Japan Disaster Guide
When a warning goes out in Japan, it goes out in Japanese. The app carries Japan Meteorological Agency warnings in 7 languages, after JMA confirms them.
- Earthquake, tsunami, typhoon and heavy-rain warnings, sent after JMA confirms them
- 115,000+ evacuation shelters on a map, searchable from where you are
- Safety guides work offline
- Free. One optional one-time unlock (¥300 / $1.99) for sharing your safety status with family
iPhone. Not available in every country yet.
Get data before you land
Warnings arrive as push notifications. They only reach you if your phone has data when they are sent. A travel eSIM installed before departure means you are connected from the moment you land.
- Your phone must be eSIM-compatible and not locked to a carrier. Check the vendor's compatibility list first
- Install while you still have a stable connection at home. Activation happens in Japan
Saily
- Data-only travel eSIM; plans by data amount or unlimited for a set number of days
- Uses local operators including KDDI and SoftBank, per Saily
- Set up at home in the Saily app; the plan activates automatically when you land in Japan
- One eSIM can hold plans for other destinations, so it works for multi-country trips
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Sakura Mobile
- Japan-based provider; unlimited-data prepaid eSIM for stays of up to 90 days
- Delivered by email as a QR code; can be installed before departure, and the usage period starts when you arrive in Japan (5G eSIM)
- Hotspot / tethering supported, per Sakura Mobile
- If the eSIM turns out to be incompatible with your phone, Sakura Mobile offers an option to switch to a Pocket WiFi device, per their page
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Cover medical costs in Japan
Medical care in Japan is advanced, and treatment can be expensive for visitors. Japan's tourism organization recommends travel insurance for all visitors.
- Read what is covered and the limits before you buy. Cover differs by plan and by your home country
- How a policy treats natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons differs by insurer. Check the policy wording on this before you buy
- Insurance can be bought after arrival in Japan, per JNTO
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance (Essential)
- Travel medical insurance: medical treatment and hospitalization, evacuation to a better-equipped hospital, lost checked luggage and travel delay, each with limits
- Can be bought before you depart or after you have already left
- Priced per 4 weeks. The price depends on age
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Somewhere to leave your bags
A typhoon or an earthquake can stop trains and ground flights, and you may still have to check out of your hotel. Storage booked by the day lets you wait, eat and look for information without dragging a suitcase.
Bounce
- Bags are left at local shops and hotels, booked online or in the Bounce app
- Locations in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, including near major stations, per Bounce
- Free cancellation if your plans change, per Bounce
- Each booking includes ¥1,000,000 bag protection, per Bounce. Check the terms before you book
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Rebook tonight's room
A typhoon or an earthquake can cancel flights and stop trains, and you may need a room for one more night near where you are.
- Before you move, check whether the trains you need are running. Rail operators publish service status on their own sites
- Read each room's cancellation terms before you book. They differ by hotel and by rate
Trip.com
- Hotel search and booking in English, with prices shown in the currency you choose
- Also sells flights, if you need a new one after a cancellation
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Japan Travel Safety Manual
The warnings, explained for visitors, and what to do in the first 72 hours. 66 pages made to read on a phone, plus printable pointing cards. Every number is quoted from an official Japanese source.
- Alert Levels, shindo, tsunami warnings, typhoon classes, heat alerts
- What to do in a hotel room, a train, a station, a shelter
- The fire service's own five-step script for calling 119
- 21 pointing cards in English, Japanese and romaji
- Works offline once saved to your phone
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