Earthquakes in Japan: what to do if one hits

Japan is one of the most seismically active countries in the world. Dozens of perceptible tremors are recorded every year, and most are nothing — a slight sway of the building, a cup that vibrates, and that’s it. But serious earthquakes do occur, and knowing what to do in the first seconds makes a difference. This article is a general overview; more specific articles on the alert system, emergency kits for residents, and long-term preparation are coming.

The Japanese intensity scale (shindo)

Japan uses its own system to measure earthquake intensity: the shindo scale (震度), which measures what is felt at a specific location, not the magnitude at the epicentre.

Shindo	What you feel
1	Only felt by people at rest
2	Hanging objects swing slightly
3	Felt by most people indoors
4	Objects fall, some people wake at night
5 weak	Hard to keep balance, objects fall
5 strong	Impossible to move without holding on
6 weak	Impossible to remain standing
6 strong	Impossible to move on all fours
7	Maximum level

In practical terms: shindo 1–3 requires no action. Shindo 4 is the moment to pay attention. Shindo 5 or above requires acting.

The seismic alert on your phone

Japan has an early seismic warning system called Kinkyū Jishin Sokuho (緊急地震速報). When a significant earthquake is detected, sensors calculate where the wave will arrive and send an alert to all phones in the area with a few seconds’ warning.

Those seconds are few — sometimes 10, sometimes 30, sometimes none if you are close to the epicentre — but they are enough to drop down, move away from windows, or stop a vehicle.

The alert sounds on all phones simultaneously with a specific tone: an intermittent alarm sound unlike any other notification. If you hear it for the first time in Japan, there is no doubt. The text message arrives in Japanese — the carriers’ Area Mail system does not automatically translate — but the sound alone is a sufficient signal to act without needing to read anything.

Phones with a Japanese SIM or Japanese eSIM receive the alert. Phones with a foreign SIM on roaming do not always receive it — it depends on the operator. If you want alerts in your language, the government’s Safety tips app sends them in 15 languages including English and Spanish.

What to do during the shaking

The basic Japanese rule is 身を守る (mamoru mi wo): protect your body.

If you are inside a building: Drop down, cover your head and neck, and hold onto something stable. Under a sturdy table or against an interior wall is safest. Move away from windows, tall shelves, and objects that could fall.

Do not run outside during the shaking — most injuries are caused by falls or falling objects, not by building collapse. Modern buildings in Japan are constructed to very strict seismic standards (updated in 1981 and 2000) and rarely collapse in earthquakes below shindo 6.

If you are outside: Move away from buildings, electricity poles, and fences. If there is a park or open space nearby, head towards it. Cover your head with your bag or your arms.

If you are on the metro or a train: Trains in Japan stop automatically on a seismic alert. Hold onto the handrail or seat and wait for the train to come to a stop. Do not try to exit while the train is moving.

If you are at sea or on the coast: After a strong earthquake in a coastal area, move away from the coast immediately without waiting for a tsunami warning. The time between an earthquake and a tsunami’s arrival can be just minutes.

After the shaking

When the shaking stops, there are several things to do before moving:

1. Check for fire or gas. Post-earthquake fires are a serious hazard. If you smell gas, do not turn on any lights, open windows, and leave the building.
2. Open the exit door. Door frames can warp and jam after a strong earthquake. Opening your door immediately secures your way out.
3. Listen for instructions. Radio and TV (NHK) are the most reliable sources. Phones with Japanese SIMs will continue to receive alert updates.

For tourists

At the hotel

Hotels in Japan have established evacuation procedures. If there is a strong earthquake, staff will direct you. Hotel evacuation assembly points are usually in the lobby or outside the building — make a note of the exits when you arrive in your room, the same way you would note emergency exits on a plane.

Useful apps

The OMAMORI app by LIVE JAPAN shows evacuation shelters near you in your language, using official Tokyo government data. It is the most direct tool for tourists without Japanese. Available at livejapan.com/en/handymap.

The Safety tips app from Japan’s tourism ministry (JNTO) sends alerts in multiple languages and displays emergency information. Available for iOS and Android.

Communication

After a serious earthquake, mobile networks can become congested. The Japanese 171 system (the disaster message dial) allows you to leave a voice message so that family members can hear it even if calls are not getting through. It works by dialling 171 from any phone in Japan.

For residents

Residents have more tools available and more responsibility for preparation. Every municipality publishes an evacuation map (ハザードマップ, hazard map) showing the official evacuation shelters (避難場所, hinanbasho) in the area. Knowing the closest ones before an emergency is important.

Japanese authorities recommend keeping an emergency kit (非常持ち出し袋, hijō mochi dashi bukuro) at home with three days’ water, non-perishable food, a torch, a battery-powered radio, a first-aid kit, and important documents. A dedicated article on how to put one together is available on this site.

Registering with the local municipal alert system allows you to receive municipality-specific notifications — floods, zone evacuations, water outages — in addition to national alerts.