The Japan Coast Guard unveiled a Minecraft map based on authentic submarine topographic data around Japan’s coastline on May 12. This digital world is available for free download for both Java and Bedrock editions.
To ensure safe maritime operations, protect national interests, and avert potential disasters, Japan’s coast guard routinely surveys the underwater topography near its shores. In observance of the official “Japan Coast Guard Day,” which falls on May 12, the organization developed and released a Minecraft map using data from their extensive research. I took the chance to explore this world firsthand and navigate the virtual seas of (and around) Japan.
Upon entering the world, players spawn near Tokyo, with Tokyo Bay immediately visible ahead. As noted, the map isn’t a precise, life-sized replica of Japan, and the terrain’s shape and scale differ slightly from reality.
Moving southward, shallow landmasses stretch out. These represent the Seven Islands of Izu and the Iwojima ridge—such as Hachijo-jima and Nishinoshima. Some of these islands are active volcanoes, and seeing them arranged like this provides a clear sense of the tectonic plates that form Japan’s landmass.
Continuing south, you’ll reach the Mariana Trench. This trench is renowned as the deepest oceanic depression on Earth, plunging to about 10,984 meters at its lowest point, the Challenger Deep. A lesser-known fact is that the Japan Coast Guard was the first to measure this depth. In the scaled-down Minecraft version, the ocean appears serene, but in reality, it’s a realm of darkness far beyond sunlight’s reach.
The Minecraft map is accessible for free through the official website of Japan Coast Guard’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department. While the data is available in both Java and Bedrock formats, importing the Bedrock version on platforms other than PC and mobile necessitates using Minecraft Realms.
Additionally, the website features a tool enabling users to look up block coordinates on a map. If you wish to visit a specific oceanic area, this tool provides commands for instant teleportation. Since the world lacks trees, it may not be ideal for survival mode, but it’s certainly worth exploring.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time Japanese authorities have created a Minecraft world for educational purposes. In 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) recreated the “Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel,” the world’s largest underground flood control facility.
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