muikabochi 208 Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 I was going to add these to my other thread but decided to post a new one. Today I went walking around the hills in Yamakoshi with some friends. We visited someone who lives there and was taken to a very remote part of the village to see some very strange and powerful sights left over from the earthquake there 4 years ago. I thought I would share them. It was a small valley area that used to run along a river, would never have found this place along, but with all the shaking the ground collapsed and some natural dams formed resulting in houses getting flooded, washed away and eventually ending up like the photos below, looking like they are half-buried underground. Apparently they plan to clear up some of them but leave one or two as a reminder. Tell you what, it really is a beautiful area. Link to post Share on other sites
BillTheBinMan 0 Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Wow that looks really strange. Looks like the ground level must have 'risen' well over a meter. Link to post Share on other sites
frannyo 2 Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 That sure is as a surreal looking sight. Link to post Share on other sites
1 4 Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Still some nice autumn colours over there I see. Bizarre scenes. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 What a pretty area, beautiful autumn colours in the trees. Thank you for the photo's it is something I have never ever seen and I never even heard of the earhtquake. Those photo's are like something out of the Twilight Zone. Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Twilight Zone yes. You are getting to know that area very well these days muika Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 That's freaky. Are people still living in that village? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 4, 2008 Author Share Posted November 4, 2008 Yes. I think about a year ago the last "no go" area was opened up again. It's one of those villages that is spread out over quite a large mountainous area with no real centre. There are lots of new (really nice looking) houses dotted around. I heard on the news though that the population now is 1/3 down on what it was pre-shakes. Link to post Share on other sites
why? 0 Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Cool places. Hope the doors open inward. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Hey this was on the Niigata news last night. Seems they are starting to get rid of some of these houses. It showed the ones you have in the photos up there and seems they intend to keep a few including the one with the blue/grey roof. Also showed a photo of that house as it was before the earthquake... there are actually 2 floors 'hidden' - the garage level and then the first floor, so there's probably 3 meters of house not visible in that photo. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 8, 2008 Author Share Posted November 8, 2008 I didn't know that. Seems I got there just in time! Iwas trying to find some photos of what it was like before but couldn't find any. Will look around a bit more... Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 22, 2009 Author Share Posted October 22, 2009 Almost the 5th anniversary of our horrific earthquake here in Chuetsu area of Niigata. I was looking back over some photos and thought I'd drag this up as lots of new people on here since last year. 5 years, can't believe it. It was very scary. Link to post Share on other sites
frannyo 2 Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Just as made 2nd time round! Link to post Share on other sites
wendy-cake 0 Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 That is surreal. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Did they leave all those there muika? I remember talk of only one or two of them being left as a memorial. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Is them real tiles or are they acrylic? They look reusable to me. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 if they were terracotta, wouldn't they have toppled in the shake? Link to post Share on other sites
veronica 2 Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 I missed that last year. Wow. Very strange images. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 23, 2009 Author Share Posted October 23, 2009 I would guess real tiles... some very nice houses in that area. Well, there were! I haven't been back josh since then so don't know whats left of it. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Real ones will be at least 10000 yen a square meter. Just sitting there, quite close to the ground now! Looks pretty good for something thats been shaken, flooded, sunken and had five years of snow (uncleared) and rain. Some post and beam houses proved to be flimsy in the Kobe quake, but the ones in the snow zone are strong. They overengineer them for the snow loading. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 23, 2009 Author Share Posted October 23, 2009 Quote: shaken, flooded, sunken and had five years of snow (uncleared) and rain Actually laughed at that!! They do look in good condition don't they! (but remember, this was last year so 'only' 4 years) Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 8, 2009 Author Share Posted November 8, 2009 Today more fine weather and sunny skies - warm too, had the windows open on the drive up to Yamakoshi. I love this area. It is just so pretty. Went back to see those houses in the ground. Since I last went they have put a "thank you" sign and small monument. There were a few coaches full of people taking a look, and it seemed quite lively actually... not only this little area but also the main community centre where they have made a small exhibition. It made us laugh but every time we have been there we have seen the same guy - probably in his 70's and always the one they interviewed on tv. He seems to have taken on a guide role in the community and there he was again today with his big smile and helpful attitude. One day I'd love to stop and have a good talk with him, he must have lots of stories. "Thank you everyone" Not sure if he was a native: I wish that blue cover thing wasn't there! Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Nice muika. What kind of animal is that? A llama? Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Good to see they kept those houses there. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Thanks for the story and pics muikabochi Link to post Share on other sites
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