Earthquakes & disaster basics in Japan

Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries on earth, so a little preparation goes a long way. The good news: it also has one of the best warning systems. Here’s what to know — the alerts, what to do when the ground moves, and the official tools — from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and JNTO.

Earthquake Early Warning (EEW)

JMA’s EEW gives “advance announcement of the estimated seismic intensities and expected arrival time” of the strong shaking, calculated from seismographs near the epicentre. Those seconds let trains and elevators stop and let you take cover. JNTO’s advice on seeing or hearing one: stay calm and secure your safety first.

When the shaking starts

• Protect your head and get under a sturdy desk or table; ensure your immediate safety.
• Don’t rush outside. Most Japanese buildings are built earthquake-resistant, so JNTO advises staying indoors until it’s safe.
• Once shaking stops, follow staff/official instructions and stay alert to aftershocks and secondary hazards before moving.

“Shindo” intensity vs magnitude

You’ll hear a shindo number, not a magnitude, on Japanese alerts. JMA’s seismic-intensity scale runs 0 to 7 (with 5 and 6 each split into “lower” and “upper”, giving 10 steps) and describes the shaking observed at a specific place. Magnitude, by contrast, is the quake’s total energy — so one quake produces different shindo values in different locations. A distant magnitude-7 may be a mild shindo where you are; a nearby smaller quake can feel stronger.

Tsunami: near the coast, go up

After a large undersea quake, JMA issues a Tsunami Warning/Advisory for the coasts expected to be affected. The official rule for anyone near the sea is blunt:

“…do not evaluate the safety situation yourself but evacuate to a more elevated place regardless.” (JNTO)

Don’t wait for confirmation, and don’t return early — tsunamis can arrive in repeated waves.

Official tools: app & numbers

• Safety Tips app (JNTO): the official push-alert app for visitors — earthquake early warnings, tsunami and weather alerts in 15 languages, plus an evacuation flowchart. Install it before you need it.
• 110 — police (accidents, crime). 119 — fire and ambulance (fire, serious injury/illness).
• Japan Visitor Hotline: 050-3816-2787 — JNTO’s 24/7 line (English/Chinese/Korean) for emergencies including disasters.

Frequently asked questions

This is general safety information from JMA and JNTO (2026-07-13); systems and numbers can change. In an actual emergency, follow the instructions of Japanese authorities and local staff, and rely on official alerts (JMA, Safety Tips app) rather than this page.