What to do where you are
| Where you are | Immediate action |
|---|---|
| Inside a building | Protect your head, move away from furniture or objects that could fall, and shelter under a sturdy table if possible. Do not rush outside. |
| Outside | Protect yourself from falling objects. Move away from walls, glass, signs and other hazards when you can do so safely. |
| In a hotel or other staffed facility | Protect yourself during shaking, then follow the facility's emergency instructions and evacuation route. |
| On a train or bus | Hold a rail or strap to avoid falling and follow crew instructions. Do not open doors or enter the tracks yourself. |
| Near a coast or river | After strong shaking or long, slow shaking near the coast, move immediately to higher ground or a designated tsunami evacuation building without waiting for a warning. A tsunami warning also requires evacuation from coastal and riverside areas, even without shaking. |
At the waterfront, do not wait to watch
For a tsunami warning (including a major warning), leave coastal and riverside areas immediately for higher ground or a designated tsunami evacuation building, even if you felt no shaking. With a tsunami advisory, get out of the sea and leave the coast. Follow local evacuation signs and official instructions. Do not return for a photograph, belongings or a better view of the sea. Tsunami can travel along rivers and arrive repeatedly; stay away until warnings and advisories are lifted and local instructions allow return.
Open JMA tsunami warning and advisory guidance (Japanese)After the shaking, check before moving on
- 01Check immediate danger
Watch for injuries, fire, broken glass and unstable objects.
- 02Follow local instructions
Use the designated evacuation route when instructed.
- 03Get reliable information
Check official warnings and transport operator updates.
Aftershocks can follow. Keep away from visibly damaged structures and do not assume the normal route is safe or the trains are running. Ask accommodation or station staff about current arrangements. Keep belongings minimal if you need to evacuate; assistance and official instructions matter more than preserving an itinerary.
For a serious injury, ambulance or fire emergency, call 119. This page gives general actions, not a diagnosis or a live assessment of building safety.
An alert is a cue to act, not a prediction
Earthquake early warnings are issued after an earthquake begins. There may be very little warning before strong shaking, especially nearby. Do not wait for an alert if you already feel shaking.
You may encounter a phone alert or a warning on television or radio. Sound, wording and language depend on the service and device; recognize the instruction to protect yourself rather than expecting one exact screen. Do not circulate unverified predictions, casualty claims or old alert screenshots. Check the source, location and time before sharing information.
Use JNTO's Safety Tips app information to prepare multilingual alerts, and JMA's official warning links for current information. Notifications depend on the device, settings and connection. This website does not monitor your location, issue alerts or predict earthquakes.
Two minutes of preparation at your stay
Our suggestion: learn the exit route, identify a safer place away from falling objects, charge your phone and save the accommodation address. If you need mobility or other assistance, ask the facility about its evacuation arrangement in advance. At coastal destinations, check the local tsunami evacuation map before going to the waterfront.
Ask staff to explain an announcementOpen a Japanese phrase cardDoes a quiet phone mean there is no danger?
No. Alerts can be late, unavailable or not received. Act on shaking, your surroundings and official local instructions.
Can I go back to the sea after the first wave?
No. Waves can repeat. Stay away until warnings and advisories are lifted and local authorities allow return.
Sources & checks
Sources checked 22 Sept 2026. For changing details, confirm with the responsible organization.
- JMA · Earthquake questions and actionsProtect the head, shelter from falling objects; coastal evacuation after strong or prolonged shaking · Japanese primary guidance summarized in English.
- JMA · Emergency warningsAct early; tsunami warning response and official warning links
- JMA · Earthquake early warningsWarning purpose and limitations; alerts do not predict earthquakes in advance
- JNTO · Safety Tips appVisitor-oriented multilingual alerts and emergency information
- JNTO Safety Tips · WaterfrontsMove away from the coast and rivers toward higher ground; tsunami risk
- JNTO Safety Tips · Streets during an earthquakeHead protection, falling objects and aftershocks outdoors
- JNTO Safety Tips · Inside a vehicleHold handrails, protect the head, follow staff and do not enter the tracks yourself
Review interval: 30 days. This page is not a live status feed. Check time-sensitive details with the linked authority before acting.