The gaming world has become quite casual nowadays, and it is in our lives. The Japanese government now uses Minecraft to teach people about flood prevention. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has released a Minecraft map of the G-Cans facility. G-Cans is the world’s largest underground flood control system. It is located near Tokyo, in Saitama Prefecture. The government wants people, especially younger ones, to learn how large infrastructure helps protect cities from natural disasters.

The Japanese government introduced a new Minecraft map

The new Minecraft map is based on real blueprints of the G-Cans facility. It includes all the important parts of the system. These include five large concrete shafts, over six kilometers of tunnels, and a massive water tank with 59 pillars. The tank is known in Japan as the “underground temple” because of its size and design.

G-Cans started operating in 2006. It collects extra water from nearby rivers during heavy rainfall. Then it sends the water into the Edo River to reduce the risk of flooding. 

Main Features of the G-Cans Minecraft Map

• Five large vertical silos
• 6.4 kilometers of underground tunnels
• Massive tank with 59 support pillars
• Control room with working floodgate buttons
• NPCs (non-player characters) that explain how the system works
• Nearby neighborhoods, rivers, and streets

The map is available on the official website of the Edogawa River Office. Players can download it and explore the full facility. They can also use it during real-life tours, which now include this Minecraft version as part of a new education program. Check out the official Japanese video below:

What is different in the new map?

This map is different from most Minecraft creations. The developers focused on accuracy and used real data. Every building, room, and system follows the design of the real facility. Players can see how each part connects to the others.

One of the most impressive parts is the control room. Players can go inside, push buttons, and see floodgates open. Water flows into the tank, and the water level rises. In real life, this is hard to see because it only happens during specific weather. But in Minecraft, players can watch it anytime.

Players also get a compass. It helps them move around the map quickly. They can visit places like the third shaft, the pump room, and the exhibit hall. In the hall, guides explain how G-Cans has worked more than 100 times since it opened. It has helped prevent over 1.5 trillion yen in flood damage.

The map also includes the streets, homes, and rivers above the underground system. This helps players understand how G-Cans protect people during storms.

How to download the G-Cans map

Follow the steps to download and try the map:

1. Download from: Edogawa River Office official website
2. Use on: Minecraft Bedrock v1.21.1+ or Education Edition v1.21.0+
3. Platforms: PC, iOS, Android (other devices need multiplayer upload)

Not the first collaboration between Japan and Minecraft

This is not the first time the Japanese government has used Minecraft for education. In 2023, the same ministry created a video showing the Tatsuno Dam in Minecraft. That dam is still under construction in Kumamoto Prefecture. You can find the video below:

The video showed what the dam would look like once finished. It included the full structure and the nearby land. People in Japan noticed the quality of the build and praised the idea. The video helped people understand a large infrastructure project in a simple way.