Earthquakes in Japan: what to do where you are, and how Earthquake Early Warnings work
Japan has frequent earthquakes, and its official advice for visitors starts with a single line: "First, secure your safety. Where are you now?" (Japan Tourism Agency). The right move depends on the answer, so this guide follows the agency's own breakdown by place.
Earthquake Early Warnings (EEW)
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) describes the system as an advance announcement of the estimated seismic intensities and expected arrival time of the main shaking. The tourism agency says the alarm, with a special sound, is broadcast on TV, radio, cell phones and smartphones. When you see or hear one, stay calm and secure your safety, even if you don't feel any shaking yet.
Know its limits (JMA):
- The time between the warning and the main shaking is very short: a matter of seconds, or between several seconds and a few tens of seconds.
- Close to the epicenter, the warning may not arrive before strong shaking hits.
- Accuracy is limited, especially for large earthquakes, and false warnings can happen from accidents, lightning or device failure.
JMA's Dos & Don'ts leaflet sums up the response: remain calm and secure your personal safety; at home, protect your head and shelter under a table, and don't rush outside. An EEW that predicts shaking of 6-lower or more on JMA's seismic intensity scale counts as an Emergency Warning.
What to do, by place (Japan Tourism Agency)
| Where you are | What to do |
|---|---|
| Hotel or other lodging | Protect your head and take shelter under a durable table. Indoors may be safer at times; don't hastily run outside. Open the door to secure a way out and follow the staff |
| Sightseeing, cultural or shopping facility | Stay in an open hall or near a pillar, away from things that can fall. Don't evacuate by elevators that haven't been confirmed safe. Follow staff instructions |
| Underground | Stay calm, protect your head, and wait for the shaking to stop. If emergency lights come on, walk along the walls and follow the staff |
| Elevator | Press all floor buttons and get off where it stops. If you're stuck, use the "Emergency Call Button" |
| Downtown or office area | Protect your head with a bag, watch for falling objects, and stay away from buildings |
| Coast or riverside | A tsunami may occur, including in rivers. Head for high ground or a tsunami shelter |
| Train, subway or bus | Hold the handrails and protect your head. The vehicle may brake hard. Stepping down onto the tracks on your own is very dangerous. When it stops, follow staff instructions |
| Driving a rental car | Avoid sudden braking, park on the left side of the road and stop the engine. If you evacuate, leave the keys in the ignition, close the windows and doors but leave them unlocked, and go on foot |
After the shaking, the agency's advice is the same everywhere: pay attention to aftershocks and secondary disasters. JNTO adds that fire is the most dangerous secondary disaster.
Before your trip
- When you check in, double-check where the evacuation routes are (JNTO).
- Keep your phone and devices fully charged (JNTO).
- Save the JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline, 050-3816-2787, which takes emergency calls, including about disasters, 24 hours a day.
- Install the Safety tips app; see Typhoons in Japan for what it does.
Related
- Japan's tsunami warnings, explained
- Secure your furniture: how Japanese households prepare
- Japan's 171 disaster message dial
Everyday
When you check into a hotel in Japan, find the evacuation routes and keep your phone charged.
When it counts
When the ground shakes or a phone alarm sounds, you protect your head first and know the next step for where you are.
Sources and when we checked them
- Japan Tourism Agency, Safety tips for travelers (home, last modified 2025-03-13) (checked 2026-10-31)
- Japan Tourism Agency, When an earthquake occurs (e01 to e12, last modified 2024-10-29) (checked 2026-10-31)
- JNTO, Staying Safe in Japan (checked 2026-10-31)
- Japan Meteorological Agency, What is an Earthquake Early Warning? (checked 2026-10-31)
- Japan Meteorological Agency, Limitations of the Earthquake Early Warning (checked 2026-10-31)
- Japan Meteorological Agency, Earthquake Early Warning: Dos & Don'ts (PDF, 2007) (checked 2026-10-31)
- Japan Meteorological Agency, Emergency Warning System (checked 2026-10-31)
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