NIED OPEN HOUSE 2026

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.

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.

We're doing it again this year! A collaborative project with students from Tohoku University, which has a partnership agreement with the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience! What disasters have happened before?? How can we minimize disasters?? Clear the quiz rally and become a disaster prevention expert yourself! Those who answer all quiz questions correctly will receive original goods!

【Venue】【3】-1 to 【3】-5
【Gift Redemption Counter】 【3】-1

A special lecture where researchers from the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience explain cutting-edge research in easy-to-understand terms.
Experience these exclusive “Researcher Talks” only available here at the venue.
※Space is limited. We recommend arriving early.
【Schedule and Themes】
▶10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
“Wait, What?! Can Home Appliances Really Help with Disaster Prevention?!”
Research Division for Disaster Information and Intelligence, Shingo Toride
　※An IoT air purifier demonstration will be held outside the “Researcher Talks” venue.
▶11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
“What's Great About Being a Researcher at the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience”
Department of Transdisciplinary Research in Disaster Risk Reduction, Yuichiro Usuda
▶1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
　“Unraveling the Mystery of Hail!”
Research Division for Storm, Flood and Landslide Disasters, Yukari Shusse
▶14:00～14:30
“The Undersea Fortress Detecting Nankai Trough Earthquakes Early — Completion of the New Observation Network N-net —”
Center for Earthquake, Tsunami and Volcano Observation Research, Tetsuya Takeda

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】10:00／10:30／11:00／11:30／13:00／13:30／14:00／14:30／15:00／15:30
【Important Information】
※Please note that peak times may be crowded, and you may experience wait times even with a reservation.
※In addition to advance reservations, same-day participation tickets will be distributed at the numbered ticket distribution location. (Limited availability)

What makes a house earthquake-resistant?
Design and build your own “house” using straws, then test it in a shake table experiment modeled after E-Defense.
Kids become “Architecture Experts,” learning hands-on about earthquake-resistant structures by considering house shape, height, and brace (triangular reinforcement) designs.
Failure is an important part of research.
Shake it, break it, think about it, and try again!!
You too can become a future architecture expert starting today!
【Participants】Elementary school students and above. Preschoolers may participate if accompanied by parents or siblings.
※Advance registration required
【Sessions】
10:30／12:00／14:00

Many of you have likely seen news reports about accidents caused by falling roof snow or disasters from wet, heavy snow.
It's important to be mindful not only of snow depth but also its weight. Try experiencing the weight of snow through simulated shoveling or by carrying a snowman made to resemble snow.
We will also display explanatory posters about snow-related disasters (avalanches, blizzards, snow accumulation, etc.).

【Snow Shoveling Basket】Simulated snow shoveling experience.
Try throwing simulated snow of different weights using a shovel to hit a target spot.

【Snowman】Experience the weight difference between snowmen made from fresh snow, packed snow, and granular snow.
Other activities include giving away snow-themed postcards and making snow bookmarks.

This exhibition highlights research projects, including J-SHIS, J-THIS, and J-RISQ, within the Research Division for Earthquake, Tsunami and Multi-disasters.

Join Detective Chris and become part of the Disaster Prevention Detective Squad!
A major incident has occurred in Bousai Town! A precious treasure has vanished!
Who could have stolen the treasure!?
Solve the mystery, gather clues, and track down the culprit's hideout!
Through solving mysteries, learn how to protect yourself from disasters!
There's always only one answer!

What should you do if flooding occurs while you're out? Take on this mission to solve that question! Use YOU@RISK, featured in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's “Practical Disaster Prevention Education Guide,” to find a safe route! Those who complete a route will receive a useful disaster preparedness item. Discussing how to act in an emergency is key to protecting your family.
※Seating is limited. Numbered tickets will be distributed at the venue based on crowd conditions.

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.

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.

This activity provides an introduction to volcanic eruptions and related disasters through real volcanic ash samples and informative posters.

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.

What shapes do raindrops take as they fall? Let’s observe them closely!

Where does lightning strike?
Experience a flash of lightning with this mini lightning experiment kit!
Challenge yourself with the lightning puzzle and discover all kinds of lightning!

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

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.

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!
【Event Schedule】10:30／12:30／13:45／15:00（60-70 minutes each）
Duration: Each session lasts 60–70 minutes
※Please participate in groups of two or more people.

What happens during a major disaster? If smartphones stop working, how will everyone stay in touch? Public payphones are there to help everyone when smartphones fail. You can experience “finding them on a map” near your home or school. Let's get ready and become people who can protect lives!

[Experience] Public payphones keep you connected even in emergencies. The venue features realistic payphone models! What can you say in 15 seconds? Practice timing yourself. Master the art of conveying information quickly, and you'll be a public phone pro!

【Read】Pick up the disaster education collection at the Natural Disaster Information Room and imagine what would happen during a disaster! Here, you'll find many picture books explaining earthquakes and heavy rain. Read books selected by researchers and book experts, then hold a family “what-if” strategy meeting!