto City, Tokyo
Hours: Open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tours available 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, last entry at 4:30 p.m.
Costs: Admission is free.
Food: Light food and drinks at the Sonae Café
Information: Online: tokyorinkai-koen.jp/en/index.php
