The Gamadas Dome
The Gamadas Dome combines science, history, and culture to introduce the volcanic world of the Shimabara Peninsula. See for yourself what natural disasters can teach us and learn how we can use technological advances to prepare ourselves for future eruptions.
Named after the phrase gamadasu—meaning “do your best” in the local Japanese dialect—the museum embodies a spirit of recovery and optimism in the face of disaster. The dome was built in 2002 to commemorate the destructive Heisei Eruptions of 1990–1995, but the museum staff have created exhibits that explain the full volcanic history of the region. A kamishibai-style multimedia presentation teaches visitors about the Shimabara Catastrophe of 1792, while interactive exhibits introduce them to the high-tech world of volcanic monitoring and protection.