Japan Disaster & Earthquake Response Complete Guide for Inbound Tourists — Quick Answer on What To Do When It Shakes / Alerts / Evacuation Shelters / Emergency Contacts

⚡ 30-second takeaway: Earthquake response while in Japan = ① When shaking starts, hide under a desk + watch for falling objects ② Respond immediately to alerts (Earthquake Early Warning) ③ Check evacuation shelter maps ④ Download the Safety Tips app ⑤ Save emergency contacts (family / embassy / 119). Japan is an earthquake-prone country, but it's manageable thanks to infrastructure + alert systems + disaster education. A week's worth of water + emergency food is not needed — convenience stores and hotels cover you.

Quick reference	Value
When it shakes	Under desk / watch for falling objects
Earthquake Early Warning	Respond to alert immediately
Must-have app	Safety Tips
119	Ambulance / fire
110	Police
Last verified	June 2026

30-second takeaway

Japan is the world's most earthquake-prone country, but it has world-class disaster infrastructure + alert systems + support for tourists in place. With knowledge of how to respond in advance, you can stay calm even during sightseeing.

🌋 Earthquake frequency and scale

Earthquakes in Japan

• M3+ per year = 1,500-2,000 events
• Chance a tourist encounters one = 30% per week
• Dangerous M6+ = 30-50 per year
• Chance of a direct hit during a trip = < 1%

Alert levels

🚨 Earthquake Early Warning (EEW)

How it works

• Alert within seconds-30 seconds of an earthquake
• Sent via smartphone, TV, and disaster radio
• "Earthquake Early Warning" voice + alarm sound

Smartphone settings

• iPhone: Settings > Notifications > Emergency alerts ON
• Android: Settings > Emergency information ON
• Overseas SIMs can receive too (with some exceptions)

When you hear the alert

1. Get under a desk immediately
2. Move away from windows and shelves
3. Protect your head
4. Prepare to evacuate

🏠 What to do during shaking

Indoors (hotel, building)

1. Under a desk or table
2. Protect your head
3. Move away from glass windows
4. Do not use elevators
5. Open the door to secure an exit

Outdoors

1. Move away from utility poles, signs, and glass windows
2. Move to an open square or park
3. Stay low on the street

On a train

1. Hold onto a strap or handrail
2. Watch for falling objects
3. Follow the conductor's instructions

On a bus

1. Fasten your seatbelt
2. Watch for falling objects
3. Follow the driver's instructions

At tourist spots (shrines, temples, observation decks)

1. Evacuate outside the building
2. Descend immediately from observation decks
3. Follow staff instructions

🆘 After the shaking

1-5 minutes after

• Check for injuries
• Check gas / power mains (not needed at hotels)
• Check for broken window glass

5-30 minutes after

• Gather information from TV / smartphone
• Report your safety to family / contacts
• Prepare to move to an evacuation shelter

30 minutes-1 hour after

• Watch for aftershocks
• Stay away from collapse-risk zones
• Follow tourist spot staff instructions

📱 Must-have apps

Safety Tips (official, Japan Tourism Agency)

• Multilingual (English / Chinese / Korean and others)
• Earthquake / tsunami / eruption / heavy rain alerts
• Evacuation shelter guidance
• Free

NHK World

• English news
• Disaster info
• Free

Google Maps

• Evacuation shelter search
• Offline map download
• Multilingual

Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi

• Free Wi-Fi during disasters
• Stable connection

🏥 Emergency / urgent contacts

Emergency numbers

• 119: Ambulance / fire
• 110: Police
• 118: Japan Coast Guard

English support

• Japan Tourist Information: 050-3786-0069 (multilingual)
• TELL (mental health): 03-5774-0992

Embassies (Tokyo)

• USA: 03-3224-5000
• UK: 03-5211-1100
• Australia: 03-5232-4111
• China: 03-3403-3380
• South Korea: 03-3452-7611
• Others: Check on an embassy directory app

🛡 What tourists should bring

Recommended to bring

• Mobile battery: For charging emergencies
• One week of regular medication
• Insurance card
• Passport copy
• Emergency contact memo (on paper)

Not needed (locally available)

• Large stockpiles of emergency food (convenience stores are fine)
• Large amounts of water (hotels / convenience stores are fine)
• Tents / sleeping bags

🏨 Hotel response

Major hotels

• Distribute disaster response manuals
• Evacuation shelter guidance
• English-speaking staff on site
• 24h emergency response

Ryokan / small hotels

• Manuals exist but English is limited
• Confirm at check-in

Airbnb

• Confirm with the host in advance
• Prepare an evacuation shelter map

🏃 Evacuation shelters

Categories

Locations

• Elementary / junior high school gyms
• Civic halls
• Community centers
• Large parks

Use by tourists

• OK, but primarily in Japanese
• English-speaking staff is limited
• Food / water / blankets distributed

🌊 Tsunami preparedness

Coastal sightseeing

• Strong shaking at the coast → Evacuate immediately
• Move to high ground (10m+ elevation)
• Apartment buildings above the 5th floor

Alert levels

• Major tsunami warning: Evacuate immediately
• Tsunami warning: Prepare to evacuate
• Tsunami advisory: Stay away from the coast

Tourist areas

• Enoshima / Shonan: Many evacuation route signs
• Tohoku coast: 2011 experience, well-signposted
• Okinawa outer islands: Some areas have little high ground

🌋 Volcano preparedness

Major tourist volcanoes

• Mount Fuji: Alert level 1 (normal)
• Hakone: Alert level 1
• Sakurajima: Alert level 2-3
• Mount Aso: Alert level 1-2

Eruption warnings

• Alert levels 1-5
• Level 3+ = sightseeing restrictions
• Level 5 = evacuation order

🌐 Disaster response by country

🇺🇸 USA

• Similar culture (California)
• Easy to adapt

🇨🇳 China

• 2008 Sichuan earthquake experience
• Easy to adapt

🇰🇷 South Korea

• Earthquakes are rare
• Pre-study recommended for 2026

🇪🇺 Europe

• Almost no earthquakes
• First-time experience

🇹🇭 Thailand / 🇮🇩 Indonesia

• 2004 Sumatra earthquake experience
• Easy to adapt

💰 Budget for disasters

Regular travel budget + extra

Covered by travel insurance

• Flight cancellation during disasters
• Hotel refunds
• Emergency medical care
• Repatriation costs

📊 Disaster action manual for tourists

Step 1: Secure your own safety

1. Hide under a desk
2. Protect your head
3. Wait until shaking stops

Step 2: Assess the situation

1. Check for injuries
2. Status of nearby people
3. Gas / power mains

Step 3: Gather information

1. TV / smartphone
2. NHK World
3. Safety Tips app

Step 4: Report your safety

1. Family / friends
2. Embassy (in serious cases)

Step 5: Evacuation decision

1. Collapse risk?
2. Fire / tsunami warning?
3. Move to an evacuation shelter

5 common tourist mistakes

1. Ignoring the Earthquake Early Warning → Mistaking the alarm for tourist-spot BGM
2. Using elevators → Risk of stopping + getting trapped
3. Checking TV in Japanese only → Missing NHK World English version
4. "Taking photos" during big shaking at the coast → Ignoring tsunami risk
5. Panicking when Japanese isn't understood at a shelter → It's OK to ask staff in English

Pre-departure checklist

1 week before departure

• Sign up for travel insurance (with disaster coverage)
• Download the Safety Tips app
• Share emergency contacts with family
• Note your embassy contact

2 days before departure

• Earthquake Early Warning setting ON
• Download offline maps
• Charge your mobile battery

After arrival

• Check the hotel's evacuation shelter map
• Shelters near your stay
• Locate convenience stores

Frequently asked questions

Q: What's the chance of being in an earthquake while in Japan?

A: M3+ = 30% / week, M5+ = 5% / week. Chance of a direct hit by M6+ is < 1%.

Q: Can I receive the Earthquake Early Warning on an overseas SIM?

A: A Japanese carrier SIM is reliable, overseas SIMs partially supported. Use the Safety Tips app as backup.

Q: Will overseas insurance cover this?

A: Many do, check in advance. "Natural disaster / earthquake" must be explicit.

Q: What if Japanese isn't understood at the shelter?

A: Try "English Please" or "Help". Contact the tourist information center / embassy / international exchange association.

Q: What if my flight home is canceled?

A: The airline arranges an alternate flight, extra hotel costs can be covered by insurance. Don't panic — contact family + your travel insurance company.

Editorial info: Yen Finder Editorial / Last verified June 2026. Disaster information changes — check the latest details on the Japan Meteorological Agency official site (https://www.jma.go.jp) and the Japan Tourism Agency Safety Tips app.