🌐
Emergency Guide

If Disaster
Strikes

What to do right now. Stay calm. Follow these steps.

📦 ← Preparedness Guide

EMERGENCY NUMBERS — FREE FROM ANY PHONE

🚒
119
Fire / Ambulance
Fire dept. / Ambulance
🚔
110
Police
Police emergency line
📞
171
Disaster Message
Disaster voicemail
📺
NHK World
English News/Radio
nhk.or.jp/nhkworld
🏥
#7119
Medical Advice Hotline
Should I call an ambulance?
🌊
118
Coast Guard
Sea accidents / emergencies
📶

Free Emergency Wi-Fi

00000JAPAN

During national emergencies, telecoms open free public Wi-Fi. No password. No SIM needed.

Disaster Response

What To Do During Each Disaster

🌍

Earthquake

Earthquake (Jishin)
HIGH RISK
  • DROP, COVER, HOLD ON. Get under a sturdy desk or table. Cover your head and neck with both arms.
  • Do NOT rush outside. Most injuries happen from broken glass and falling debris when people run out.
  • Turn off gas if possible. Open a door or window to prevent being trapped if aftershocks warp the frame.
  • If in a hotel, restaurant, or store — follow staff instructions. Staff are trained for earthquakes.
  • After shaking stops: check for injuries, gas leaks, fire. Watch for aftershocks — they can be as strong as the main quake.
  • Evacuation shelters (避難所) are open to everyone regardless of nationality. Free of charge.

Special situations:

🏔️ Mountain rescue: Call 110 (Police) or 119 (Fire) — whichever reaches you first

🌊 Sea accident: Call 118 (Japan Coast Guard)

🌊

Tsunami

Tsunami
HIGH RISK
  • Feel strong shaking near the coast? EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY. Do not wait for an official warning — it may not come in time.
  • Move to high ground immediately — at least 30 meters above sea level or 300+ meters from the coast. Run, don't drive.
  • NEVER go to the beach to watch. Tsunami waves can arrive within minutes, be 10+ meters tall, and come in multiple waves.
  • If you can't reach high ground, go to the upper floors of a tall, strong concrete building.
  • Wait for the official "all clear" before returning to coastal areas. The second wave is often larger than the first.
🌀

Typhoon

Typhoon (Taifu)
SEASONAL RISK
  • Stay indoors and away from windows. Do not go outside during the storm.
  • Do NOT go outside during the "eye" of the typhoon — the calm period in the middle. The back half of the storm is coming.
  • Expect transport cancellations. Trains, buses and flights will be suspended. Have 1–3 days of food and water ready.
  • Monitor weather alerts on NHK World or the Japan Meteorological Agency website.
💧

Flood / Landslide

Flood (Kozui)
SEASONAL RISK
  • Watch Japan's 5-level warning system. Level 4 = evacuate now. Level 5 = disaster in progress, save yourself immediately.
  • Move to higher floors if flooding begins indoors. Never walk or drive through fast-moving water.
  • If near a slope or cliff: move to a room facing away from the slope and go to the 2nd floor or higher.
  • Follow official evacuation orders immediately — even before you see obvious danger.
🌋

Volcanic Eruption

Volcanic Eruption (Kazan)
REGIONAL RISK
  • Check volcanic alert levels (1–5) before hiking near volcanic areas. Level 3+ = do not approach the crater.
  • If eruption occurs: protect from falling ash — cover mouth and nose with a wet cloth, wear goggles if available.
  • Follow evacuation orders immediately. Never approach lava flows or active craters.
  • Ash can make roads slippery and cause roof collapse from weight. Brush off ash carefully if safe to do so.
Real-Time Info

Where to Get Information Right Now

📺

NHK World-Japan

Japan's public broadcaster. Multilingual emergency news 24/7. Available on app, website, and TV.

→ nhk.or.jp/nhkworld
🐦

Japan Safe Travel (JNTO)

Real-time disaster information for foreign visitors in English. Official X / Twitter account by JNTO.

→ @JapanSafeTravel
🏛️

Yokohama City Disaster Portal

Live shelter opening status and disaster information for Yokohama City.

→ bousai.city.yokohama.lg.jp
🌦️

Japan Meteorological Agency

Live earthquake, tsunami, typhoon and volcano alerts. Multilingual.

→ jma.go.jp
Key Phrases

Emergency Japanese Phrases

Tasukete!
🆘 Help!
Hinanjo wa doko desu ka?
🏫 Where is the evacuation shelter?
Tsunami ga kimasu!
🌊 Tsunami is coming!
Kaji desu!
🔥 Fire!
Keganin ga imasu
🩺 There is an injured person
Nigete kudasai!
🏃 Please run / evacuate!