Japan is one of my favorite places in the world, but there is one reality every traveler should understand before visiting: Japan has earthquakes.
The recent earthquake in the Kumamoto area is another reminder of that.
On July 28, 2026, a powerful earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan, reaching a magnitude of 7.1 and maximum intensity of 7 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale. The earthquake caused significant damage and disruption across the region.
That doesn’t mean you should cancel your first trip to Japan. Far from it.
But if you’re traveling to Japan for the first time, you should know what to do if the ground suddenly starts moving.
The good news is that Japan has extensive earthquake preparedness systems, early-warning technology and procedures designed around earthquakes. And as a traveler, there are a few simple things you can do to make the experience much less stressful.
Before You Go: Carry the Basics
You don’t need to turn your suitcase into an emergency-preparedness kit. A few simple things can make a big difference.
Keep your phone charged
Your phone may become your most important travel tool during an earthquake.
Keep it charged whenever you can and consider carrying a small portable battery. If the power goes out or you become separated from your hotel or travel companions, having a working phone can be extremely important.
Your phone can also provide emergency alerts, maps, translation, transportation information and access to official updates.
Japan’s government and tourism organizations also recommend safety apps such as the Safety Tips app and NHK WORLD-JAPAN for disaster information.
Have internet access
If you’re visiting Japan, I strongly recommend having mobile data through an eSIM, SIM card or pocket Wi-Fi rather than relying entirely on hotel or restaurant Wi-Fi.
You don’t want to discover that the Wi-Fi is unavailable when you need information the most.
Carry some water
You probably don’t need to walk around Tokyo carrying a gallon of water, but having a bottle of water with you is a good habit.
Japan has convenience stores everywhere, but an earthquake can temporarily disrupt businesses, transportation and water supplies. The recent Kumamoto disaster demonstrated how difficult access to basic necessities can become after a major earthquake. While a plastic bottle is better than nothing, try to carry a reusable metal one if you can.
Keep your passport accessible
Don’t bury your passport at the bottom of your luggage.
Keep it somewhere secure and reasonably accessible, and consider keeping a digital copy of your passport and important travel documents as well.
Know where you are staying
Save your hotel’s name, address and phone number in your phone.
Better yet, take a screenshot of the information so you can access it even if your internet connection becomes unreliable.
And when you check into a hotel, take a minute to notice the emergency exits.
It takes almost no time.
During an Earthquake: Don’t Run
This is probably the most important thing to understand.
If an earthquake starts while you’re inside, don’t immediately run outside.
Your first priority is protecting yourself from falling objects and broken glass.
Get down, protect your head and neck, and take cover under a sturdy table or desk if one is available. Stay away from windows, glass and objects that could fall.
If you’re in a hotel room, get away from windows and heavy furniture and protect your head.
If you’re in a restaurant, store or train station, follow the instructions of staff. Japan has procedures for dealing with earthquakes, and staff may direct you toward a safer location.
The Japan National Tourism Organization’s guidance is straightforward: protect your head and ensure your safety while the earthquake is happening, then follow staff instructions once the shaking stops.
Don’t rush for the elevators
If you’re in a building when an earthquake begins, don’t try to use an elevator to escape.
Elevators can stop operating during or after an earthquake, potentially leaving you trapped.
Wait for instructions and use designated evacuation routes when it is safe to do so.
If you’re outside
Move away from buildings, signs, utility poles, glass and anything else that could fall.
The safest place isn’t necessarily the place that looks the most open—it is the place that puts you furthest from falling debris and other hazards.
If you’re on a train
Stay where you are and follow the instructions of the train staff.
One thing you’ll quickly learn about Japan is that transportation systems are very accustomed to dealing with disruptions. A train stopping after an earthquake can be unsettling, but it doesn’t necessarily mean something has gone terribly wrong.
Don’t try to leave the train on your own unless instructed to do so.
After the Earthquake: The Shaking Stopping Doesn’t Mean It’s Over
This is where travelers can make a mistake.
The earthquake ends, you stand up, look around and think, Okay, let’s get back to the hotel.
Not so fast.
After a major earthquake, there can be aftershocks and secondary hazards.
Check yourself for injuries first. Then check the people around you if it is safe to do so.
Pay attention to official instructions and don’t immediately return to a building simply because it appears undamaged. There may be structural damage that isn’t obvious.
Japan’s National Tourism Organization specifically advises travelers to remain aware of aftershocks and secondary disasters before returning to their accommodations.
If authorities tell you to evacuate, evacuate.
If you’re near the coast and a tsunami warning or evacuation order is issued, move away from the coast and toward higher ground or an appropriate evacuation building. Don’t wait around to see what happens.
What About Transportation?
This is another reason your phone matters.
Following a major earthquake, trains may stop automatically while infrastructure is inspected. Roads can be closed, flights can be delayed and attractions may shut down.
Don’t assume that because Google Maps says a train should be running, it actually is.
Check official transportation announcements, station staff and your hotel.
And don’t panic if your carefully planned itinerary suddenly falls apart.
Japan’s transportation network is incredible and has been designed to handle earthquakes, but safety comes first.
Your trip can be rearranged.
For American Travelers: What You Should Do
If you’re an American traveling in Japan, there are a few additional steps I strongly recommend taking before your trip.
First, enroll in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). It allows the U.S. government to send you safety and emergency alerts and helps the U.S. Embassy locate you during a major emergency.
You should also save the U.S. Embassy’s information in your phone.
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo can be reached at +81-3-3224-5000, including for emergency after-hours assistance. The U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka is particularly relevant to travelers in Kyushu, although its emergency after-hours number also routes through the embassy.
Remember the Japanese emergency numbers:
110 — Police
119 — Fire or ambulance
You can also contact the Japan Visitor Hotline at 050-3816-2787. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and provides assistance in English, Chinese and Korean, including help related to natural disasters.
And don’t forget travel insurance.
The U.S. State Department recommends travelers consider insurance that includes appropriate medical coverage, evacuation assistance and trip cancellation protection.
Don’t Let Earthquakes Keep You From Japan
If you’re planning your first trip to Japan, I don’t want this post to scare you.
I want it to do the opposite.
Knowing what to do gives you confidence.
Japan experiences earthquakes regularly, and most earthquakes travelers encounter are not catastrophic. But you don’t get to choose when a stronger one happens.
You can choose how prepared you are.
Keep your phone charged. Have mobile data. Carry some water. Know your hotel’s location. Save emergency numbers. Understand the basic response: protect yourself during the shaking, follow instructions afterward, and don’t rush back into danger.
And if you’re an American, enroll in STEP and keep the U.S. Embassy information handy.
Hopefully, you will visit Japan five times and never experience anything more than a tiny tremor.
But if the day comes when you’re standing in a Tokyo hotel, sitting in a restaurant in Osaka or riding a train through Kyushu and the ground begins to move, you’ll know what to do.
That’s the kind of preparation worth having before you go.
Save This Before Your Trip to Japan
If you’re heading to Japan, save this section to your phone. Hopefully you’ll never need it, but if an emergency happens, you won’t want to be searching for these numbers.
🇯🇵 Japan Emergency Numbers
110 — Police
For police emergencies or immediate danger.
119 — Fire & Ambulance
For fires, medical emergencies and ambulance service.
Japan Visitor Hotline — 050-3816-2787
Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Assistance is available in English, Chinese and Korean, including help during natural disasters.
🇺🇸 For American Travelers
U.S. Embassy Tokyo — +81-3-3224-5000
Keep this number saved for emergency assistance involving U.S. citizens.
Enroll in STEP before you leave
The U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program allows you to receive safety alerts and helps the U.S. government contact you during a major emergency.
📱 Keep These Things Ready
Your phone: Keep it charged whenever possible.
Mobile data: Have an eSIM, SIM card or pocket Wi-Fi so you’re not dependent on public Wi-Fi.
Portable battery: A small power bank can become extremely valuable if you lose access to electricity.
Hotel information: Save your hotel’s name, address and phone number. Take a screenshot so you can access it without an internet connection.
Passport: Keep your passport secure and consider storing a digital copy somewhere you can access it.
Water: Carry a bottle with you, particularly when traveling away from your hotel for the day.
Emergency alerts: Consider installing Japan’s Safety Tips app and keeping NHK WORLD-JAPAN available for emergency information.
Remember the Three Steps
1. During the earthquake: Protect yourself. Get down, cover your head and stay away from windows and falling objects.
2. After the shaking: Check for injuries, expect aftershocks and listen to official instructions.
3. If you’re told to evacuate: Go. Don’t wait to see what happens, and don’t return to a damaged building until authorities say it’s safe.
Save this page before your trip. You may never need it—but if you do, you’ll be glad you took five minutes to prepare.
Travels With Matt Blog 