What should I do during an earthquake in Japan?

Learn the simple steps to take when the ground shakes, from protecting your head to following hotel staff, plus what to do once the shaking stops.

Published October 21, 2026 at 8:26 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Stay calm, drop to the ground, cover your head and neck under sturdy furniture or with your arms, and hold on until the shaking stops. Keep away from windows and heavy objects. Most Japanese buildings are built to resist quakes, so staying inside until it is safe is usually advised. Then follow staff, alerts and official guidance.

The basic steps when the shaking starts

The most widely recommended action is often summed up as drop, cover and hold on. Get low so the shaking cannot knock you over, protect your head and neck with your arms or a bag, and shelter under a sturdy table or desk if one is close. If nothing is nearby, move to an inside wall or corner away from windows, shelves and anything that could fall.

Do not run for the door while the ground is moving. The national tourism organization advises that most Japanese buildings are fairly earthquake-resistant and that people indoors should stay inside until it is safe to go out. Falling glass, signs and roof tiles near the outside walls can be more hazardous than the room itself.

If a bag, cushion or jacket is within reach, use it to shield the head. In an open space such as a hallway or lobby, crouch low and cover the back of the neck with both hands. The aim is simple: reduce the chance of being hit by falling objects and avoid being thrown off balance while the movement lasts, which is often only a short time.

What the alerts sound like

Japan has an Earthquake Early Warning system run by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), which began on 1 October 2007. Phones in Japan often sound a loud alert tone with a message, and television and radio can carry the same warning. The point is to give a few precious seconds before strong shaking arrives.

When an alert sounds, the tourism organization advises staying calm and putting safety first, even if no shaking has started yet. That means moving away from tall furniture, holding something stable and protecting the head. The alert may be in Japanese, but the sound itself is the signal, and people around you will usually react as well, so watching them is a useful cue.

Some train lines and buildings also use their own announcements, and staff may speak in Japanese first. Keep a calm posture and wait for the second message. In many tourist facilities, English or pictogram guidance follows soon after, so stay near staff and signs until the situation is clear.

Doing the right thing in different places

In a hotel room, move away from the window and heavy wardrobes, and protect your head by the bed or under a table. In a train, hold the strap or pole firmly and follow announcements from the conductor. In a shop or station, watch for staff directions and stay clear of display shelves and glass.

Outdoors, move away from walls, signs, vending machines and power lines, and protect the head with a bag. JMA's intensity table notes that unreinforced concrete-block walls may collapse and poorly installed vending machines may topple at stronger levels, so open ground is safer. In a car, slow down, pull over safely and wait for the shaking to end.

After the shaking: next steps

Once it stops, check yourself and others for injuries, put on shoes, and look for hazards such as broken glass. Listen for instructions on the public address system or from staff. Turn on a phone or radio for updates, and avoid using elevators until staff confirm they are safe.

If you are near the coast or hear that a tsunami warning has been issued, go to higher ground at once. The tourism organization advises that after strong shaking, or weaker shaking that lasts a long time, people should move to high ground right away and not judge the danger themselves. Stay there until the warning is cancelled, since waves can come repeatedly over a long period.

Aftershocks are common after a strong earthquake, so remain alert and keep your head protected. If the building is damaged or staff ask guests to leave, walk calmly to the designated assembly point with essential items such as a phone, wallet and passport, and do not return until officials say it is safe.

Special cases for families and older travelers

Parents can teach children the simple pattern before the trip: get low, cover the head, hold on. Small children can be held close and shielded with the parent's body if no furniture is available. Older travelers or people with limited mobility can tell hotel staff about their needs at check-in and ask where the evacuation route and assistance are.

Solo travelers can save the accommodation's address and the local emergency numbers in the phone, and keep it charged. Those who do not read Japanese can look for pictograms showing exits and evacuation areas, which are standard in public buildings. Hearing alert tones is easier when the phone is not on silent mode, so check the settings.

Mistakes to avoid

Common errors include running outside, standing in a doorway out of habit from older advice, using an elevator during or after a strong quake, and rushing to take photos. Another is returning to a coastal area too soon after a tsunami warning. JMA states that tsunami flags and warnings mean immediate evacuation, so waiting to see the water is not a safe choice.

Leaving a stove or heater on in a rental apartment is a further risk. Gas meters with safety devices stop automatically at stronger shaking levels, but travelers who cook should still switch off the flame as soon as it is safe. Avoid spreading unverified rumors by social media posts, and use official channels first.

Another quiet mistake is ignoring a weak but long shake. The tourism organization advises evacuating to higher ground after weak shaking that lasts a long time, so the same caution applies even when the shaking does not feel strong.

Practical next steps and where to read more

Before the trip, read the safety page of the national tourism organization and note the emergency numbers. After arrival, ask your accommodation where the evacuation area is and whether the building has any special procedures. Keep your phone charged and your shoes close at night.

Confirm current warnings on the English pages of JMA whenever plans depend on conditions. This guide shares general information, not professional advice; for health concerns, talk with a doctor or local clinic. Official guidance can change, so confirm the latest advice with the agencies directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should travelers stay in the hotel room during a quake?

Usually yes while the shaking continues. Move away from windows and heavy furniture, protect your head, and wait for it to stop. Afterward, follow staff instructions about leaving the building, and avoid elevators until staff say they are safe.

What if a tsunami warning comes after a quake near the coast?

Head to high ground or a designated evacuation building immediately. Official guidance says not to judge the danger yourself and to stay until the warning is cancelled. Tsunamis can arrive in several waves over a long period.

Do travelers need a special app to receive alerts?

Phones in Japan commonly receive official emergency messages and Earthquake Early Warning alerts automatically. The national tourism organization also offers a safety tips app for visitors, and hotels can explain local procedures. Check your phone settings so alerts are not blocked.

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