The tour of the Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel

Arrived at the Shōwa Drainage Pump Station in Kasukabe city.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

It is a little early, looking around.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Shōwa Drainage Pump Station is a facility to pump up the water that flowed through the Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel to discharge it into the Edo river.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The monument in front of the Shōwa Drainage Pump Station.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

This monument is made from the remains of a tunnel boring machine.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

This cutting shield remained to the tunnel boring machine that digged the tunnel 1396m long, between the No.2 Bank and No.1 Bank. There are 688 cutting bits on its face.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Edo river flows besides the Shōwa Drainage Pump Station.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The Drainage Sluiceway connecting the Shōwa Drainage Pump Station and Edo river.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The water that flowed from the underground waterway is discharged into Edo river.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The full view of the Shōwa Drainage Pump Station.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

In the Shōwa Drainage Pump Station, there is an exibition hall called "Ryū-Q-kan" to intorduce the Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

It is almost time for the tour, going back to the "Ryū-Q-kan".
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Entering the "Ryū-Q-kan".
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The 1st floor is a Citizen Gallery, with a panel introducing the Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

By the stairway is the "Stratum tower", made from a stratum found during the excavation for the Pressure-adjusting Water Tank.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

"Stratum tower" is 24m high, and contains a layer consisting of fossils of shellfishe, from more than 125 thousand years ago.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

On the mezzanine is a scale model of the Tunnel boring machine used to dig the Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Many filmings has taken place in the Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel, and panels on the wall of the corridor of the 2nd floor intorduces them.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

A scene of the movie "Fly Me to the Saitama" was shot in the Pressure-adjusting Water Tank too.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

At the far end, is the tour reception.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Receiving the participation certificate of the tour. And a "Dam card" of the Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel and a sticker for souvenir.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The exhibition hall where the tour reception is. There are many displays introducing the Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The control room of the whole Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel can be seen through a window.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

A scale model of the Drain pump facility to pump up the water that flowed through the underground waterway.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The Edo river can be seen from the window.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

It is time for the tour, returning to the 1st floor.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The tour starts in front of the panel showing the mechanism of the Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel, with guidance by staff.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

There is a smartphone app for audio guide in multiple languages, and another app to have a simulated experience of the Pressure-adjusting Water Tank filled with water, in augmented reality.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Leaving the "Ryū-Q-kan", walking to the enterance of the Pressure-adjusting Water Tank, lead by staff.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The Pressure-adjusting Water Tank is beneath this soccer field.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

At the enterance to the Pressure-adjusting Water Tank at the other end of the soccer field.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Going down the stairs after some instructions by the staff. No taking photos on the stairs.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

After going down 116 steps, at the bottom of the Pressure-adjusting Water Tank, 22m under ground level.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

After a breif instructions, it is free time.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The Pressure-adjusting Water Tank supported by huge pillars is a facility to adjust the water pressure of the water that flows in from the underground waterway.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The water tank is connected to the No.1 Bank at one end. Visitors can go as far as the rope.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The water that flowed through the underground waterway comes up the No.1 bank and reaches the Pressure-adjusting Water Tank.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Sun light leaking from the ceiling. There is a hatch to bring bulldozers into this water tank.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The mud, carried into this water tank by water, is removed by bulldozers.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

These columns are to stop bulldozers, so they won't fall into the No.1 Bank.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Some mud remains where bulldozers cannot go. Also, the area where visitors enter is cleaned by hand.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Looking at the direction of the pumps from near the No.1 Bank.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The huge pillars are 18m high, and 2m thick.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Each pillar is 7m long, and weighs about 500t each.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

This water tank is 177m long, and 78m wide, and has 59 of these huge pillars. This is the farthest point visitors are allowed to go.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

These huge pillars pushes down the floor of the water tank, so it won't rise up by the buoyant force of ground water.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Looking back at the No.1 Bank again.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

There is a mark on the pillar used as a guide to control the pumps.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

There is a photo frame too.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The solemn sight is referred to as the "Underground shrine"
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The free time, about 20 minutes long, has finished, and going up the stairs again.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Above ground again.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Next is the No.1 Bank, nearby.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

This time the tour is divided into 2 groups, since the viewing point inside is small.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Getting in.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The viewing point is just below a short spiral staircase.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

A cat walk in the upper part of the No.1 Bank.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The inner diameter of this huge shaft is 30m, and more than 70m deep.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The underground waterway connects in the left.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

There is some water in the bottom of the shaft, with some fish.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The Pressure-adjusting Water Tank can be seen too.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Looking below from the other side of the catwalk.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

According to the staff, some visitors dropped their phones into the shaft, but it will not be recovered.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Changing with the second group. The tour ends here after returning the participation certificate.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The exterior of the enterance to the No.1 Bank.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

The top of the No.1 Bank is a skatepark. The circular concrete surface shows the size of the shaft.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

This is the hatchway to bring in bulldozers to the Pressure-adjusting Water Tank.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Looking at the drainage pump station from the soccer field.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Looking around the Shōwa Drainage Pump Station, before leaving.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

A part of the drainage facility can be seen outside.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama

Leaving the Shōwa Drainage Pump Station of the Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel, under the setting sun.
Jan.11th, 2020 Kasukabe, Saitama