イベント情報

2025年03月31日

National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience open house

Date & Time	Saturday, April 19, 2025 10:00～16:00　※ Final Admission15:30 No reservation required for entry, free admission
Location	National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience Tsukuba HQs 3-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0006, Japan Access Map ※Please use public transportation.. ※If the parking lot is full, vehicle entry will be restricted. ※Please pay attention to the direction of vehicle entry. General vehicles have priority over vehicles turning left from Higashi Odori Street.
Gift for visitors	Visitors will receive a palm-sized original compressed towel! Please make use of this towel as a preparation for disasters. You can use the towel immediately by unraveling it by hand.
	This is the official X account of NIED. We will share various information such as highlights and key events. The latest updates are posted on our X. Please be sure to follow us! https://x.com/NIED_en
Event Map (Japanese only) Available on-site	Download
Contact Us	Contact Us

Events

１Let's walk through the heavy rain! personal experience	Can you see or hear through the heavy rain? Step into a sudden downpour equipped with your own boots, umbrella, and raincoat. Imagine if you got caught in such rain on your way home from school... 【Eligibility】Participants must be able to wear a helmet. 【Event Schedule (explanation and experiencing rain)】 10:30～10:50（Admission begins at 10:10） 11:30～11:50（Admission begins at 11:10） 13:30～13:50（Admission begins at 13:10） 14:30～14:50（Admission begins at 14:10）【Important Notes】 ※Expect to get very wet during this experience. ※Participants are requested to bring their own rain gear (umbrella, boots, raincoat, towel, etc.). ※It is recommended to wear a full raincoat that covers both the upper and lower body. ※Barefoot participation is not allowed. ※Helmets (provided on-site) must be worn inside the building. ※Once helmets run out, admission will be closed. ※Admission start times may change depending on the situation. ※Due to expected crowding, please manage your belongings individually.
２Let’s Observe a Volcano Eruption Experiment! for children personal experience experiment	We will perform a simulated volcano eruption experiment using Mentos and Coke/ 【Experience time】11:00／13:15 ※Note: The event will be canceled in severe weather, but will proceed in light rain.
３ What is it like to work at the NIED? Researchers	The institute is broadly divided into researchers and those who support research efforts. What kind of education is necessary to work at NIED? How do you become a researcher? What kind of roles do people working in the institute take on? We will address questions from those interested in working at NIED! 【Eligibility】Junior high school students, university students (including graduate students), and adults interested in working at a research institute. 【Details of the event】 ①Jobs that support research and research institutes (Session 1) ②How to become a researcher at NIED (Session 1) ③Jobs that support research and research institutes (Session 2) ④How to become a researcher at NIED (Session 2) ⑤Open Q&A corner (available anytime outside the Session 1–4 time slots: 10:00–12:30 and 13:30–15:30) 【Important Notes】Open Q&A corner (available anytime outside the Session 1–4 time slots: 10:00–12:30 and 13:30–15:30)
４Do you know? 3.11 - Let's learn with Tohoku University students! quiz rally	A collaborative project with students from Tohoku University, with whom the NIED has a cooperative agreement! Do you know about the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011? Would you like to learn about the Great East Japan Earthquake through a disaster prevention quiz rally with Tohoku University students? Through the quiz, you can learn the lessons of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the mechanism of earthquakes and tsunamis, and evacuation methods in a fun way. Those who answer all quiz questions correctly will receive original goods! 【Quiz posting location and answer column】Listed on the event map 【Confirmation of answers and delivery of goods】Courtyard Tent
５Experience the shaking of an earthquake with "Jishin The Vuton" -Portable Earthquake Simulator! Advance application required personal experience	With the "Jishin The Vuton," you can feel a variety of earthquake tremors, from the intense shaking of a magnitude 7 earthquake directly beneath you to long-period seismic waves. 【Eligibility】Participants must be elementary school-aged or older. Weight must be under 100kg. 【Event Schedule】10:15／10:45／11:45／13:00／13:30／14:00／14:30／15:00／15:30 【Important Information】 ※This event tends to be crowded, so even with a reservation, there may be waiting times.
６～E-Defense 20th Anniversary～ Let's Do Experiments Together! Advance application required for children Crafting personal experience	Build an Earthquake-Resistant House and Experiment with Mini E-Defense! Using straws, participants will construct sturdy, earthquake-resistant houses and test them using a mini E-Defense simulator. (Each session has a maximum of 40 participants and lasts 60 minutes.) Additionally, you can experience a real E-Defense experiment through VR! 【Eligibility】Elementary school-aged children and above. Preschoolers may participate if accompanied by parents or siblings. 【Event Schedule】10:30／12:00／14:00 【Important Notes】VR goggles cannot be used by children under the age of 7. For children aged 7–13, parental consent is required to use the goggles. Children under 7 will instead use single-lens paper goggles for the VR experience.
７Listening to the Voice of Snow - Snow, Life, and Us Exhibition	We will be showcasing exhibits on life in snowy regions and snow and ice disaster prevention.
８Preparing for Future Disasters: What Can We Do Now? Exhibition	This exhibition highlights research projects, including J-SHIS, J-THIS, and J-RISQ, within the Research Division for Earthquake, Tsunami and Multi-disasters.
９Experience a Tsunami Through VR! Numbered tickets required for children personal experience	This immersive VR activity allows participants to experience a simulated tsunami. Maximum Participants: 10 per session, Duration: Up to 30 minutes 【Event Schedule】 10:30／11:00／11:30／12:00／12:30／13:00／13:30／14:00／14:30／15:00 【Ticket Distribution Location】Distributed at the courtyard tent starting at 10:00 on a first-come, first-served basis. 【Important Notes】VR goggles cannot be used by children under 7 years old. For children aged 7–13, parental consent is required to use the goggles.
10Disaster Preparedness Puzzle Adventure ~ Search for the Treasure of Disaster Island! for children personal experience Exhibition	Uncover the island’s secrets and find the hidden treasure! Your wisdom and ingenuity will be put to the test. Through this thrilling adventure, you’ll gain essential skills to protect yourself from disasters while having fun along the way.
11 Create Your Own Disaster Preparedness Kit Through Quizzes! Advance application required Numbered tickets required for children Crafting personal experience	Answer disaster-related quizzes to collect essential items and assemble your personalized disaster preparedness kit. Duration: Approximately 30 minutes per session. 【Eligibility】Elementary school-aged (upper grades) and above 【Event Schedule】10:00／10:30／11:00／11:30／12:00／12:30／13:00／13:30／14:00 【Ticket Distribution Location】Distributed at the courtyard tent starting at 10:00 on a first-come, first-served basis.
12Discover Earthquake Locations in Japan Through Crafts! Numbered tickets depending on congestion for children Crafting	Participants can enjoy making paper crafts (10–20 minutes) to learn about where earthquakes occur underground in Japan, or creating keychains with earthquake-themed designs (approximately 20 minutes) 【Eligibility】3 years old and older. Preschool-aged children must be accompanied by a guardian.Due to limited seating, tickets will be distributed at the venue based on crowd levels. 【Important Notes】Keychains may be hot immediately after being handed over; please handle them with care. Some parts are relatively small, so caution is advised during use.
13Let's create a mini tsunami. for children personal experience	Create Mini Tsunamis with a Water Tank and Learn How They Happen! Use a water tank to generate mini tsunamis and observe the mechanisms behind tsunami formation and how they are monitored. 【Eligibility】Open to participants of all ages who can step on a foot pump. 【Event Schedule】Available anytime during the event.
14What is a volcano? Let’s Learn About Volcanoes! experiment	This activity provides an introduction to volcanic eruptions and related disasters through real volcanic ash samples and informative posters.
15Tornado Experiment experiment	When and how do tornadoes form? Which direction do they spin? This experiment will demonstrate the conditions under which tornadoes occur and their spinning motion. Using practical hands-on methods, participants will create tornadoes while learning about their formation, rotation direction, and the science behind these powerful natural phenomena.
16Let’s Observe the Shapes of Raindrops! experiment	What shapes do raindrops take as they fall? Let’s observe them closely!
17Let’s Observe Typhoon-Like Swirls! experiment for children	Let's Observe a Typhoon-like Swirl. Air flows in a spiral toward the eye of a typhoon, creating a swirling motion. Observe the swirling patterns using an experimental device 【Experiment Details】Duration: 30 minutes per session Schedule:10:00／11:00／12:00／14:00／15:00
18Let’s Observe a River! personal experience	Through hands-on learning with a model, participants will explore the fascinating process of rivers forming on barren land and understand how they continually change and evolve.
19Let's make a seismometer using a plastic bottle! Advance application required Ticket required for same-day slots for children Crafting	A seismometer is an instrument used to study ground motions caused by earthquakes. While learning about how seismometers work, let's try building one with everyday materials! ※Tickets are required for same-day slots. 【Event Schedule】10:30／12:30／13:45／15:00（60-70 minutes each） Duration: Each session lasts 60–70 minutes 【Ticket Distribution Location】Distributed at the courtyard tent starting at 10:00, on a first-come, first-served basis.
20Disaster Preparedness Education Collection for children personal experience Exhibition	Through this specially curated exhibition, let's envision how to be ready for disasters and take proactive steps.

Events Requiring Pre-registration

Advance registration is now closed

Events Requiring Same-day Tickets

The following events will have tickets distributed on the day of the event, starting from 10:00 a.m. at the courtyard:
●９Experience a Tsunami Through VR! ●11Create Your Own Disaster Preparedness Kit Through Quizzes! ●19Let's make a seismometer using a plastic bottle!

Event Schedule

Scheduled events with fixed times. (Japanese only)

Area Map

The area map is available in Japanese only.

Download

Poster,
Flyer,
and Event Map

Poster（B1）
Flyer（A4）
Event Map（B3）
* All of these are in Japanese only.

Dining Halls and Food Trucks

Cafeteria (1st floor, Research Exchange Building)	Curry rice, Shoyu (soy sauce) ramen
Food Trucks Courtyard	Fried Chicken, Bak Kut Teh, Japanese croquettes, Menchi Katsu, Tornado Potato, etc.
	Hot Dog, Fried Bread, Seasoned Shake Fries, Mini Churros, Fresh Frankfurter Sausage, Frappe Smoothie, Soft Drinks, Vegan Chili Con Carne, etc.
	Yakidango (baked dumplings), Kusamochi, Imoyokan (sweet potato dumplings), Imokurimu (sweet potato cream), Warabimochi (rice cakes), Soka Senbei (rice crackers), Oshiruko (sweet red bean soup), etc.

Important Information

Open gates and Parking Lots	・Visitors who arrive before the gate opens will not be able to enter the venue or wait in the street. ・Please refrain from parking on the street. ・Parking space is limited to approximately 300 vehicles. We kindly ask you to use public transportation. ・If the parking lot is full,please use other parking lots around Tsukuba Station.
For Visitors with Young Children	・The nursing room and diaper-changing area are located on the 1st floor of the Research Communication Building. ・Please dispose of used diapers in the trash bins provided in the restroom on the 1st floor of the Research Communication Building or in the nursing room (also on the 1st floor) ・Hot water for milk is not available. ・Strollers are neither available for rental nor for temporary storage.
Photography	【Photography by Staff】 Photos will be taken by NIED Staff for documentation purposes. Those Photos may be used internally and for promotional materials such as posters or flyers for the following year. In such cases, images that do not show identifiable faces will be used. 【Photography by Visitors】 As a general rule, photography is permitted. However, in areas where photography is prohibited, staff may notify you accordingly.
Other Details	・Pets are not allowed to enter the venue, except for Assistance dogs including Guide Dogs (Seeing Eye Dogs), Hearing Dogs and Mobility Assistance Dogs. ・There are no guides available to provide tours of the entire facility. ・Wheelchairs are not available for rental.
Emergency Evacuation	If an earthquake with a magnitude of 4 or higher is expected, an earthquake warning will be issued. Please stay calm and follow the instructions provided by the staff. In the event of a disaster, the designated evacuation area is a baseball field. We kindly ask that you confirm the location of the evacuation area in advance.