The Japanese government has unveiled an exciting opportunity for Minecraft enthusiasts to explore the world’s largest underground flood prevention facility, the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, known as G-Cans, through a free downloadable map. This unique experience allows players to delve into one of Tokyo's lesser-known iconic locations right from the comfort of their homes.

G-Cans is a real-life marvel of disaster prevention, renowned for its awe-inspiring "pressure adjustment water tank," a cavernous space supported by 59 massive pillars. Often referred to as the "underground temple" (chika shinden) in Japan, this part of G-Cans boasts an epic, almost cinematic quality, making it a perfect setting for music videos, Japanese TV dramas like Kamen Rider, and movies.

In dry seasons, you can tour G-Cans in person, but now, thanks to the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), you can also explore this atmospheric facility in Minecraft. The ministry has released an engaging video on their official YouTube channel that not only summarizes the purpose of G-Cans but also showcases how it appears in the blocky world of Minecraft.

The Minecraft G-Cans map goes beyond just the underground facility, offering an overground area complete with rivers, homes, and neighborhoods. This addition gives players a comprehensive understanding of how G-Cans safeguards communities in real life. Players can even enter the control room and simulate draining floodwater into the shafts to experience the facility's operations firsthand.

MLIT’s Minecraft recreation of G-Cans aims to educate players about the facility and its crucial role in disaster prevention. Exploring the map provides a tangible sense of the sheer scale of G-Cans, which, in reality, features over 6km of concrete tunnels beneath Saitama Prefecture, part of the Greater Tokyo Area. During Japan’s rainy and typhoon seasons, G-Cans captures water from flood-prone rivers and gradually releases it into the larger Edogawa River and Tokyo Bay. Since its completion in 2006 after more than a decade of construction, G-Cans has significantly mitigated flooding in the region.

You can download MLIT’s G-Cans Minecraft map for free from the official website of the Edogawa River Office, which manages the facility. To enjoy this experience, you'll need at least Version 1.21.1 of Minecraft Bedrock Edition or Version 1.21.0 of Minecraft Education Edition.