KKyoto

Earthquake alert

  • May 2, 2026

I just experienced an earthquake alert for the first time in my life. I recently moved to Kyoto, Japan, and it honestly scared me. The alarm went off, but I didn’t actually feel any shaking, so I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do (like, should I go outside or stay inside?).

It made me realize I have no idea how to react in these situations. How can you tell if it’s a real emergency or just a warning? And what are you actually supposed to do when you get an earthquake alert?

Any advice would really help 🙏

by Previous-Row6231

21 comments

  2. Head outside ,like I did ,took my brew with me and sat outside for a bit.

  3. If you’re inside, get away from anything that could fall on you, so usually under a desk, table etc… If you’re at home, hiding under your covers on your bed is usually safe. Wait for it to stop, then if needed evacuate to your neighborhood’s evacuation spot. (they’re indicated on maps in public buildings and the ones you get in your mailbox from time to time.)
    You should also make an emergency bag that you can grab quickly if shit gets too real

  5. I was also a bit spooked when I experienced my first earthquake here. 

    You can’t really know whether or not it’ll be a big one, but I’d recommend you search for Disaster Prevention Kyoto on your search engine of choice and familiarize yourself with the advisory from Kyoto City aswell as checking where evacuation locations near you are. Just in case.

  6. I am Japanese, and generally speaking, what we are taught in school and elsewhere is this: first and foremost, try not to panic; if you feel the ground shaking, take cover under a table or in a spot where furniture won’t fall on you. Once the shaking subsides, if a stove or other open flame is still burning, extinguish it immediately, and try to open windows and doors as much as possible. Although it didn’t happen this time, if a tsunami occurs, you should look for the nearest school or evacuation center on high ground or in an area with solid ground and evacuate quickly. However, since Kyoto was the capital of Japan for a long time in the past, it is inherently a disaster-resistant region, so it is unlikely that a tsunami would occur here, except in cases of flooding caused by heavy rain.

  8. After the quake ends, I confirm if we can still open the door of the house asap and keep it open for a while lest we’d get enclosed by the next bigger quake, if happens.

  9. I was at gion when it happened, never experienced the shaking before either

  10. That earthquake sure gave us a scare!
    Are you okay? Did you get hurt or are you feeling shaken up?
    Once you’ve calmed down, please take a look at this.

    Disaster Mitigation Points for Foreigners（Plain Japanese and Multilingual QR code）
    [https://www.bousai.go.jp/kyoiku/gensai/index_en.html](https://www.bousai.go.jp/kyoiku/gensai/index_en.html)

  12. Overall Kyoto area is not much active, so there is no reason to worry too much. Knowing what to do is obviously important, you mostly want to prevent anything falling on you, which might require different actions depending on the situation and magnitude.

    Buildings older than 1980 might be dangerous, anything after 1990 should be safe. There were some regulations introduced since 1980 and later.

  13. When I studied in Japan we were told “As long as the Japanese students do not panic, stay calm.”

    This helped tremendously.

  14. New Zealander here! We get some bigguns too (ring of fire life). Were taught to always get under a table/desk so nothing falls on you. Failing that option, stand in a door frame, failing a door frame in a worst case scenario, hide out in the corner of the room and cover your head with your hands. DO NOT GO OUTSIDE.
    Things can and will fall on you. Think trees, power lines, building rubble. Not only that, but the ground can break and liquefaction can occur, gas etc.

    Also tsunami stuff, unsure of Japan’s guidelines but if one is expected, head to high ground or a tsunami evacuation point

  15. You should probably always treat it as if it was a real emergency.

    Most modern buildings have safety standards so they don’t fall due to earthquakes, so being inside should be *relatively* safe, though you should be mindful of falling objects. Because of that, you should immediately hide under sturdy desks, etc., turn off fire hazards, etc.

    If you’re outside, you should also be mindful of falling objects, especially if you’re near buildings. That’s why it’s actually safer to stay inside than immediately go outside.

    If you’re near the ocean, there might be a chance of a tsunami, so you should climb up inside of a tall building.

  16. Like the others say- always treat it like an emergency. It is not very often I hear the Emergency Alert kick in (sometimes I just feel the shaking and there is no alert) so when it sounded I actually was very surprised.

    It is also good to have a to-go bag near the door. I have things like my passport, change of clothes, rope, first aid kit, toiletries, water, food, batteries, flashlight, radio, local map, and a sleeping bag all there. But I am sure others have better lists for an emergency bag. They also sell pre-made ones in home centers/AEON, etc.

    You can also look for what your evacuation center would be or the nearest one to you. Some neighborhoods will even do emergency drill practices.

  18. It was my first experience too ! I was in the train, it suddenly stopped and everyone got the notfification, I couldn’t do anything except waiting. That was scary

  19. Do some prep beforehand. Extra water and emergency food is basically a must have. Working flash lights too. Keep in mind if it’s a big enough quake and you live in a building with elevators, you may need to use the stairs for a few days. My wife also fills the bathtub with water right after an earthquake. Having extra water to flush the toilet might be necessary. If you can afford a good, big battery it’s worth the peace of mind. I have a jackery that I can charge with solar panels.

  20. It’s the perils of living in Japan! Death from  natural disaster such as Earthquakes, tsunamis or sink holes and gas leaks, explosion and  building fires can all happen after earthquakes! Also keep a watch for Mt Fuji Eruption which is around the corner! Truth bombs suck! 

  21. Was it an “emergency” alarm sent by government or some app on your phone? Apps like to send alerts even for earthquakes less than Shindo 3. High chance that unless you are in the bed at night and it’s very quiet you won’t feel Shindo 1-2 at all. Yet the app will be screaming for attention. 

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