Earthquake preparedness in Tokyo: what to do when you have just moved in
Updated on
Preparing for earthquakes is part of life in Tokyo. For a newcomer, three things matter from the first week: install the right alert apps, check your home and build up supplies. Here is how to do it, with the official recommendations.
Install the alert apps
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government disaster prevention app: free, available in English, Chinese, Korean and simplified Japanese. It sends alerts for 10 areas of your choice and includes a disaster prevention map.
- Safety Tips, from the Japan Tourism Agency: alerts in 15 languages.
Source: Nippon.com, Japan Data.
While you settle in, find your evacuation site near your home, your workplace and your children's school.
Check your home: the 1981 date
The current earthquake standard (shin-taishin) applies to building permits issued since 1 June 1981. The permit date is what counts, not the completion date: a building finished in 1982 may fall under the old standard. The rules were tightened in 2000 for wooden houses (Plaza Homes).
The difference is measurable. During the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, 28.2% of wooden houses built before 1981 collapsed, compared with 8.7% of those built from 1981 to 2000 and 2.2% of those built after 2000. These figures come from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, as cited by Plaza Homes.
Three construction methods exist side by side:
| Type | How it works |
|---|---|
| Taishin (earthquake-resistant) | The structure itself withstands the shaking, which is still strongly felt. |
| Seishin (damped) | Dampers absorb part of the energy and reduce swaying. |
| Menshin (isolated) | Isolators, often under the building, limit the ground movement passed on to it. |
When you rent, ask for the date of the building permit. Read more in our guide to renting in Tokyo and, if you plan to buy, in our guide to buying property in Japan.
Build up your supplies
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government recommends keeping at least three days of supplies, while keeping a week or more in mind (Tokyo Stockpile).
- Everyday stockpiling: always keep a little more of the food and products you already use, and replace them as you use them.
- Equipment: torches, a rechargeable radio and a portable gas stove. Check regularly that they work.
- Quantities: they depend on your household and your home. The online tool Tokyo Stockpile Navi works out a list for you in three questions.
A well-prepared first week
These steps take little time if you do them as soon as you arrive. When you move in, Kizuna Relo helps you set up the alert apps and find your evacuation site, alongside our home search and concierge service. Every arrival step is in our guide to moving to Tokyo.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Nippon.com, Japan Data: alert apps
- Plaza Homes, 1 October 2026: earthquake standards and types of structure
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Stockpile: supplies
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