Tsunami Evacuation Signs in Japan: What the Symbols and Colors Mean

A calm, practical guide to the green evacuation signs and yellow caution signs along Japan's coast, plus the warning levels and flags that go with them.

Published October 20, 2026 at 10:34 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Along Japan's coast, green signs with a running-figure pictogram point to tsunami evacuation areas and tsunami evacuation buildings, while black-and-yellow caution signs mark places a tsunami may reach. Nationwide sign rules, known as JIS Z 9098, were set in 2016 so the designs look alike everywhere. Learn the signs, then follow official warnings and move to high ground on foot.

Why standard signs matter

Japan faces the sea on every side, and many coastal towns have signs that guide people toward safety if a tsunami warning is issued. To keep the message consistent everywhere, Japan added disaster-type pictograms to its national standard for graphic symbols, JIS Z 8210.

A companion standard, JIS Z 9098, covers evacuation guidance signs by disaster type. According to the Cabinet Office, it was established on March 22, 2016, and local governments are encouraged to follow it when they install or replace evacuation signs. Because new signs are added over time, you may see both newer and older designs, but the core idea is consistent: one clear pictogram for each hazard.

The three signs to know

The Japan Meteorological Agency, or JMA, describes three signs on its tsunami leaflet. A tsunami evacuation area sign marks a place to go to for safety. A tsunami evacuation building sign marks a designated building that people can reach when higher ground is too far away. A tsunami hazard zone sign marks an area that a tsunami could reach.

Together they tell a simple story. The hazard zone sign says to be aware of where you are, and the other two say where to go. On a beach, near a harbor or in a low-lying town center, locating these signs when you arrive is a quick habit that takes less than a minute. Hazard maps from the local government show the same areas in more detail and are often available at tourist offices.

Colors and symbols

The Cabinet Office's JIS Z 9098 guidebook explains the color logic. Signs for evacuation places, evacuation buildings, shelters and the directional arrows are green. Caution symbols are yellow with black graphics. A black-and-yellow pictogram is therefore a warning about risk, not a place to shelter.

The guidebook also describes small marks that show whether a site suits a given disaster: a black circle means suitable and a cross means not suitable. This matters because a shelter that works for an earthquake may not be safe in a tsunami. Caution signs commonly include the wording tsunami chui, meaning "tsunami caution," and the guidebook recommends adding foreign-language text where possible.

Signs on buildings and along routes

Tsunami evacuation buildings are buildings designated by local governments to give people a place to go up when higher ground cannot be reached in time. The guidebook shows sign examples on building walls, rooftops and ground-floor entrances, so look both at street level and upward. Some signs can combine several symbols to show that one site serves as an evacuation place, an evacuation building and a shelter.

Directional signs on poles and walls guide you along the route, and the guidebook suggests glow-in-the-dark or reflective materials for night visibility, and it advises that municipalities check the brightness of such signs from time to time and replace those that no longer meet the standard. Small details like these explain why a well-kept sign can still be read after dark. The guidebook also recommends adding English text to many sign types. If you cannot read the Japanese, follow the green arrows and pictograms, which are meant to be understood without language.

Warning levels and the tsunami flag

JMA issues three levels of tsunami alert. A Major Tsunami Warning means an expected height above 3 meters and is described as "Huge." A Tsunami Warning means up to 3 meters, described as "High." A Tsunami Advisory means up to 1 meter, and strong currents can still catch people in the water, so everyone is asked to leave the sea and coastal areas.

A tsunami flag is a red-and-white checkered flag, similar to the international U-flag used at sea, and it is used to show that a tsunami warning has been issued. Warnings are also delivered by television, radio and mobile phone. JMA's leaflet says that tsunami waves are expected to hit repeatedly, so people should stay on safe ground until the warning is lifted, and that if you can see a tsunami it is already too late to evacuate.

What visitors on the coast can do

JMA's advice is short and clear. If you feel strong shaking, or weak shaking that lasts a long time, in a coastal area, or if you hear a tsunami warning, go immediately to high ground or a designated evacuation building. Go on foot to avoid traffic jams, keep moving to the highest ground you can reach, and do not wait to see the wave.

Before heading out, ask your accommodation where the nearest evacuation area or building is, and check the local hazard map. The Safety tips app sends push notifications about earthquakes and tsunamis, and the JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline at 050-3816-2787 is open 24 hours for visitors. This guide shares general information, not professional advice; always follow current official guidance and the instructions of local authorities.

Staying calm and learning the routine

Japanese schools and neighborhoods commonly hold regular evacuation drills, and the signs are part of that everyday preparation. For a visitor, calm familiarity is the goal. Learning what green, yellow and the checkered flag mean takes only a few minutes, and it makes a coastal day trip, an onsen stay by the sea or a ferry ride more relaxed.

Keep your phone charged, carry some cash and your passport copy, and note your accommodation's address in Japanese. Signs, rules and designs can change, and local governments update their hazard maps, so confirm details with the official agency or the local tourist office before you act. Treat the signs as friendly guidance that residents also rely on.

If you plan to stay on the coast for several days, it can help to walk the route from your room to the nearest evacuation sign once in daylight. Knowing how many minutes it takes, and which stairs or slopes you would use, turns an abstract sign into a plan you can follow without hesitation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What color are tsunami evacuation signs in Japan?

Under the Cabinet Office's JIS Z 9098 guidebook, signs for tsunami evacuation areas, tsunami evacuation buildings and directional arrows are green. Caution signs for tsunami hazard areas use a yellow symbol with black graphics. Older or local signs may look different, so also read the pictograms and follow the arrows toward higher ground.

What is the difference between a tsunami evacuation area and a tsunami evacuation building?

An evacuation area is a designated open place that is safe to go to, while an evacuation building is a designated structure that people can climb inside or on top of when higher ground is hard to reach in time. Both are shown with green signs, and the local hazard map shows where each one is.

What should I do if I see the red and white checkered flag?

The checkered tsunami flag means a tsunami warning or advisory has been issued. Leave the water and coastal areas, move to high ground or a designated evacuation building on foot, and stay there until officials say the warning is cleared. Waves are expected to come more than once.

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