Your First 10 Minutes in a Japanese Earthquake – A Save-This Guide for Foreigners

“My phone suddenly blasted a terrifying alarm and I froze.”
“We barely have earthquakes back home. My legs went weak the first time.”
“After the shaking stops – do I run outside, or stay in?”

If you grew up in a country with few earthquakes, your first big one in Japan will be genuinely frightening.

This article covers one thing only: what to do in the first 10 minutes of an earthquake. Read it once now, then save it – when the ground is actually shaking, you will not have time to read.

🖋️ Supervised by: Kumiai Nakagawa (Omotenashi BIP)

First, learn this sound: the Earthquake Early Warning

Phones in Japan automatically blast an alarm seconds to tens of seconds before strong shaking arrives. No app needed – every phone receives it.

The sound is harsh and scary – but it exists to save you. When you hear it, do not freeze. Do the three actions below.

While it is shaking: do only 3 things (and nothing else)

What NOT to do while it is shaking (these cause the most injuries):

• ❌ Do not run outside – falling glass, roof tiles, and signs are more dangerous than the quake itself
• ❌ Do not rush to turn off the stove – modern gas meters shut off automatically. Moving through a shaking kitchen is more dangerous
• ❌ Do not use the elevator

Strong shaking usually lasts under a minute. Ride it out.

When the shaking stops: 5 steps, in order

1. Put on shoes – the floor may be covered in broken glass. This is the step everyone forgets
2. Open the door – door frames can warp and jam shut. Secure your escape route first
3. Check for fire – now is the time to turn off the gas and stove
4. Get information – TV (NHK) or your phone. If you see the word 津波 (tsunami), act immediately
5. Get dressed, grab your phone and wallet, and be ready to evacuate

Two situations where you leave home immediately

1. A tsunami warning is issued and you are near the coast or in a low-lying area
Do not hesitate. Do not take the car. Move to high ground now (a hill, or a sturdy building 3+ stories tall). Tsunamis are far faster than you imagine.

2. Your building is tilting, walls have large cracks, or you smell gas
Switch off the breaker (prevents electrical fires), leave the building, head to an evacuation shelter.

Otherwise, if your home is intact, staying home is often more comfortable than a shelter. Not every earthquake requires evacuation.

Evacuation shelters: free for foreigners. Your visa status does not matter.

Many foreign residents do not know this:

• Shelters (usually nearby elementary/junior high schools and gyms) are open to everyone, completely free
• Your residence status is irrelevant. Nobody checks your visa (carrying your residence card is still a good idea)
• Water, food, and blankets are distributed

On your next walk, find your nearest shelter. Search 避難所 (hinanjo) on Google Maps.

Contacting family: phone calls failing is normal

After a major quake, phone lines collapse. But mobile data often survives.

• WhatsApp, LINE, Messenger, WeChat are more reliable than calls
• If data dies too, look for the free Wi-Fi network “00000JAPAN” – an emergency network Japan opens to everyone during major disasters
• Agree with your family in advance: after an earthquake, everyone checks in on the family group chat

5 things to prepare today (habits Japanese households actually use)

1. Save this article + confirm your nearest shelter
2. Pack an emergency bag: water (2x 500ml), biscuits, flashlight, power bank, some cash (card payments die with the power!), a copy of your residence card
3. Set a family check-in rule (see above)
4. Keep shoes next to your bed – many big quakes strike at night. In a blackout with glass everywhere, you cannot take a single step barefoot. Old sneakers are fine
5. Keep the bathtub filled with water – during water outages it flushes toilets and washes hands (not for drinking). Two warnings: drowning risk if you have small children; and in apartment buildings, confirm the drain pipes survived before flushing – a cracked pipe leaks into the home below yours

FAQ

Q1. What are aftershocks? Is it safe once the big one ends?
A. Smaller quakes (aftershocks) continue for days to weeks. Buildings damaged in the main shock can collapse in an aftershock. Stay alert.

Q2. Can I trust information online after a disaster?
A. Rumors always spread after major disasters. Trust only NHK, the Japan Meteorological Agency, and your city office – and do not forward unverified messages.

Q3. My company tells me to come to work right after the quake. Do I have to?
A. When transport is down and aftershocks continue, safety comes first. Contact your company early if you cannot come in. If you are in a difficult position, consult your supervising organization or registered support organization.

Q4. I lost my residence card or passport in the quake.
A. Get to safety first. Reissuing documents can wait until after.

Summary: remember this one line

Drop, cover, hold on, then shoes and door. A tsunami warning means head for high ground.

Save this article, and send it to a friend who has not experienced a Japanese earthquake yet. One share might genuinely save a life.

📅 Information as of August 2026. Check your city office official information for shelter locations.

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