Last checked Jun 1, 2026

Japan Emergency and Disaster Checklist

A practical checklist for emergency numbers, alerts, supplies, communication, and evacuation basics for earthquakes, typhoons, heavy rain, fire, illness, and other urgent situations in Japan.

Know emergency numbers and phrases

Save 119 for fire or ambulance and 110 for police in your phone and on a paper note.
Prepare Japanese you can read aloud: address, nearest station, symptoms, whether someone is injured, and whether an ambulance is needed.
Add name, blood type, allergies, medications, emergency contacts, and usable languages to your phone emergency information.

Confirm alert and local information sources

Confirm your phone can receive emergency alerts, earthquake alerts, evacuation notices, and local disaster app notifications.
Bookmark your municipality's disaster page, shelter map, and flood or landslide hazard maps.
Use JMA, municipal notices, disaster apps, and school or employer messages as primary sources instead of relying only on social media reposts.

Prepare home and go-bag supplies

Prepare drinking water, shelf-stable food, power banks, flashlight, batteries, medicine, masks, and wet wipes.
Keep passport and residence-card copies, insurance card, cash, regular medicine, and emergency contacts where you can grab them quickly.
Secure furniture, know gas and power shutoff points, and keep indoor shoes ready so you do not step on glass after an earthquake.

Decide evacuation and communication steps

Walk the route to the nearest shelter, wide-area evacuation site, or temporary meeting point at least once.
Agree with housemates, family, friends, or your employer on contact order, meeting points, and offline backup plans.
Protect life first, then check official evacuation information. Do not return to a dangerous building just to retrieve belongings.

Source and limits

Compiled from Japan Meteorological Agency, Fire and Disaster Management Agency, and common daily-life disaster-preparedness guidance. Actual evacuation information, warnings, medical contacts, and response steps vary by location, disaster type, and current official announcements.

Last checked Jun 1, 2026

Official sources

Before using this checklist

This checklist is a life-preparation aid. It does not replace official warnings, medical advice, fire department instructions, or municipal evacuation announcements.
Evacuation sites, disaster radio, water distribution, shelter, and local recovery information are usually announced by your municipality. Confirm local official pages after moving.
For serious illness, accidents, fire, or life-threatening danger, call local emergency services first and follow on-site instructions.