Living in Japan

Japan Natural Disaster Preparation: Earthquake Kits and Evacuation

By JAPN Published

Japan Natural Disaster Preparation: Earthquake Kits and Evacuation

Emergency Preparedness Kit

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government recommends all residents maintain a hijou mochidashi bukuro (emergency carry-out bag) containing three days of water (nine liters per person), non-perishable food, a flashlight, portable radio, batteries, first-aid kit, essential medications, copies of identification documents, cash in small bills, dust masks, and work gloves. Convenience stores sell pre-assembled disaster kits for 3,000 to 5,000 yen, or individual items can be purchased at home centers like Cainz, Kohnan, and Tokyu Hands.

Evacuation Procedures

Your ward office designates specific evacuation sites (hinanjo) for your neighborhood, typically schools or parks, marked with green signs displaying a running figure. Earthquake information is broadcast on NHK television and the J-Alert system sends notifications to all mobile phones during significant events. The Bosai app from Yahoo Japan provides real-time earthquake, tsunami, and weather warnings in English. Practice earthquake drills occur annually on September 1 (Disaster Prevention Day, commemorating the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake), with many workplaces and schools participating in evacuation exercises.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government distributes a free disaster preparedness guidebook called Tokyo Bosai to all residents, available in English at ward offices and online. Community disaster drills (bosai kunren) occur annually in every neighborhood, typically on September 1 (Disaster Prevention Day, the anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake), providing hands-on practice with fire extinguishers, emergency stretchers, and evacuation procedures. Foreign residents are welcome and encouraged to participate. The standard recommendation is keeping a go-bag near the entrance containing water, food, flashlight, battery pack, first aid kit, copies of documents, cash in small bills, warm layer, and a whistle. The Yurekuru Call app provides English-language earthquake early warnings, and the NHK World app broadcasts emergency information in English during major disasters.

Earthquake-resistant building construction since the 1981 building code revision means most modern structures withstand magnitude-7 events without structural failure. During an earthquake, move under a sturdy desk or table, protect your head, and hold on until shaking stops. After the shaking, check for gas leaks by smell (do not use flames), open doors and windows as exit routes, and put on shoes before moving through debris. If near the coast and shaking lasts more than 30 seconds, move immediately to high ground without waiting for a tsunami warning. The tsunami evacuation buildings (tsunami hinan biru) marked with blue signs provide vertical escape in flat coastal areas. Japan’s building codes, early warning systems, regular drills, and cultural preparedness make it one of the safest places to experience natural disasters despite their high frequency.

For foreign residents, registering with your embassy in Japan ensures notification and assistance during major disasters. The Safety Tips app from the Japan Tourism Agency provides multilingual disaster alerts. Each municipality operates a disaster notification email system that sends alerts in Japanese and sometimes English. Identifying your nearest evacuation site (hinanjo) and practicing the walking route from home takes 15 minutes and provides invaluable peace of mind. Earthquake preparedness furniture straps (taishin tsuppari bou) brace bookcases and refrigerators to walls for 1,000 to 3,000 yen at home centers and prevent the toppling that causes most earthquake injuries indoors.

Water storage is essential since tap water may become unavailable after a major earthquake. Commercially available disaster water packs with 5-year shelf life are sold at supermarkets and home centers for 300 to 500 yen per 2-liter container. The recommended storage is 3 liters per person per day for three days.

This content is for informational purposes only and reflects independent research. Details may change — verify current information before making travel plans.