Japan has over 100 active volcanoes. Habitable land is pretty scarce, the island nation is about the size of Germany, but loads of steep mountains stop widespread settlement. So people also settled right next to volcanoes.

At best, this makes for spectacular photos. For Shimabara, on the other hand, its closeness to the Unzen volcano proved fatal in the 1990s. After lots of small eruptions, the volcano blew, and pyroclastic flows buried houses in the town under a thick layer of ash. Luckily, all residents could be evacuated in time. Still, 43 scientists, reporters and a taxi driver lost their lives in the disaster.

Today, a Disaster Museum serves as a reminder of the tragedy. Nearby, you can check out a few former houses that look like they’ve sunk into the ground right up to their roofs. They show just what kind of natural forces are behind a volcanic eruption.

You can get to the park of the buried houses (土石流被災家屋保存公園) from Shimabara station by taking the bus to the Mizunashihonjin Fukae (みずなし本陣ふかえ) stop. Alternatively, you can grab a taxi from the Shimabarakō train stop. Access to the houses is free.