The building that houses this collection is a beautiful piece of engineering and design in itself. But it's what's inside that provides an amazing insight into the Japanese as a culture and society. The museum offers a plethora of information in English. The earthquake experience is full on and the stories of survival and recovery are extensive. The English-speaking staff/volunteers... More

Yes, the tongue-twister of a name - "Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution" - is truly confusing. This is really a museum, a catalog, an archive... and much more of the terrible 1995 earthquake in Kobe. The 7-minute multimedia experience gives you a real feel of how horrible that fateful January morning was in 1995. There is an incredible amount... More

Do not smile at the title of this place before you visit. It is very much what is says to be, in a way that will make you think. You will be introduced to the realities of the human aftermath of an earthquake. There are English speaking volunteers who guide you through the exhibits. If you visit during the week... More

The institute contains an overwhelming and comprehensive record on the 1995 Kobe earthquake. Movies, dramatisations, dioramas, and lots of paraphernalia from the disaster and recovery process. Headsets in English and other languages are available, and every display we read had English translations. If you're an information buff, you'll love this place. The English-speaking local volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable, maybe... More

If you love Kobe, please visit this place. This place is informative and interesting. The building itself is a great piece of architecture construction. First thing you do is to watch an amazing earthquake moives, it's trying to replicate what happen on Tuesday, January 17, 1995, at 05:46 and the 20 second of earthqauke. The moive was so well made... More

With lots of English explanations, wonderful tour guides and interactive displays for teens, this was a great museum. The experience begins with a room where you are surrounded by footage of the day of the earthquake, you then walk through a recreated street that is very impressive, to a movie theater where you are taken inside the experience of a... More