Unzen Disaster Memorial Hall, is Japan’s first hands-on volcano museum where visitors can experience everything about volcanoes. It is located at the foot of Mount Unzen Fugendake in Shimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture.
One visitor commented, “It’s like a theme park!
At the Wonder Lab, visitors can learn about volcanoes, science, and disaster prevention through a variety of experiments and workshops.
The “Children’s Geopark,” is a hands-on zone where visitors can feel and learn about the power of the earth and Unzen Volcano in many ways. It has an indoor playground space that is great even on rainy days, allowing visitors to learn while having fun.
At the “Geo Mountain Trampoline,” visitors can enjoy a 360° view from the top of Heisei Shinzan, and at “Bouldering,” they can experience bouldering on a cliff that looks like a geological formation created by Heisei Shinzan and the Unzen Volcano. In the “Strata Exploration Athletic Ball Pool,” visitors can observe the geological strata while climbing an athletic board, and play on a ball pool and slide that resemble the Ariake Sea.
The “Children’s Library” is an area for babies and toddlers with a variety of toys and picture books, They can learn while playing and relaxing on the carpet. (A nursing room is also available).
From the observation lounge, you can see Heisei Shinzan, Bizan, and the Ariake Sea. In good weather, you can also see Kumamoto City and the mountains of Aso on the opposite shore.
Unzen Fugendake erupted in 1990 for the first time in 198 years, causing extensive damage. The Mount Unzen Disaster Memorial Hall was built on new land created by the mudslide that filled the sea. The Unzendake Disaster Memorial Hall was built in the hope that a proper understanding of volcanoes will lead to saving lives in future disasters.
Unzendake Disaster Memorial Hall is nicknamed “Gamadasu Dome,” which means “do your best” in the Shimabara dialect.
In recent years, we often hear the word “disaster prevention” due to various natural disasters. In the “Permanent Exhibit,” visitors can experience the eruption disaster of Mt. Unzen Fugendake that began in 1990, using the latest technology such as projection mapping and drone images, and learn how to prepare for disasters in case of emergency.
Unzen. Visitors can also learn about the “unmanned construction” developed for Mt. Unzen, and experience how it works by operating heavy machinery as if they were playing a game.
Visitors can also enjoy the Unzen Hot Spring Village, Shimabara Castle, and the gourmet food of the Shimabara Peninsula.

Geo and Volcano Experience Museum　Gamadasu Dome”” Mt. Unzen Disaster Memorial Hall
Location：Heiseimachi1-1,Shimabara City, Nagasaki 855-0879
phone number： 0957-65-5555
Open from 9am to 6pm (last entry 5pm)
Open year round* Closed for maintenance in April
https://www.udmh.or.jp/

Cover photograph provided by　長崎県観光連盟