Awesomely-defensible Fukui Prefectural headquarters is built on castle grounds.

Japanese prefectural capital buildings, like governments and city councils around the world, have emergency plans for natural disasters, epidemics or other excrement-hits-the-fan situations that could possibly arise. Perhaps that explains the location of the Fukui Prefectural Government Building (and the police headquarters with its body armour and weaponry next door), in the heart of the city for easy access, still has its very own moat and protective stone walls.

▼ From ground level it doesn’t look anything special…

▼ …but look at it from above, or on a map, and it’s easy to see that the city planner who chose the location definitely made forts as a child.

The city office sits on what was once the site of Fukui Castle until a fire burned down the keep in 1669, and what was left was bombed during World War II. Now, only some ruins remain visible, where samurai lords once held sway over the local population from behind their castle walls.

▼ It also isn’t the only one, as Akita Prefecture officials clearly had the same idea/mistrust of their own citizens.

▼ “We’re raising taxes and there’s nothing you can do about it! Mwa ha ha ha…”

Anyone living in Japan will have come to terms with the fact that this is not the country to be in when the zombocalypse inevitably happens, what with its high population density, limited storage space and near total lack of firearms. But with a defensible stronghold like the Fukui Prefectural Government Building, we may have a chance. Fukui might be a bit out of the way for many, but knowing Japan, even with half of the population feasting on the brains and living flesh of the other half, the trains will still be running on time.

Source: Kinisoku
Featured image: Wikipedia/Jjp 233
Insert images: Google Maps Street View, Microsoft Maps, Wikipedia/663highland