Natori Earthquake Disaster Memorial Park

Natori Earthquake Disaster Memorial Park is a memorial park in Yuriage that contains five distinct zones with different functions: a Prayer Zone, Rest Zone, Ocean-facing Zone, Hiyoriyama Zone, and Remembrance and Memorial Zone. The overall layout brings these areas together as a place where visitors can reflect and learn about the event.

The park was established to commemorate the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami that struck in March 2011, one of the most devastating natural events in Japanese history. In the Natori region, 965 people died, with the majority of casualties occurring in the Yuriage district due to the tsunami.

The park displays ceramic tiles with photographs of the pre-disaster landscape, allowing visitors to see how the area once looked. These visual comparisons help people understand the changes in their surroundings and connect with the history of this place.

The site is walkable and well marked, allowing visitors to explore the different zones at their own pace. A nearby museum offers additional information about reconstruction and disaster prevention if you want to learn more about these topics.

A striking structure in the park stands 8.4 meters tall, representing the exact height of the tsunami wave that swept through the area. This physical representation helps visitors grasp the enormous scale of the water that flooded Yuriage.