Living in Japan can cause fear or stress of large earthquakes. It is impossible to avoid natural disasters of any sort 100%, but many people in Japan are becoming more and more aware of how to live safely according to the land a property is on. The ground, or a proposed site, is important to check before one decides on purchasing.
Why should you check the ground? It is because in case you are at or near the epicenter of an earthquake, the amount of damage the building suffers depends on the hardness of the ground. The harder the ground, the less chance of collapse your building faces.
According to information of researchers, and continued study from the stratum and ground of the metropolitan area, the following areas in Kanagawa have strong land:
- Miyamae-ku (Kawasaki city)
- Aso-ku (Kawasaki city)
- Tsuduki-ku (Yokohama city)
- Konan-ku (Yokohama city)
- Aoba-ku (Yokohama city)
- Midori-ku (Yokohama city)
- Asahi-ku (Yokohama city)
- Kanazawa-ku (Yokohama city)
- Isogo-ku (Yokohama city)
- Hodogaya-ku (Yokohama city)
On the contrary, the following areas have ground that is weak:
Kawasaki-ku (Kawasaki City), Naka-ku (Yokohama City), and Nishi-ku (Yokohama City) have the highest proportion of land depression and filled ground. Also, Miyuki-ku, Nakahara-ku, Takatsu-ku, and Tama-ku (all wards are in Kawasaki city) have lots of natural ground depressions. In land areas of Yokohama city, there is complicated topography. This area has mixed depressions because Oka river weakens the ground, while Shimosueyoshi is a tableland, and Tama has rapid streams. Even with tableland and hilly areas, you need to careful. On the other hand, Kamakura city, Chigasaki city, and Fujisawa city are low lands that opens into the seashore.
Also, as for "the town ranking that is the most resistant to shaking", an outer layer lot number amplification rate "of the government publication," is as follows:
- Oiso (Naka-gun)
- Ofuna (Kamakura city)
- Azamino (Aoba-ku, Yokohama city)
- Nagatsuta (Midori-ku, Yokohama city)
- Kounandai (Kounan-ku, Yokohama city)
- Totsuka (Totsuka-ku, Yokohama city)
- Saginuma (Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki city)
- Shinyurigaoka (Aso-ku, Kawasaki city)
Conversely, the towns that you should avoid are Tsunashima, Kikuna, Hakuraku, Musashikosugi, and Motosumiyoshi, other than Shin-Yokohama. The popular station is included by Tokyu Toyoko Line but should avoid the ground.
Grounds from Musasikosugi (Naka-ku, Kawasaki City) to Kikuna (Kita-ku, Yokohama City) are “alluvial formations” which are frail. The ground water level is high, and there are lots of depressions of land in there. Especially, Musashikosugi area and Tsunashima area are “high-risk liquefaction areas.”
Triggered by the Great East Japan earthquake disaster that happened in March 2011, the amount of earthquake-resistant buildings or facilities have increased. When you choose the place to live in Japan, we recommend that you ask a real estate agent about not only the convenience but also the condition of the ground in the area you want to buy.
If you have any questions or would like to arrange a viewing, please feel free to contact us!
