Earthquakes in Japan: Safety Advice for Canadian Travelers as of November 8, 2026

Information checked: November 8, 2026, at 04:01 UTC (UTC+00:00).

Canada advises travelers to take normal security precautions in Japan, where earthquakes and tsunamis remain ongoing risks. For Canadians planning a trip, the practical priority is to know how to protect yourself during shaking, identify a coastal evacuation route, and check official alerts for your specific destination.

At the time of this check, the Japan National Tourism Organization’s earthquake page showed no listed earthquake announcements. That page displays earthquakes with a maximum Japanese seismic intensity of 5 or higher, so its empty list does not mean that no smaller earthquakes have occurred or that future shaking can be ruled out. Conditions can change quickly. Check Japan’s earthquake information and Canada’s Japan travel advice again before and during your trip.

Destaques

• During shaking, protect your head and take cover under a sturdy table when possible; do not rush outside.
• Near the coast, move quickly to high ground after strong or long shaking without waiting for a warning.
• Earthquake alerts can provide only seconds of notice and may arrive after shaking starts.
• In Japan, call 119 for an ambulance or fire department and 110 for police.

Is it safe for Canadians to travel to Japan during earthquake activity?

Canada’s current overall advice is to take normal security precautions, not a guarantee that every location is free of hazards. Japan sits in an active seismic zone, and earthquakes occur throughout the country. A nearby earthquake can generate a tsunami within minutes, and the danger can continue for hours after the first tremor.

Before departure, check the Canadian advisory and the local conditions for each stop on your itinerary. After an earthquake, ask your airline, rail operator, hotel, or tour provider about actual closures and service changes before assuming your route is operating normally. Disruptions are possible, but their extent depends on the event and location.

What should you do during an earthquake in Japan?

Act as soon as you feel shaking or receive an alert. Indoors, protect your head and take cover under a sturdy table if one is nearby. Stay away from windows and objects that could fall. Do not rush outside while the ground is shaking. In a hotel, station, store, or other public building, follow staff instructions and avoid crowding exits.

Outside, watch for falling signs, broken glass, and collapsing walls. On a train or bus, hold a strap or handrail and follow the crew’s directions. If you are driving, turn on your hazard lights, slow down smoothly, and pull safely to the left. These actions reflect the Japan Meteorological Agency’s earthquake guidance.

Once the shaking stops, check for injuries and immediate hazards, follow evacuation instructions, and be ready for aftershocks. Do not return to a damaged building until authorities or building staff say it is safe. If you are near the coast, first consider the possibility of a tsunami.

When should you evacuate for a tsunami?

If you are on or near the coast and feel strong shaking, or weak shaking that lasts a long time, evacuate immediately to higher ground or a designated tsunami evacuation building. Do not wait for a phone alert or go to the shore to look at the water. A tsunami can arrive before an official warning reaches you.

Follow local evacuation signs and instructions, and stay away from the coast until officials lift the warning or advisory. Tsunamis can arrive in multiple waves, and a later wave may be dangerous. The Japan Meteorological Agency’s tsunami guidance explains that coastal topography can also make water higher in some places than forecast.

How do Japan’s earthquake alerts work?

Japan’s Earthquake Early Warning system detects an earthquake after it begins and estimates where strong shaking may arrive. Depending on your location, a warning may give you only a few seconds to protect yourself; close to the source, it may not arrive before the shaking. Strong shaking can also occur without a warning. Treat an alert as a prompt to act immediately, not as a prediction made days in advance. Read about the system’s limitations.

Magnitude describes the size of an earthquake, while Japan’s seismic intensity describes the strength of shaking at a particular location. Two travelers in different places can therefore experience the same earthquake very differently. Claims that a major earthquake will strike at an exact time and place are not reliable forecasts; the agency says such predictions are not currently possible.

How can Canadian travelers prepare before a trip?

• Plan at each stop: Note your hotel’s exits and meeting point. In coastal areas, find the nearest high ground or designated tsunami evacuation building.
• Keep essentials accessible: Carry a charged phone and power bank, water, necessary medication, identification, and copies of important travel information. Save your accommodation’s address offline.
• Arrange insurance: Canada recommends travel health and trip interruption insurance. Check your policy’s terms, exclusions, coverage limits, and assistance numbers, including how it handles natural disasters and medical evacuation.
• Register your trip: The free Registration of Canadians Abroad service lets Canada send emergency information to registered travelers.
• Make a contact plan: Share your itinerary with someone at home and agree on how to check in if phone networks are congested. Keep emergency numbers available offline.

Ask your accommodation how it communicates evacuation instructions and where you should go if you need assistance. If you have mobility, medical, or accessibility needs, plan a route and support arrangements in advance.

Where can Canadians get help after an earthquake?

For immediate emergencies in Japan, call 119 for an ambulance or firefighters, or 110 for police. The Japan National Tourism Organization’s visitor hotline, 050-3816-2787, offers emergency support around the clock. See its emergency information for visitors.

For consular help, contact the Embassy of Canada in Tokyo at +81 3 5412 6200. Canadians can also contact Canada’s 24-hour Emergency Watch and Response Centre from abroad at +1 613 996 8885. For immediate danger or medical emergencies, contact local emergency services first.

Frequently asked questions

Should I cancel my Japan trip because of earthquake risk?

Earthquake risk exists year-round, but Canada’s overall advice at the time of checking was to take normal security precautions. Review current official advice and conditions at your destinations, and make your decision based on your circumstances and any active warnings.

Will my phone always warn me before an earthquake?

No. An alert may arrive with little time to act, arrive after shaking begins, or not be issued. Protect yourself immediately whenever you feel shaking.

Does Canadian provincial health insurance cover emergency care in Japan?

It may cover none or only a small part of overseas medical costs. Review your provincial or territorial coverage and buy suitable travel health insurance before leaving Canada. See Canada’s travel insurance guidance.