About Outer Underground Discharge Channel

The Metropolitan Area Outer Discharge Channel is located in Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture, and is known as a huge underground discharge channel designed for flood control. It is also a tourist attraction, and its sheer scale and amazing architectural technology overwhelm visitors. It is one of the largest underground river facilities in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and is designed to channel water underground to regulate the Arakawa River system and other rivers when floodwaters rise. For this reason, it is also called an “underground temple,” and once you visit its magnificent space, you will surely be overwhelmed by its power.

The greatest feature of the Metropolitan Area Outer Discharge Channel is a huge space called the “pressure control tank,” located 50 meters underground. This vast space, approximately 177 meters long, 78 meters wide, and 18 meters high, has the solemn atmosphere of a temple. The tank is lined with 59 huge pillars, creating a unique scene that resembles a movie set or otherworldly architecture. Visitors can tour the pressure regulating tanks and be overwhelmed by the sheer scale and beauty of the otherworldly underground space.

This spillway was originally built to prevent flood damage in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and its function is to collect water from flood-prone rivers in the Kanto Plain underground and channel it safely. However, because of the beauty and scale of its structure, it was often used as a location for TV programs and movies, and as a result, it has become a well-known tourist attraction for many people. In particular, the beauty of the light shining between the pillars and the quiet space with the sound of flowing water provide a magical sensation that cannot be experienced anywhere else.

During the tour, visitors can take a close-up look at the pressure control tanks while listening to the guide's explanation, and learn about the role and structure of the Metropolitan Area Outer Discharge Channel and the importance of flood countermeasures. The tour is also popular among photography enthusiasts, as it allows visitors to take pictures in the magnificent underground space. In particular, taking photos with a composition that takes advantage of the rows of columns and the expanse of space is well-received, making the photos look like a scene from a fantasy movie.

The Metropolitan Area Outer Discharge Channel is a disaster prevention facility that plays an active role in times of disaster, but its overwhelming scale and beauty also make it a highly entertaining tourist attraction. It is the perfect place for those who want to enjoy a different kind of sightseeing, as they can experience thrilling underground spaces that cannot be experienced at ordinary sightseeing spots and witness spectacular construction technology in harmony with nature.

Furthermore, during the tour, visitors can learn more about the function of the spillway and its importance, which will encourage them to think about the environment and urban disaster prevention. By visiting this magnificent underground space, visitors can experience the power of nature and the greatness of human technology, making it a place of learning and wonder for children and adults of all ages.

In this way, the Metropolitan Area Outer Discharge Channel is an attractive place for many people to visit as a valuable spot to experience its overwhelming scale, its otherworldly beauty, and its role as the front line of disaster prevention.