For most people who have just moved to Japan, the biggest worry is earthquakes. Tremors stronger than shindo 5 (Japan's seismic intensity scale, which runs from 0 to 7) happen somewhere in the country every year.

But here is the reassuring part: Japanese buildings are built to some of the strictest earthquake codes in the world. In most cases, simply knowing what to do the instant the shaking starts — and keeping a few essentials at home — sharply increases your chances of staying safe.

This guide covers the three actions to take during the shaking, what to check afterward, how to reach your family, and what supplies to buy today.

The shaking starts: just three actions

Disaster agencies around the world recommend a single basic sequence. It is the centerpiece of ShakeOut ("Drop, Cover, Hold On"), the global earthquake drill program that Japanese local governments have also adopted.

Drop — get low

If you are standing, drop to your hands and knees right away. The goal is to avoid being thrown to the floor and injured.

Cover — protect your head

Crawl under a sturdy table or desk and cover your head. If there is no table nearby, cover your head with both hands plus a bag, cushion, or anything padded.

Hold on — stay put

Stay in that position until the shaking stops. Hold a leg of the table firmly so you move with it if it shifts.

Do not run outside. Japanese buildings are designed to withstand earthquakes. Running outside puts you at risk from falling glass, signboards, and collapsing concrete walls — far more dangerous than staying indoors.

What to do depending on where you are

The safest action depends on where the quake catches you.

At home

  • If you are cooking, do not rush to turn off the stove. You could fall and burn yourself.
  • Once the shaking stops, close the gas main and turn off the circuit breaker. This prevents fires when the power comes back on.
  • Unless your building looks like it might collapse, staying inside is safer than going out.

While sleeping

Cover your head with a futon or pillow, slide under the bed, or curl up against an inside wall. Ideally, never place tall furniture or breakable windows in the bedroom.

High-rise buildings and apartments

Tall buildings experience long-period ground motion — slow, large swaying that can last a long time. Never use the elevator. Take the stairs, and secure your furniture in advance.

Trains and subways

Trains stop automatically. Hold on to a strap or handrail with both hands and wait for instructions from the conductor. Never open a door or step onto the tracks on your own — it is extremely dangerous.

Train platforms and busy streets

Cover your head and move to an open area. Stay away from glass, signboards, and old concrete walls.

Driving

Turn on your hazard lights and pull slowly to the left side of the road. Turn off the engine, but leave the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked when you leave the car. This lets emergency crews move it if needed.

When that sound goes off — the Earthquake Early Warning

When your smartphone suddenly plays a distinctive "pirong, pirong" tone followed by a voice saying "Kinkyū jishin sokuhō desu," that is the Earthquake Early Warning (Kinkyū Jishin Sokuhō).

The system works by detecting the small initial tremor (P-wave) at the seismometers nearest the epicenter, then predicting the larger main shock (S-wave) that follows seconds later. You usually have only a few seconds to a few dozen seconds of warning. What you can do in that window is limited, but even small actions help:

  • Step away from open flames
  • Get under a table
  • Slow down if you are driving

These small steps can dramatically reduce injuries.

The Earthquake Early Warning is a prediction, so false alarms happen. "It went off but nothing shook" is not a failure — it is a success of the system. The warning is designed to err on the side of caution because that is what makes it fast enough to be useful.

After the shaking stops

After a major quake, do not rush to move. Aftershocks will come.

  1. Check yourself and the people around you. Any injuries? Has any furniture fallen?
  2. Check fire and electricity. Close the gas main. If you smell gas, open windows to ventilate.
  3. Get information from TV, radio, or your smartphone. If a tsunami warning is issued, head immediately to high ground.
  4. Put on shoes to protect against broken glass.
  5. Open a door. Buildings can warp during a quake, jamming doors shut.

If your home is unsafe, evacuate to a designated shelter. Look up your nearest shelter today — do not wait.

How to reach family and friends

After a major earthquake, phone lines become overwhelmed. To leave the network free for emergency services, avoid non-essential calls.

Disaster Emergency Message Dial 171

A free service operated by NTT.

  • Record a message: Dial 171 → 1 → your own phone number
  • Listen to messages: Dial 171 → 2 → the caller's phone number

You can leave short messages like "I'm safe. I'm at the shelter."

LINE and SMS

A single LINE sticker is enough to let your family know you are okay. Even when networks are unstable, text messages eventually go through. Prioritize LINE or the web171 disaster message board over phone calls.

Start your "Japan emergency kit" today

Preparing only after an earthquake hits is too late. In Japan, four basics are considered standard.

1. Water and food: 3 to 7 days' worth

The Cabinet Office recommends a minimum 3-day stock, ideally a full week.

  • Water: 3 liters per person per day × 3 days = 9 liters per person
  • Food: instant rice, cup noodles, biscuits, chocolate

2. Portable toilets

When the water is cut off, you cannot flush. Stock at least 5 uses per person, ideally a week's worth (about 35 uses per adult). This is one of the most overlooked items — and one of the things people in disaster zones say they need most.

3. A grab-and-go emergency bag

A bag you can grab on your way out the door to a shelter. Sample contents:

  • Flashlight (battery-powered) and spare batteries
  • Mobile battery pack
  • Cash (about ¥10,000, mostly in coins and small bills)
  • Photocopies of your passport and Residence Card
  • Photocopy of your health insurance card
  • Regular medications and a copy of your medication record book (okusuri techō)
  • Whistle (so you can signal your location if trapped under rubble)
  • Masks, work gloves, wet wipes
  • Battery-powered portable radio
  • Change of clothes, towels

4. Secure your furniture

Most earthquake injuries come from falling furniture and objects. Anchor furniture with L-brackets or tension poles, and avoid placing tall furniture in your bedroom. You can buy basic anti-tip straps even at a ¥100 shop.

Extra preparation for foreign residents

Several resources can help when language is a barrier.

Safety tips (the official Japan Tourism Agency app)

Sends multilingual push notifications for the Earthquake Early Warning, tsunami warnings, and weather alerts. Free to download, with support for over 15 languages.

NHK WORLD-JAPAN

In emergencies, NHK broadcasts TV and radio in many languages. You can also watch on the smartphone app.

Multilingual disaster handbooks from your local government

Many city wards distribute disaster handbooks in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and other languages. You can pick one up at your ward office or download it from the official site.

Find your nearest shelter today

Search "[your address] hinanjo" (避難所 means "evacuation shelter") and save the result in Google Maps. Most shelters are schools or community centers within walking distance.

FAQ

Q. Should I open my front door during an earthquake?

A. Running to open the door while the ground is shaking is dangerous. Wait until the shaking stops, then check it. Buildings can warp during quakes, jamming doors shut and trapping you inside.

Q. Where will the Earthquake Early Warning sound go off?

A. On TVs, radios, and smartphones (all major Japanese carriers support it by default). It sounds even when your phone is on silent or vibrate mode. Settings vary by device — check that "emergency alerts" are enabled when you buy a new phone.

Q. What is the difference between shindo and magnitude?

A. Magnitude measures the energy of the earthquake itself, so each quake has one magnitude value. Shindo measures how strongly the ground shook at a specific location, on Japan's 10-step scale from 0 to 7 (with 5 and 6 each split into "weak" and "strong"). Anything from shindo 5-weak upward is "shaking that may topple furniture."

Q. If a tsunami warning is issued, how high should I go?

A. The rule of thumb is "third floor or above, ideally fourth floor or above" — or to a designated tsunami evacuation building (look for the signs). Move away from the ocean and rivers, and head uphill. Avoid driving if possible, since traffic jams can trap you. Walking is the basic rule.

Q. What should families with children or elderly members keep on hand?

A. Baby food, formula, diapers, elderly care supplies, and prescription medication may not arrive at shelters quickly. Keep a week's supply at home tailored to your family's needs.

Q. Can renters secure their furniture?

A. Tension poles and adhesive mats do not damage walls, and most landlords welcome anti-tip measures. If you want to install brackets that require drilling, check with your landlord or property management company first.

Q. What if an earthquake hits while I'm traveling?

A. Check the evacuation route map in your hotel room when you arrive. If a quake hits, take cover under a desk; once the shaking stops, contact the front desk. Use the stairs, never the elevator.

Final thoughts

Japan is an earthquake-prone country, but it is also one of the best-prepared. Three things you can do today:

  1. Anchor one piece of furniture
  2. Buy six 500ml bottles of water and store them at home
  3. Search for the shelter nearest your address and save it in Maps

If you can do these three things, you are already better prepared than most foreign residents. The most life-saving preparation happens before the shaking starts — not during.

At Nihongo-tomo, we offer free vocabulary lists for words tied to disasters, government offices, and medical care — language that can save lives. Learn the words now, when there is no emergency, so you don't have to scramble for them later.

References / 参考・出典

All institutional details and figures in this article are accurate as of May 2026.