Typhoon & Disaster Season in Japan: A Foreigner's Prep Guide

Quick answer (30 seconds): Japan's typhoon season peaks roughly August–October, often with heavy rain, flooding and strong wind. The good news: you can prepare in an afternoon. Before: stock an emergency kit (water, food, light, power bank, key documents), know your hazard map and nearest evacuation site (避難所), and set up multilingual alert apps. During: stay inside away from windows, charge devices, and evacuate early if officials tell you to — Japan uses a 5-level warning scale, and at Level 4 you should already evacuate. After: check official info, watch for aftershock/secondary flooding, and use multilingual disaster lines if you need help. For fire or a medical emergency, call 119; for police, 110.

Before: prepare your home & kit

A basic Japanese emergency kit (防災グッズ, bōsai guzzu) should cover at least 3 days:

• Water: about 3 liters per person per day.
• Food: non-perishable, no-cook (retort meals, canned food, energy bars).
• Light & power: flashlight, power bank, spare batteries; a hand-crank radio is great.
• Documents: copies of your residence card, passport, insurance card, and some cash (ATMs/cards may fail).
• Comfort & health: any regular medication, hygiene items, a change of clothes, and items for children/pets.

Also: know where your gas shut-off is, secure tall furniture (earthquakes can come anytime), and keep your phone charged when a typhoon is forecast.

Know your hazard map & evacuation site

• Your city/ward publishes a hazard map (ハザードマップ) showing flood, landslide, and tsunami risk for your exact address — check it now, not during the storm.
• Find your nearest designated evacuation site (避難所) — often a school or community center.