If your guests have never felt an earthquake, a calm two-minute talk when they arrive does more for their peace of mind than any pamphlet. Japan sits on active fault lines, so small tremors are a normal part of life here, and the country is built and prepared for them. The goal of this briefing is not to worry anyone. It is to make sure that if the ground moves, everyone already knows the one simple thing to do.
What an earthquake actually feels like
Most earthquakes a visitor will feel are gentle. You might notice a soft swaying, a low rumble, or hanging objects moving slightly. Larger ones feel like standing on a boat, with the floor rolling underfoot. It can be surprising the first time, but here is the reassuring part to share with guests: the strong shaking almost always passes in a matter of seconds. It builds, it peaks, and then it eases. Knowing that it is short helps people stay calm while it happens.
The one action to remember: Drop, Cover, Hold On
Tell your guests there is really only one thing to do when shaking starts, and it has three parts:
- Drop down to the floor before the shaking knocks you down.
- Cover your head and neck, and get under a sturdy table or desk if one is nearby.
- Hold On to that table leg until the shaking stops.
If there is no table, crouch low against an interior wall away from windows and cover your head with your arms. This is the same guidance the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the Cabinet Office promote nationwide, so it is what local people will be doing too.
Do not rush outside
This is the point guests most often get wrong, so say it clearly. The instinct is to run out the door, but during shaking the greatest risk indoors is falling objects and broken glass, and rushing outside can mean tripping on stairs or being hit by things coming off buildings. Modern Japanese homes and apartments are engineered to withstand strong quakes. The safer choice is to stay put, protect your head, and wait the few seconds for the shaking to stop. Only move once it is calm.
Quick things to point out in the home
A short walk-through takes a minute and helps enormously:
- Show where the exits are, and how the front door lock works, since a jammed door is rare but easy to open if you know the latch.
- Name a simple meeting point, such as just outside the entrance or a nearby park, in case you get separated.
- Suggest keeping a pair of shoes and a phone by the bed. If a quake happens at night, shoes protect feet from anything that has fallen, and a phone gives light and information.
- Point out that heavy furniture is secured and that they should not stand directly under tall shelves.
How alerts arrive
Japan has an excellent early-warning system, and guests should know what it sounds like so it does not startle them. Seconds before strong shaking reaches an area, phones may sound a loud, distinctive alarm tone and display an on-screen alert. Televisions and public speakers can carry the same warning. It is deliberately attention-grabbing. Reassure guests that the sound is normal and simply means: take cover now. These alerts are issued through the JMA system and reach most mobile phones in Japan automatically, with no setup required.
For added confidence, guests can install a general disaster-information app that offers English support and push notifications. Many free options exist, and setting one up on arrival takes only a couple of minutes. It is a nice optional step rather than a requirement.
Keep it light
End the briefing on a calm note. The vast majority of tremors are small and pass quickly, the systems here are among the best in the world, and everyone now knows the single move that matters. That is genuinely enough for a short stay.
For a printable version of what to prepare, see our preparation checklist, and browse common visitor questions on the FAQ page.
Sources: this guidance follows public safety information from the Japan Meteorological Agency (気象庁) and the Cabinet Office disaster management office (内閣府防災). It is general information and not a substitute for official instructions during an event.