Blog – Travels With Matt Blog

What to Do If You Experience an Earthquake in Japan: A Traveler’s Guide

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.

The First Place You Return To

Every traveler has that place.

The one they find themselves returning to every single trip.

Not because it’s the biggest attraction. Not because it’s the most famous.

But because somewhere along the way, it became part of their story. For me, Japan has two of those places.

The Little Rituals I Miss Most About Japan

When people ask me what I miss most about Japan, they usually expect me to mention the famous places. Maybe the bright lights of Shibuya, the peaceful grounds of Meiji Shrine, or the view from an observation deck high above Tokyo.

The truth is, those aren’t the things that come to mind first.

It’s the little rituals.

The ordinary moments that quietly became part of every day.

What Travel Teaches You About Time

Time behaves differently when you travel.

It’s one of those things that doesn’t make much sense until you’ve experienced it yourself.

Back home, the days can blur together. Monday becomes Friday before you know it. Weeks disappear into meetings, errands, rush hour traffic, and routines that quietly repeat themselves. You look at the calendar and wonder how another month has already passed.

Then you travel.

And somehow, time changes.

The Feeling of Being Completely Unknown Somewhere

There’s a strange feeling that comes with stepping off a plane into a country where almost nobody knows who you are.

No familiar faces.

No routine.

No safety net waiting around the corner.

Just you.

The Person Waiting at Home Doesn’t Know This Version of You

There’s a strange thing that happens when you travel long enough.

The person who boarded the plane isn’t quite the same person walking through the streets of Tokyo a week later.

And the person waiting back home? They don’t really know this version of you; maybe they couldn’t.

Traveling the World Still Matters (Even During Times Like These)

It’s easy to feel uneasy about travel right now.

Turn on the news for five minutes and you’ll see it all—wars, political instability, virus outbreaks, economic uncertainty, protests, flight disruptions. The world can feel unpredictable in a way that makes staying home seem safer and easier.

The Flight Home Feels Longer Than the Flight There

The flight to Japan never feels that long.

It’s filled with anticipation. You’re counting down the hours, thinking about what’s ahead, replaying the plans you’ve made. Even the delays or long stretches in the air don’t really matter. Your mind is already there.

The flight home is different.

It doesn’t matter if it’s the same length of time.

It feels longer.

Planning the Next Trip Before This One Ends

It starts quietly.

Not with a plan, not with a checklist, not even with intention.

Just a thought.

You’re still in Japan. Still walking the streets, still hearing the sounds, still living inside the experience you spent months waiting for. But somewhere along the way—usually toward the end—it slips in.

When can I come back?

You don’t say it out loud at first. You almost ignore it. Because thinking about coming back means admitting something you’re not ready to face yet.

This trip is ending.

Do You Need to Know Japanese to Travel to Japan?

As you prepare to travel to Japan, you are probably wondering how much Japanese you will need to know to make it comfortably around the country? The answer may surprise you as you pack that Japanese dictionary and download some lessons while packing your bag.

The First Night in Japan Still Feels Different

Every time I arrive in Japan, it’s in the afternoon or later. By the time the plane touches down, my body is already behind. I don’t sleep on flights — never have been able to — so I arrive carrying that familiar mix of exhaustion and adrenaline. The kind where your eyes feel heavy but your mind is wide open, taking everything in whether you want it to or not.

Jet lag hits fast, but I’ve learned not to fight it on that first night in Japan.

Japan Is the Place That Never Lets Me Go

Why Traveling to Japan Continues to Shape How I See the World

There are places you visit, places you enjoy, and places you remember fondly. And then there is Japan — the place that never really lets you leave.