Recommended for such people
・ I want to know what the facility is for
・ I want to know tourist information around the area
What is the Metropolitan Area Outer Flood Bypass?
The Metropolitan Area Outer Floodway is a facility in Saitama Prefecture that prevents flood damage.
It is also called an "underground temple" because of its appearance, and it is also used for film locations.
This time, I will introduce such an underground temple.
What was it made for?
The underground temple was built to prevent flooding.
The area where this facility is located is surrounded by large rivers (Tone River, Edo River, Arakawa), and the terrain is very easy for water to collect.
Since flooding is repeated every time heavy rains occur, an underground drainage channel was constructed over the course of nine years to allow water to flow.
Highlights
Ryu-Q Building
The underground temple can be visited by making a reservation.
(It is not possible to tour during use. It operates about 7 times a year on average.)
On the day of the tour, we will meet at a facility called "Ryu Q Kan".
The inside is like a command room, and it was also used for shooting Ultraman Cosmos.
Entrance to the underground temple
After hearing the explanation of the facility at Ryu Q Building, head to the underground temple.
A feeling of a secret base overflows from the entrance.
It looks like an enemy hideout.
Since you will be traveling on the stairs, be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
To the underground temple
After going down the stairs for about 50m, you will arrive at the "pressure control water tank" called the underground temple.
It is a facility to weaken the momentum of the flowing water, and the height of the pillars is 18m and the weight is 1t per pillar.
It was more like a dungeon boss room than an underground temple.
It is often used on location and appears in successive Kamen Rider series and the movie "Fly Me To The Saitama".
XNUMXst shaft
A hole called a shaft allows water to flow in from here.
Boys should only see it as a rocket launch pad or a giant robot outlet.
By the way, the tour area was clean and there was no particular odor.
Addition of tour course
It's a great facility, but when I went there, the range I could see was narrow, and honestly I felt a little unsatisfactory.
Picking up such a voice, a course to walk down in the shaft is now added.
It's expensive, but if you're not afraid of heights, try it.
I will challenge it soon.
Reservation method
Reservations can be made from the official website.
Course reservation: Official website
Normal + pump room course: 2500 yen
Normal + shaft course: 3000 yen
There are XNUMX courses in total, so choose the one that suits your interests.
I think the shaft course is good because it's a big deal.
Access
It takes about 7 minutes by bus (there are few) from Tobu Railway "Kasukabe Station" or by taxi from "Minami Sakurai Station".
Access by public transportation was poor, and the official website seemed to assume that you would come by car.
I went by bus from Kasukabe station and walked back to Minami-Sakurai station. (Approximately 2.5km)
By the way, Kasukabe City is the stage of the popular manga "Crayon Shin-chan", so Shin-chan will welcome you from the station.
I wonder if the Crayon Shin-chan Memorial Hall will be built soon.
There is also a sign of Crayon Shin-chan in Ryu Q Kan.
The author, Dr. Usui, died in 2009, so it is very valuable.
The kanji for "dragon" is wrong, but the teacher's attention is conveyed that it is strange to be able to write kanji that Shin-chan has not learned. (Perhaps)
Finally
Until I visited, I only had the knowledge that it was a cool facility, but in reality it was a great guy who protected the town from flood damage.
It's a little difficult to access, but it's a sight that can only be seen here in Japan, so please come visit us.
Tourist information around
Omiya Bonsai Art Museum
Saitama City is a sacred place for bonsai, and there is even a specialized museum.
Even if you are new to bonsai, you can rest assured that there are easy-to-understand explanations.
I was slightly shocked by the depth of bonsai, which makes even dead trees into works.
If I thought it was a more rigid world, it was just like contemporary art, so please give up your stereotypes.