Japan is a country prone to natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis. With recent studies indicating an increased probability of a major earthquake in the next thirty years, and events like the July 2025 earthquake off the coast of Russia causing tsunami alerts, being prepared is more important than ever. Before your trip, take a moment to download some useful disaster prevention apps and familiarize yourself with emergency procedures. Our editor has compiled a list of 4 must-have apps for Japan, along with essential tips for earthquakes and tsunamis to ensure your trip is safe and worry-free.
Stay Safe on Your Trip! Essential Disaster Prevention Apps
During a disaster, getting accurate information quickly is key to survival. We strongly recommend downloading the following apps before you travel to Japan.
1. Yahoo! Disaster Alert (Yahoo!防災速報)
Features: One of the most widely used disaster apps by residents in Japan, it provides comprehensive and fast updates. It's the top choice for receiving alerts on everything from earthquakes to severe weather.
- Location Settings: Set up to 3 locations (e.g., your hotel, planned attractions) to receive area-specific disaster alerts.
- Multiple Alerts: Covers 13 different types of disasters, including earthquakes, tsunamis, heavy rain, floods, and landslides.
- Evacuation Map: Built-in map to quickly find nearby designated evacuation shelters.
- Safety Check-in: Allows you to notify friends and family that you are safe.
2. Safety tips (Official Japan Tourism Agency App)
Features: Developed by the Japan Tourism Agency specifically for foreign tourists, this app offers a multilingual interface (including English), making it the most user-friendly option for visitors.
- Emergency Push Alerts: Real-time push notifications for earthquake early warnings, tsunami warnings, volcanic eruptions, and other severe weather alerts.
- Evacuation Info: Provides flowcharts with illustrations to guide you on how to evacuate during different disasters.
- Communication Cards: Includes pre-translated emergency phrases in multiple languages to help you ask for assistance from locals.
- Medical Information: Lists medical facilities that can assist foreigners and provides emergency contact numbers.
3. NERV Disaster Prevention (特務機関NERV防災)
Features: Themed after the popular anime "Neon Genesis Evangelion," this app is highly praised for its speed and accuracy, often delivering alerts faster than official channels. It's ideal for users who prioritize speed.
- Lightning-Fast Alerts: Rapidly pushes notifications for earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and special weather warnings.
- Detailed Information: Provides in-depth data such as the earthquake's epicenter, depth, seismic intensity in various regions, and estimated tsunami arrival times.
- User Experience: Features an intuitive interface with clear, easy-to-understand information and map support to visualize the affected areas.
4. Japan Shelter Guide (全国避難所ガイド)
Features: This app is specifically designed to help you find an evacuation shelter, which is crucial when immediate evacuation is necessary.
- Automatic Search: Uses GPS to automatically locate and search for government-designated disaster evacuation shelters nationwide.
- Route Navigation: Provides maps and AR (Augmented Reality) navigation to shelters, which is invaluable in an unfamiliar area.
- Safety Check-in: Allows you to register your safety status to reassure family and friends.
When an Earthquake Strikes
When your phone alert goes off or you feel shaking, stay calm and follow these guidelines:
If You Are Indoors:
- Protect Your Head, Find Cover: Immediately protect your head with your hands, a pillow, or a bag, and take cover under a sturdy table, in a corner, or next to a structural pillar. Stay away from windows, shelves, and hanging lights.
- Do Not Rush Outside: Running outside during an earthquake can be dangerous due to falling signs, tiles, or other debris. Find a safe spot indoors first.
- Secure an Exit: After the shaking stops, open a door or window to ensure you have an escape route.
If You Are Outdoors:
- Move Away from Hazards: Watch for falling objects like signs, planters, or glass. Move quickly to an open area like a park or square. Stay away from buildings, walls, utility poles, and vending machines.
- Protect Your Head: Use your bag or any available item to cover your head.
- If Driving: Slow down gradually and pull over to the left side of the road. Turn off the engine and listen to the radio or check your phone for updates. When evacuating, leave the doors unlocked and the keys in the car so emergency personnel can move it if necessary.
⚠️ Transportation Disruptions After an Earthquake
After a strong earthquake, even if your area is not severely damaged, public transportation systems (including Shinkansen, JR trains, subways, and buses) will almost always **suspend service immediately for comprehensive safety checks**. This is a standard safety procedure in Japan, so do not panic. Roads and highways may also be closed for inspection.
If you encounter a transport shutdown, here’s how to respond:
- Stay Calm: If you are at your hotel or a safe indoor location, it's best to stay put for the time being.
- Seek Official Information: Do not rely on rumors. Use your disaster apps (like Yahoo! Disaster Alert) or check the official websites and social media accounts (like X/Twitter) of the transport operators for the most accurate updates on service status and reopening times.
- Follow Staff Instructions: If you are at a station or on a train during the earthquake, listen carefully to announcements and follow the directions of the station staff.
- Prepare for Long Delays: Safety inspections can take several hours or even longer. Be prepared for significant delays and potential changes to your travel plans.
The Golden Rule: Patience is the best strategy until officials declare it is safe to resume travel. Do not take risks to try and stick to your original itinerary.
🌊 When a Tsunami Warning is Issued
The threat of a tsunami should never be underestimated. They travel much faster than a person can run. Even a tsunami of a few dozen centimeters can be strong enough to knock an adult off their feet.
Understanding the Three Tsunami Alert Levels
The Japan Meteorological Agency issues three main levels of tsunami alerts. Each has a different color and meaning. It is crucial to identify the level and act immediately:
| Alert Level | Predicted Height | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Major Tsunami Warning | Over 3 meters | HIGHEST ALERT! A massive tsunami is expected. Treat this as a life-threatening situation. Evacuate immediately to the highest possible ground (high ground, the roof of a tall, sturdy building, etc.). Stay far away from all coastlines and river mouths. |
| Tsunami Warning | 1 to 3 meters | EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY! Quickly leave coastal areas and low-lying river regions. Move to high ground or a designated tsunami evacuation shelter. |
| Tsunami Advisory | 0.2 to 1 meter | STAY ALERT, LEAVE THE COAST. Immediately get out of the water and away from the coast. Stop all marine activities like surfing or fishing. People on land do not need to evacuate, but do not go near the shore to watch. |
Evacuation Principles
When you receive a "Major Tsunami Warning" or "Tsunami Warning":
- Evacuate to Higher Ground Immediately: If you are in a coastal area and feel a strong earthquake or receive a tsunami alert, do not hesitate. Evacuate to higher ground or further inland immediately. Tsunami evacuation buildings or reinforced concrete buildings of 3-4 stories or more are ideal shelters.
- Do Not Watch, Do Not Approach the Coast: Never stay at the coast out of curiosity, and do not try to return to the shore to retrieve belongings.
- Wait for the All-Clear: Tsunamis can arrive in multiple waves, and the first wave is not always the largest. Do not return to coastal areas until the official all-clear has been given.
- Follow the Crowd: If you are unsure where to go, following the direction of evacuating local residents is usually the correct choice.
Important Tip: In Japan, authorities push emergency alerts directly to mobile phones. The alarm will sound even if your phone is on silent. Please take these alerts very seriously.
Disaster Preparedness FAQ
Q1: Do I really need to download a disaster app for a trip to Japan?
A: Absolutely. Japan is prone to earthquakes, and a disaster app provides the most immediate alerts and evacuation information. When you're in an unfamiliar country, it's one of the most important tools to ensure your safety. Installing and setting up an app takes only a few minutes but can be invaluable in a critical moment.
Q2: Are these disaster apps useful if I don't speak Japanese?
A: Yes, completely. 'Safety tips', one of the recommended apps, is designed specifically for foreign tourists with a full English interface. While apps like 'Yahoo! Disaster Alert' and 'NERV' are primarily in Japanese, their alert notifications (e.g., 'Earthquake,' 'Tsunami') are highly intuitive, using clear icons and maps that are easy to understand at a glance.
Q3: What is J-Alert (Japan's Nationwide Instant Alert System)? Do I need to install it?
A: J-Alert is the official Japanese government alert system and does not require a separate installation. In the event of a major disaster like a strong earthquake or tsunami, it will override and push an alarm and message to all mobile phones within Japan (both local and roaming SIMs). The disaster apps in this article are supplementary tools for receiving more detailed and varied information.
Q4: Will my phone and internet still work after an earthquake?
A: Not necessarily. After a strong earthquake, cell towers may fail due to power outages or damage, disrupting cellular signals and mobile data. Voice call networks often become overloaded. It's recommended to use Wi-Fi to send messages (like WhatsApp) to let people know you're safe. Many evacuation shelters in Japan provide free emergency Wi-Fi (the network name is usually '00000JAPAN').
Q5: Where should I wait if public transport is suspended?
A: The best place to wait is your hotel. If you are far from your hotel, find a large, sturdy building (like a department store or public facility) to rest in, or proceed to a government-designated temporary shelter. Avoid waiting for long periods in crowded areas in or around train stations. Be patient and keep checking official sources for transport updates.
