Otaki Town Natural Gas Memorial Hall - Isumi District

Building in front of the station. Free admission. The inside is small, but there was an exhibition about natural gas, so I was able to learn a lot. You can take a short break or stop by while waiting for a train.

Natural materials are the only Otaki Ondo that is activated as the geothermal heat of local life.

Located in front of Otaki Station, next to the tourist information center. Otaki Town is said to be the birthplace of natural gas. It is the beginning that discovered natural gas while drilling water wells in the Meiji era. Specifically, it is listed in detail at the exhibition in the hall or the homepage of Kanto Natural Gas Development Co., Ltd. In addition to natural gas-related display materials, several sets of chairs and tables are placed in the building, which can also be used as a rest space. I thought that it was also a coffee shop because coffee was written saying coffee, but it was a coffee vending machine beside the reception counter. Admission was free, and there was no written announcement on regular holidays.

It was unmanned. I learned a lot.

It is a natural gas memorial hall in front of Otaki station, next to the tourist information center. You can visit for free. Although it is small, it carefully explains the history of natural gas discovery to the present. Otaki Town is said to be the birthplace of natural gas. Moreover, it was explained that the gas reserves are for about 600 years. There was also an explanation of a car that runs on gas. I will study a lot. There is also a break space in the room, so you can stop by during sightseeing.

It is said that this is the first town in Japan where liquid natural gas was discovered, and you can learn about the history of gas development at the free memorial hall.

Natural resources that Chiba Prefecture is proud of! Speaking of Otaki, Otaki Castle, Honda Tadakatsu, and Yoro Valley are followed, and this natural gas is arbitrarily certified as one of the three major specialties. It is located in a prime location adjacent to the tourist information center in front of Isumi Railway Otaki Station. This is a so-called reverse third sector that Kanto Natural Gas Development donated to the town when it was constructed and completed. The exhibit is small with one room, but what is natural gas in eight booths? Starting from, I am very satisfied with the rich content, such as the history of gas discovery, the introduction of mining equipment, and the inevitable environmental load problem. A 20-minute old black-and-white newsreel featuring natural gas was also aired, which is interesting. In the olden days, when I dug a hole there while doing stray work and ignited the groundwater containing the natural gas that gushed out, I could just boil water or make a BBQ as an outdoor stove, what a luxury! ?? Currently, the ordinance prohibits the collection of private gas, but some households from ancient times still dig gas wells on their own land and use private natural gas (free of course!). .. The area around the Boso Peninsula is called the "South Kanto Gas Field," and a large amount of natural gas is accumulated underground, and its reserves are said to account for about 90% of Japan's natural gas. In addition, there was an exhibition explanation about the production of iodine, which is a by-product of natural gas mining, but this was just an eye-opener! Natural gas is mixed in groundwater and is pumped up and collected, but the assembled water (boiled water) contains a large amount of iodine. Iodine is extracted from the remaining brine from which natural gas is collected and produced, but Chiba Prefecture was a major producer of iodine, accounting for about 30% of the world's production! Iodine is an indispensable substance for the human body related to the secretion of thyroid hormone, but it does not exist unless it is near the sea (the fact that it is abundant in seaweeds such as kelp became a hot topic during the Fukushima nuclear accident. There are many areas in the world where it is difficult to ingest iodine, and iodine from Chiba is saving the world! It is no exaggeration to say that! (Maybe it's a little overstated).

A free spot opposite Otaki Station! Panels, dioramas, models, dregs equipment, etc. are exhibited, and you can expand your knowledge about natural gas. Although it is a small space, two dolls by a local doll writer will welcome you at the reception. Tables and chairs are installed, and it seems that it is also a resting space for locals, and it was seen that they were eating lunch boxes and having a well-end meeting. Heartwarming. Opening hours are 9: 00-17: 00 Closed during the year-end and New Year holidays (12 / 29-1 / 3) Free admission