Should I leave my hotel after every earthquake?

No. Running outside can expose you to glass, signs, roof tiles, and traffic. After the shaking stops, check for fire, smoke, a strong gas smell, major visible damage, tsunami information, and staff instructions. Leave when staff or public authorities direct you to leave, or when there is an immediate danger. Use stairs, not an elevator.

How long should I expect aftershocks in Japan?

There is no exact end time. JMA explains that aftershock activity can continue for a long period and is usually more active soon after a large earthquake. The risk and advice are different for each event. As of July 2026, use the current JMA information for your area instead of assuming that a fixed number of hours or days is safe.

Is it safe to sleep next to a hotel window?

Move away from the window if you can. Glass, mirrors, hanging lights, and tall furniture can fall during another tremor. Use the bed or a clear floor area that is away from these objects and does not block your route to the door. Do not move a heavy wardrobe yourself after it has shifted.

Will my foreign phone receive earthquake alerts in Japan?

It may, but reception depends on the phone, network, roaming setup, and alert standard. Do not treat silence as proof that no earthquake will occur. As of July 2026, the official Safety Tips app provides disaster alerts in English and other languages. Keep your phone charged, but react to shaking even if no alert appears.

What Japanese words should I recognize after an earthquake?

地震 (jishin) means earthquake, 余震 (yoshin) means aftershock, 避難 (hinan) means evacuation, and 津波 (tsunami) means tsunami. 大丈夫ですか (daijobu desu ka) means “Are you okay?” and 避難しますか (hinan shimasu ka) asks “Are we evacuating?” Show the phrases on your screen if speaking is difficult.

After an Earthquake in Japan: What Should I Do Tonight?

Should I stay in the building tonight or leave?

Do not start by packing. First decide whether the place is safe enough to remain in.

Leave the room and follow staff or public instructions if there is fire, smoke, a strong gas smell, serious visible building damage, or an evacuation order. If you are near the coast and feel strong or long shaking, move to high ground when local authorities or staff tell you to evacuate for a tsunami. Do not wait in the lobby to collect every bag.

Call 119 for fire, ambulance, a serious injury, or someone trapped. Do not switch lights, fans, or electrical devices on or off if you smell gas. Move away and tell hotel staff or emergency services.

What you see or hear	What to do
Fire, smoke, or strong gas smell	Move away; call 119 or alert staff
Tsunami warning or evacuation order	Go to the directed safe place immediately
Large cracks, a leaning wall, falling ceiling material	Do not return to the room; ask staff for a safe area
No visible danger and staff confirm the building can be used	Prepare a safer sleeping place and keep alerts on
You cannot understand the announcement	Show staff: “Is it safe to stay here?” and use a translation app

Do not run outside during the shaking. Protect your head and stay away from glass. After it stops, put on shoes and follow the marked exit or staff. Use stairs unless staff or emergency personnel give a different instruction.

Where should I sleep if staff say the hotel is safe?

The usual bed may not be the safest position. Look around it from floor level and imagine what could fall during another tremor.

Move your sleeping position away from:

Windows, mirrors, and glass doors.
Tall wardrobes, shelves, televisions, and stacked luggage.
Hanging lamps, framed pictures, and loose objects above the bed.
A place where a fallen object could block the door.

If the room is crowded, ask the front desk whether there is a clearer safe area. Do not try to lift a heavy cabinet or push a damaged television back into place. A shifted object may fall during another tremor.

Keep the route from the bed to the door clear. Place bags under a desk or against a low wall, not in the walkway. Check that the room door opens once, then close and lock it normally unless staff instruct otherwise. You do not need to sleep with the door open.

What should I keep beside me for the first night?

Make one small bedside group so you can find it in the dark. Do not spread important items around the room.

Keep within reach	Why
Shoes with a firm sole	Broken glass may be hard to see
Phone and charging cable	Alerts, translation, maps, and contact
Flashlight	Safer than using a candle
Room key and passport copy	Leaving and identifying your booking
Glasses, hearing aids, and medicine	Essential access and health needs
Light jacket and small bottle of water	A short move may take longer than expected

Keep your passport secure, but do not delay an urgent evacuation to search for it. A photo or copy on your phone can help with identification later. If you take regular medicine, keep tonight’s dose and the prescription information together.

Charge your phone while power is available. Lower the screen brightness and use battery-saving mode. Do not place a charging phone or power bank under bedding. Stop using a battery that is swollen, very hot, leaking, or producing an unusual smell.

Use an electric flashlight, not a candle. Fire is a secondary risk after an earthquake, and a candle can fall during another tremor.

Which earthquake information should I follow?

As of July 2026, use three layers of information:

Hotel or facility staff for the condition of the building and its evacuation route.
The local government for evacuation areas, shelters, water, and road conditions.
JMA and JNTO for earthquake, tsunami, and traveler safety information.

The official Safety Tips app sends earthquake early warnings, tsunami warnings, and other disaster alerts in English and several other languages. JNTO’s Japan Safe Travel Information page also shows traveler guidance. Social posts can help you understand how other people felt the shaking, but they cannot confirm that your building or route is safe.

An Earthquake Early Warning may arrive only seconds before shaking, or may not reach your phone. It can also arrive after you already feel movement when the source is close. If the room starts moving, react to the shaking rather than checking which app made a sound.

What should I do if another tremor starts while I am in bed?

Do not run to the exit while objects are moving. Stay low, protect your head and neck with a pillow or folded bedding, and move away from glass if you can do so without crossing the room. Wait until the shaking stops.

Then:

Use the flashlight before putting your feet on the floor.
Put on shoes.
Check yourself and the people with you.
Look and smell for fire, smoke, gas, water, and newly fallen objects.
Listen for staff announcements.
Leave by stairs if instructed.

The condition can change after each tremor. A door that opened earlier may become difficult to use, or an object may move into the route. Repeat the short safety check instead of relying on the first one.

For families, agree on one adult who helps children and one who takes the phone, key, and medicine. Do not have everyone search for separate luggage. Choose a meeting point away from the building face and traffic in case you become separated.

What can I say to hotel staff in Japanese?

Short questions work better than a long explanation:

Japanese	Reading	Meaning
ここにいて安全ですか	Koko ni ite anzen desu ka?	Is it safe to stay here?
避難しますか	Hinan shimasu ka?	Are we evacuating?
非常階段はどこですか	Hijō kaidan wa doko desu ka?	Where are the emergency stairs?
英語の情報はありますか	Eigo no jōhō wa arimasu ka?	Is information available in English?
けが人がいます	Keganin ga imasu	Someone is injured

As of July 2026, JMA does not promise a fixed time when all later earthquakes will stop. Rest is still important. Once the room and exit are arranged, choose a limited schedule for checking official updates and keep notification sounds on. A prepared sleeping place is more useful than staying awake all night while repeatedly reading unverified posts.