How to ensure your safety during earthquakes in Japan

As you plan your travels to Japan, concerns about natural disasters, including earthquakes, may arise. Let us guide you on coping with unpredictable situations effectively.

The current trend in earthquake resistance in Japan

It is required that homes and buildings meet the criteria established in the Japanese Building Standards Act as they are built. Moreover, they do not fall and demolish with a magnitude 6 or 7. In regulations, it is mandatory for all buildings to have an earthquake-absorbing structure. These standards, enforced since 1981, are periodically amended in response to seismic activity.

How resilient are quaint Japanese houses to earthquakes?

Traditional Japanese house called Kominka enchants many travelers from overseas who opt to stay in Japan while exposing themselves to good old Japanese culture. However, there might be doubt about their ability to withstand the ground shaking massively.

Traditional timber structural methods were employed in Kominka, crafted over 50 years ago, aiming to dissipate the quake’s force during seismic events.

In comparison with the wisdom of ages past, conventional methods are applied to the houses in the modern era. The methods aim to protect homes by attaching multiple walls to distribute the power of shakes, and they are preferred for their resistance. However, traditional methods are not necessarily inferior.

The Great Hanshin Earthquake highlighted the advantage, as a majority of houses employing these methods did not collapse despite sustaining minor damages.

What you should do when you feel the ground shaking

How you take action differs based on whether you are inside or outside.

• If you are inside, evacuate to a safe place, such as under durable desks, while protecting your head.
• If you are outside, be away from buildings since broken windows and walls may fall.
• If you are in the Tsunami hazard area, evacuate to a higher ground that is farther from the offshore.

What you need to know in advance and how to get the information

Nothing is more powerful than knowledge. You should educate yourself first to ensure you can take proper action. As your first step, you should make sure to cover the following four items:

1. Check disaster-related signs (eg. evacuation area, evacuation shelter, tsunami/ storm surges hazard area)
2. Check nearest evacuation area and shelter, and evacuation route
   (Demonstrating evacuation routes is mandatory in hotels and Japanese inns; thus, you can find the routes inside a guidebook placed in your room.)
3. Learn how to ask for help (Multilingual Visitor Hotline)
4. Set up an emergency alert on your phone

In addition to the above, the information provided by the following website or app can support your safe stay in Japan.

Safety tips

Safety tips is a website supervised by the Japan Tourism Agency. They provide information to cope with a wide variety of emergencies, including earthquakes. The information focuses on pictures so that everyone can understand easily.

Phrase collections on their website can be useful for emergencies and are downloadable. The agency also launched an app that provides updates about disasters, evacuation areas and public transportation.

Disaster Prevention Information

Disaster Prevention Division, Bureau of General Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government categorizes diverse types of situations anticipated, so users can easily find what they are looking for.

Yurekuru Call

Yurekuru Call is a helpful app related to disasters. It can notify users in advance of a couple or several tens of seconds when the ground shakes. A map allows them to confirm magnitudes nearby at a glance. If you and your family or friends set up their safety service, you can confirm their safety in case of emergencies. The useful information provided on the app assists you not merely when the quakes happen but also when you would like to know how you can prepare on a daily basis.

Disaster-related knowledge and preparation will contribute to reducing your fears or anxieties. Take all possible measures and enjoy your trip to Japan!