Sendai Municipal Arahama Elementary School, Earthquake memorial building in Wakabayashi-ku, Japan.
Sendai Municipal Arahama Elementary School is a four-story building located about one kilometer from the coast, showing the destruction caused by the 2011 tsunami. The waves reached the second floor and left visible marks on the walls and structure throughout the school.
The building played a critical role during the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, when roughly three hundred people sought shelter on the roof. They waited there until rescue teams arrived the next day and evacuated them.
The preserved structure contains exhibition spaces featuring photographs, documentary films, and artifacts that illustrate the impact of the 2011 natural disaster.
The best way to reach the memorial is by bus from Arai Station or by bicycle from the city center. The grounds are accessible and easy to explore on foot, especially the rooftop observation area.
Inside, visitors can see photo comparisons showing how the Arahama area changed before and after the disaster. These visual side-by-side images help show how much the neighborhood has rebuilt and recovered.
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