Tateyama Caldera Sabo Museum

In detail

Exhibits at the Tateyama Caldera Sabo Museum near Tateyama Station tell the history of the area, with a focus on geology and local people’s experience with natural disasters. Topics covered include the origins and activity of the Mt. Tate volcano, the formation of the vast Tateyama Caldera, and the history of religious practices centered on Mt. Tate.

Particular attention is given to local erosion-control works known as sabo (lit, “sand prevention”), which refers to the prevention and mitigation of sediment-related disasters. Sabo works are carried out in the upper reaches of the Joganji River, which flows from the Tateyama Caldera through the town of Tateyama and across the Toyama Plain to the Sea of Japan. The Tateyama Caldera was formed by erosion over hundreds of thousands of years, and its walls still release vast amounts of sand and mud that are carried downstream by the river. In 1858, a destructive earthquake caused massive landslides within the caldera, temporarily blocking the river’s flow. When this natural dam collapsed, the debris flow it unleashed devastated communities along the river. This disaster was the impetus for the sabo works.

Efforts to control the amount of soil carried from the caldera by the river, prevent erosion of the riverbanks, and ensure a stable supply of water to rice paddies on the Toyama Plain started in 1906 and continue into the present. Tasks include the maintenance of several dams within the caldera, periodic reinforcement of the riverbanks, and the upkeep of a special railway line used to transport materials and workers. Tours of the sabo works are organized twice a week from July to October and can be booked via the museum’s website.