Japan Builds Massive Underground Flood System… in Minecraft!

Japan’s government dropped one of the coolest public service announcements ever—a free Minecraft map that lets players explore the world’s largest underground flood control facility. That’s right, you can now step inside the country’s high-tech disaster prevention system without ever leaving your screen.

What Is It?

Created by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), the map is a detailed recreation of the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, better known as G-Cans.

This real-life mega-structure, completed in 2006, lies beneath the outskirts of Tokyo and was designed to stop floods from turning neighborhoods into waterways during typhoon season.

In the real world, the system kicks in around seven times a year, diverting stormwater from rivers and heavy rainfall. The structure includes enormous tunnels, 50 meters deep and stretching 6.3 kilometers, plus an iconic underground chamber filled with towering concrete pillars.

A Virtual Tour Like No Other

The Minecraft version nails the atmosphere, especially the giant pillar hall, often called the “Underground Temple of Disaster Prevention.” Each of those concrete pillars weighs a whopping 500 tons, designed to resist groundwater pressure and support the underground structure.

Players can:

• Visit areas normally closed to the public, like the pump rooms and control center.

• Simulate flooding by opening gates and watching water levels rise.

• Learn how flood management works—all through a blocky, interactive experience.

Built with Real Blueprints

The development team used actual engineering blueprints to recreate the facility with striking accuracy. As reported by Automaton, the goal was more than just fun—it’s about educating people on the importance of infrastructure and how it keeps cities safe during disasters.

And it’s working. Starting this June, the Minecraft map will be used as part of a “Disaster Prevention Learning Course” during on-site tours of G-Cans. But you don’t have to be in Japan to experience it—the map is free for anyone to download.

How to Play

The map supports:

• Minecraft Bedrock version 1.21.1

• Minecraft Education Edition 1.21.03

Available on PC, iOS, and Android, the map can also be uploaded to multiplayer servers if you start on a PC first. You can download it now from the Edogawa River Office homepage.