This article was written by the NIPPON VISA & LIFE editorial team based on information from public organizations such as the national government and local governments. Rules and fees may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live.
In Japan, the place you should escape to in a disaster differs depending on the area where you live and the type of disaster. Before a disaster happens, use a hazard map to check the dangers around your home, the nearby evacuation sites, and a safe route to get there. This article explains how to look them up.
The Short Answer: 3 Things to Do Before a Disaster
- Use a hazard map (a map showing places where disasters may occur) to check the dangers around your home, workplace and school
- Check the nearby evacuation sites (places or facilities where you escape temporarily to protect yourself from a disaster). The places you can use may differ depending on the type of disaster (flood, tsunami, earthquake, etc.)
- Check the safe route from your home to the evacuation site together with your family
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency (ISA) “Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 10: Emergencies and Disasters, Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) “Designated Emergency Evacuation Sites and Designated Evacuation Shelters Data”)
A list of articles in this field will be gathered in Preparing for Earthquakes, Disasters and Emergencies.
The Difference Between an “Evacuation Site” and an “Evacuation Shelter”
Cities, wards, towns and villages in Japan designate 2 kinds of places for use in a disaster. Their names are similar, but their roles are different.
| Name | What kind of place it is |
|---|---|
| Designated Emergency Evacuation Site (指定緊急避難場所) | A place you escape to quickly to protect your life from the danger of a disaster |
| Designated Evacuation Shelter (指定避難所) | A facility where you stay temporarily until the danger of the disaster has passed |
When a disaster occurs, people are advised to escape first to a Designated Emergency Evacuation Site, not a Designated Evacuation Shelter.
The Place to Escape to Differs by Type of Disaster
Designated Emergency Evacuation Sites are designated for each type of disaster. There are 8 types: floods; cliff collapses, debris flows and landslides; storm surges; earthquakes; tsunami; large-scale fires; inland flooding; and volcanic phenomena.
For example, when a tsunami is expected after a big earthquake, escape to a Designated Emergency Evacuation Site that is designated for tsunami. A place you can use in an earthquake may not be usable in a tsunami. When you look up sites, also check the type of disaster.
How to Look Up Hazard Maps
1. Look It Up on the National “Hazard Map Portal Site”
On the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s “Hazard Map Portal Site,” you can enter an address and check the disaster risks at that location on a map. There are 2 ways to use it.
| Feature | What you can do |
|---|---|
| Overlay Hazard Map (重ねるハザードマップ) | View risks such as floods, landslides, storm surges and tsunami overlaid on maps and photos |
| Local Hazard Maps (わがまちハザードマップ) | Choose a city, ward, town or village and view the hazard maps it has made |
Use the “Overlay Hazard Map” as follows.
- Enter an address (or use your smartphone’s current location, or search on the map)
- Choose a type of disaster, such as floods, landslides, storm surges or tsunami
- Check whether your home, workplace or school is inside the dangerous areas shown on the map (check the meaning of the map colors in the explanation on the screen)
(Sources: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism “Hazard Map Portal Site”)
2. View Evacuation Sites on the GSI’s “GSI Maps”
On the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan’s “GSI Maps” (地理院地図), you can view Designated Emergency Evacuation Sites on a map by type of disaster. You can also view Designated Evacuation Shelters. The places shown on the map are those that municipalities have registered and agreed to make public.
3. Check Your City, Ward, Town or Village’s Website and Other Sources
You can check evacuation sites on hazard maps, the website of your city, ward, town or village, and other sources. Where the information is published and which counter you can ask differ depending on the city, ward, town or village.
- To look them up, search for “(name of your city, ward, town or village) ハザードマップ” (hazard map) or “(name of your city, ward, town or village) 避難場所” (evacuation site)
- If you cannot find them on the website, ask at your city, ward, town or village office
- If you move, check the hazard map and evacuation sites for your new address again
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency (ISA) “Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 10: Emergencies and Disasters, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism “Hazard Map Portal Site”)
What to Check When You Look at a Hazard Map
When you look at a hazard map, you will feel more at ease if you check the following points.
- Whether your home, workplace or school is in a place that may be flooded
- Whether it is in a place where landslides (mountains or cliffs collapsing) may occur
- If you are near the sea, where the high places are, such as high ground or evacuation buildings, to escape to in a tsunami
- Which disasters the nearby evacuation sites can be used for
- Which route is safe from your home or other places to the evacuation site
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency (ISA) “Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 10: Emergencies and Disasters, Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) “Designated Emergency Evacuation Sites and Designated Evacuation Shelters Data”)
When Evacuation Information Is Issued
When there is a risk of disaster, for example because of heavy rain, cities, wards, towns and villages issue evacuation information with an “alert level.”
| Alert level | Information | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Evacuation of Elderly People, etc. (高齢者等避難) | People who need time to escape, such as elderly people, people with disabilities and children, start escaping from dangerous places |
| 4 | Evacuation Instruction (避難指示) | Everyone in a dangerous place escapes |
| 5 | Emergency Safety Measures (緊急安全確保) | A disaster has already occurred or is imminent. Take action right away to protect your life |
When an Alert Level 4 Evacuation Instruction is issued, the place you escape to may be an evacuation site, or also the home of a relative or acquaintance in a safe place, or a hotel or Japanese-style inn (ryokan).
Troubles and Common Questions
What if going to the evacuation site is more dangerous?
Sometimes, for example when flooding has already started, going to the evacuation site can actually be more dangerous. In that case, escape to a nearby sturdy building, or if that is also difficult, move to a place that is even a little safer, such as the second floor or higher of your home, and take action to protect your life.
When an evacuation instruction is issued because of flooding, is it ever OK to stay at home?
Even when an Alert Level 4 Evacuation Instruction is issued because of the risk of flooding, if you check the hazard map and other information and can judge for yourself that all 3 of the following conditions are met, you may be able to stay inside your home and secure your safety.
- Your home is not in an area where houses may collapse or be washed away by flooding (家屋倒壊等氾濫想定区域)
- You live in a tall building with no danger of being flooded
- You can bear it until the water goes down, and you have enough supplies such as water and food
If you are unsure, follow the evacuation information issued by your city, ward, town or village.
What should I be careful about when escaping?
- Always put out any fires before you escape
- Keep your belongings to a minimum, and carry them on your back or in a similar way so that both hands are free
For what to do in an earthquake, please read What to Do When an Earthquake Hits in Japan: During the Shaking, After the Shaking Stops, and Everyday Preparation.
What if I cannot read Japanese?
The Japan Meteorological Agency publishes information on earthquakes, heavy rain and so on on its website in many languages. With “Safety tips,” a free app for foreign travelers, you can receive notifications such as Earthquake Early Warnings and tsunami warnings.
(Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency “Multilingual Information”, Immigration Services Agency (ISA) “Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 10: Emergencies and Disasters)
Primary Sources Used for This Article
- Immigration Services Agency (ISA) “Guidebook on Living and Working” (8th edition) (Chapter 10: Emergencies and Disasters)
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism “Hazard Map Portal Site”
- Geospatial Information Authority of Japan “Designated Emergency Evacuation Sites and Designated Evacuation Shelters Data”
- Japan Meteorological Agency “Multilingual Information”
This article is a translation of the original Japanese version.
