Explore Tokyo’s Giant “Underground Temple” in Minecraft, Thanks to the Japanese Government

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Players of Minecraft now have the opportunity to delve into one of Japan’s hidden gems from the comfort of their homes. The Japanese administration has made available a complimentary Minecraft map for download, showcasing the G-Cans facility – an enormous subterranean flood defense system, recognized as the world’s largest.

Situated on the outskirts of Tokyo, in Saitama Prefecture, this facility is commonly referred to as “G-Cans” or colloquially known as the “underground temple.” Officially, it’s called the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel. As a fan, I find its nicknames intriguing and the underground temple title truly captures its essence.

The title suits it perfectly, the structure’s vast, column-studded water reservoir appears almost like a scene from a fantasy video game rather than a real-life construction. In fact, it has been utilized as a filming location for series such as Kamen Rider, music videos, and films.

Thanks to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT), you can now traverse this immense subterranean area within Minecraft. The ministry constructed this digital map not only for amusement, but also as an educational tool to help people understand how the facility operates and its significance. They even shared a brief video on their official YouTube channel that demonstrates how G-Cans functions and its appearance in Minecraft.



In the real world, G-Cans spans approximately 6 kilometers beneath the ground. This massive structure was designed to collect and control floodwaters from rivers during Japan’s monsoon and typhoon seasons. Water is channelled into five deep wells, which are later pumped into the larger Edogawa River and Tokyo Bay at a gradual pace. Construction took over a decade, wrapping up in 2006. Since then, it has significantly reduced major flooding incidents across the Tokyo region.

In the Minecraft world, G-Cans aren’t limited to the well-known subterranean domain. Players can also delve into aboveground environments such as neighborhoods, rivers, and houses. Additionally, there’s a control room where players can mimic the process of draining floodwaters using a simulated system.

The map can be obtained at no cost from the official site of the Edogawa River Office, where they handle the G-Cans facility. To use this map in Minecraft, you should have either Minecraft Bedrock Edition Version 1.21.1 or Minecraft Education Edition Version 1.21.0 installed.

This distinctive launch offers an engaging and instructive experience. It provides players with a practical method to grasp details about one of Japan’s remarkable engineering feats – the Tokyo underground temple, which safeguards the city against flooding. With Minecraft, individuals globally now have the opportunity to venture inside this subterranean temple and personally observe its flood-prevention mechanisms.

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2025-05-28 14:52