Japan has earthquakes often. Most are small and you will not notice them. Some are strong enough to shake buildings and stop trains for a time. You can prepare with three steps: get emergency alerts on your phone, know what to do when shaking starts, and agree on a meeting point with your group. These steps take little time and they matter a lot.
Set up alerts before you land
Japan sends earthquake early warnings to phones. The alert can arrive a few seconds before the shaking reaches you, but it is not a guarantee. Check that your phone can receive emergency alerts, and that the sound is on. Some phones block alerts in silent mode, so test the setting.
Check first: Install the official Safety Tips app from the Japan National Tourism Organization and read its earthquake guide. Check the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) website for current warnings.
What to do when shaking starts
The advice is simple. Drop, cover and hold on.
- Drop to your hands and knees. This keeps you low and stable.
- Cover your head and neck with your arms or a bag.
- Hold on to something solid, like a table leg, until the shaking stops.
Do not run to an exit during strong shaking. Stay away from windows, glass, heavy shelves and vending machines. In a station or a train, hold a handrail or pole and stay where you are until staff tell you what to do.
Inside a building
- Stay inside until the shaking stops. Doors can jam.
- Keep shoes near the bed or door. Glass may break.
- After shaking, check for injuries and fire. Turn off gas and small appliances if it is safe.
Outside
- Move away from buildings, walls and power lines, if you can do it safely.
- Look for open spaces, such as parks and wide roads.
- Watch for falling objects, such as signs, glass and tiles.
Tsunami and evacuation
If you are near the coast and shaking is strong, move to high ground at once. Do not wait for an official message. Follow the signs for evacuation points. Your hotel will show a map of the nearby evacuation areas. Read it when you check in, and save a photo of it.
Plan with your family
Families need a plan that works when you are apart:
- Choose one meeting point near your hotel, and one in the city.
- Save the hotel address and the hotel phone number in each phone and on paper.
- Agree which adult takes care of which child in a crowd.
- Keep a card with your hotel name in each child's bag, written in English and Japanese if you can.
After the shaking
Expect aftershocks. Check the news and the JMA site before you leave a safe place. If trains stop, do not try to walk long distances alone. Stay with your group, and ask station or hotel staff for help.
A small emergency kit
Keep a small kit in your day bag. It does not need to be large:
- Water and a light snack
- A battery pack and a charging cable
- A copy of your hotel card, with the address in Japanese
- Your medicine, in its box
- Comfortable shoes, and a light jacket
Store the kit near the hotel door if you are staying in one place for several nights.
Check your building
When you check in, look at the exits and the stairs. Note the fire exit, the nearest stairwell and the evacuation map on the wall. Do not use the lift during an earthquake. In a hotel, staff can tell you where to go and what the alarm sounds like.
Stay calm and stay informed
Most people feel fear during a shake. Take slow breaths, and speak in short calm words to the people around you. Listen to the staff in a station, a shop or a hotel. They have training, and they know the local routes and the alerts. When the news is clear, follow it, and avoid rumours on social media.
What to do next
Read the Tokyo guide to see the areas where you plan to stay, and save the hotel map and meeting points before you travel.
