POSSIBILITY OF USING MICHI-NO-EKI AS DISASTER SHELTERS: A NATIONWIDE QUESTIONNAIRE RESEARCH AMONG STATION MANAGERS

抄録

 Michi-no-Eki provide free parking, toilets, and information on specific areas in Japan and play important roles as sales offices for local products. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, these stations attracted attention as possible disaster shelters. The purpose of this study is to consider their function as disaster shelters and to grasp the current situation of these stations nationwide. We conducted a questionnaire survey among station operators, obtaining responses from 73.2% of the stations. The results showed that there were not enough facilities and systems to counter disaster. On the other hand, the results suggested that although many stations are privately managed, most station operators have intention to serve as disaster shelters. Michi-no-Eki seem to have high utility during both normal times and disasters. However, for the stations to function as disaster shelters, their equipment and the system must be improved.