Disaster & Emergency Guide for Foreigners in Japan (2026): What To Do When It Happens

Quick answer (30 seconds): Do two things today, before anything happens. (1) Install a free multilingual alert app — the official Safety Tips app (from JNTO) pushes earthquake, tsunami, typhoon and other warnings in many languages. (2) Memorize the two core actions: in an earthquake, drop, cover your head, and hold on until shaking stops; for a tsunami warning near the coast, get to high ground immediately — don't wait. Emergency numbers: 110 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance. And find your neighborhood's designated evacuation area (a nearby school or park) now, not during a crisis.

ℹ️ This guide explains general, official-aligned actions. In a real event, follow the instructions of local authorities and your municipality first — they have information specific to your exact location.

Step 0: install one alert app today

Most of your safety margin comes from getting warned early, in a language you understand. Japan's warnings are fast but mostly in Japanese, so an app bridges the gap:

• Safety Tips (JNTO, official) — the one most recommended for foreigners. It pushes Earthquake Early Warnings, tsunami warnings, weather/heat warnings, volcanic warnings and Civil Protection (J-Alert) information, and supports many languages (English, Simplified/Traditional Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai, Indonesian, Tagalog, Nepali, Khmer, Burmese, Mongolian and more). It also includes an evacuation flowchart and useful phrases for asking for help.
• NHK World-Japan — Japan's public broadcaster carries disaster information in multiple languages; its BOSAI resources explain what to do.

Install at least one now, allow notifications, and set your language. This is the single highest-value action on this page.

Understanding the alerts: J-Alert and Earthquake Early Warning

Two systems will reach you, and they feel different: