As everyone knows, Google Street Views lets you wander around 3D visualations of remote locations, giving you that You Are There sort of experience. Last year, the Street Views team traveled to Fukushima's Namie-machi, making it possible for everyone to experience Japan's no-go zone.
Straying from the usual Street View approach, the Google team actually went inside a building for this expedition. One of them is Ukedo Elementary School, and the images of its abandoned school rooms are heartbreaking.
Namie-machi was evacuated right after the explosion of the Fukushima No. 1 power plant. The location, which suffered heavy damage from the 3/11 earthquake and tsunami, is now a ghost town.
Fortunately, all 77 students Ukedo Elementary school, located 500 meters from the coastline of Fukushima, were evacuated safely.
Messages, probably written by students or teachers before leaving the area, can be seen written on the school's whiteboard.
This last photo shows the school gym with a banner hung to to celebrate graduation day.
If you want to explore the no-go zone yourself, head over to Google Street Views.
