Disasters · Shelters and help

How to find a shelter and get help in Japan

Find a nearby shelter on the official map, then check local notices for whether it's open now. When you arrive, tell staff "I'm travelling and can't stay at my accommodation," and ask for the help you need.

Official sources checked: 2026-10-12

Where do I find a shelter?

Find a nearby shelter on the official map, then check local notices for whether it's open now.If you have no internet, ask hotel or station staff. Not every shelter shown on the map is open.

What's the difference between an evacuation site and a shelter?

A designated emergency evacuation site (指定緊急避難場所)is where you go to escape immediate danger. Check which disasters — earthquake, tsunami, major fire — each site covers. A designated shelter (指定避難所)is where you stay when you can't stay at home or your accommodation. Don't head to a nearby school just because it's close — check first whether it's operating as a shelter.

Open the official map. Open the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan guidance and tap the '指定緊急避難場所' (designated emergency evacuation sites) or '指定避難所' (designated shelters) map button.
Find the area you're in.Look around your current location or accommodation, and check that the site suits the disaster you need to avoid right now.
Check whether the shelter is open.Check '避難所開設情報' (shelter opening information) on the official website of the local city or ward office.
Ask about the route too.Ask hotel or station staff where to go and whether any roads are closed. Follow on-site guidance while you move.

Official sources: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan: evacuation site and shelter map ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

If trains have stopped and you can't get back to your hotel

Ask station staff, "Is there somewhere I can stay right now?" A place where you can rest temporarily in this kind of situation is called a temporary stay facility (一時滞在施設). Shinjuku City · 新宿区 says it provides a place to rest, plus water, food, blankets and more. In other areas, check with local staff or the municipality about what's open and what you can receive.

Official sources: Shinjuku City: temporary shelters for people unable to get home (in Japanese) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

Where do I check the latest evacuation information by city?

Check the official website of the city you're travelling in for evacuation notices and currently open shelters.Find your city in the table below to jump straight there. A map that only shows facility locations is different from current opening status, so check that somewhere is open before you go.

Quick links to official disaster information for Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo
City you're travelling in	Current evacuation notices and open shelters	Evacuation site and shelter map	Guidance in Korean
Tokyo東京	Tokyo Metropolitan Government disaster prevention map ↗ Under '区市町村ごとの防災情報' (disaster information by ward, city, town and village), look at '避難所' (shelters) and the evacuation notices for the ward or city you're in.	Tokyo official map guidance ↗ Find the location by address or facility name, then under '防災施設' (disaster prevention facilities) select '避難所' (shelter) or '避難場所' (evacuation site).	Find Tokyo guidance in Korean ↗ Under '韓国語版' (Korean version), you can read the Korean guidebook. For what's open right now, check the Tokyo Metropolitan Government disaster prevention map.
Osaka大阪	Osaka disaster prevention network ↗ On the Osaka City page, look at '避難情報' (evacuation information) and '避難所情報' (shelter information).	Osaka official map guidance ↗ Follow the 'マップナビおおさか' (Map Navi Osaka) link in the city guidance to find evacuation sites and shelters.	Find Osaka guidance in Korean ↗ From '한국・조선어' (the Korean-language menu), you can reach the disaster prevention network and multilingual support guidance. If auto-translation doesn't work, show staff the Japanese original.
Fukuoka福岡	Fukuoka City emergency information ↗ Check which areas have evacuation notices and which shelters are currently open. Outside Fukuoka City, look at the notices from the municipality for that area.	Fukuoka official map guidance ↗ Open '総合ハザードマップ' (general hazard map) below the guidance. Use the magnifier on '避難所・避難場所' (shelters and evacuation sites) to find nearby facilities.	Find Fukuoka guidance in Korean ↗ From the '韓国語' (Korean) link, you can read the disaster prevention handbook for foreign nationals. For what's open right now, check the emergency information.
Sapporo札幌	Sapporo disaster prevention portal ↗ Go to '表示情報 → 避難情報' (display information → evacuation information) and look at '開設中の全ての避難施設' (all shelters currently open). You can also check shelter information in the ward-by-ward table.	Sapporo official map guidance ↗ Select the ward you're in to find evacuation sites. For whether the facilities in this list are currently open, check the disaster prevention portal separately.	Find Sapporo guidance in Korean ↗ Choose '한글(자동 번역)' (Korean (auto-translated)). You can find tourist disaster guidance and JR/bus transport information.

Official sources: Tokyo Metropolitan Government: shelter opening status and disaster prevention map (in Japanese) ↗ · Tokyo Metropolitan Government: finding the Korean disaster prevention guidebook ↗ · Osaka disaster prevention network: Osaka City evacuation and shelter information (in Japanese) ↗ · Osaka City: evacuation sites, shelters and official map guidance (in Japanese) ↗ · Osaka City: disaster guidance in Korean and other languages ↗ · Fukuoka City: current evacuation notices and open shelters (in Japanese) ↗ · Fukuoka City: general hazard map guidance (in Japanese) ↗ · Fukuoka City: finding the Korean disaster prevention handbook for foreign nationals ↗ · Sapporo City: disaster prevention portal and shelter opening information (in Japanese) ↗ · Sapporo City: evacuation sites by ward (in Japanese) ↗ · Sapporo City: tourist disaster and transport guidance (in Korean) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

For the latest status, follow the links above to the official websites. Check when notices were issued and which areas they cover, and if you're told to evacuate on site, follow those instructions first.

If you're travelling in another city or a small town

Open the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan hazard map portal and select 'わがまちハザードマップ' (my town hazard map) and find the area you're travelling in. It links to the area's official disaster map. For currently open shelters, check the notices on the relevant city, ward or town website separately.

Fujikawaguchiko Town · 富士河口湖町

If you're travelling in a mountainous area like Fujikawaguchiko, check the town's disaster prevention guidance and ask your accommodation staff where to stay and how to get there. Even if the map shows a short route, it may be closed on the ground.

Official sources: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan: finding official local hazard maps (in Japanese) ↗ · Fujikawaguchiko Town: local disaster prevention and shelter guidance (in Japanese) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

Can foreign visitors get help at shelters too?

Yes. Foreign visitors can ask for help at shelters too.When you arrive, explain your situation to the registration staff: "I'm travelling and can't get back to my hotel" or "I can't stay at my accommodation." If there's no space or you need to go to another facility, ask where you should go.

Official sources: Yokohama City: shelter guidance for foreign nationals (in Japanese) ↗ · Shinjuku City: temporary shelters for people unable to get home (in Japanese) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

What should I say first when I arrive at a shelter?

Tell them how many people you're with.When registering, write down your name, accommodation and contact details. Also ask where you should stay.
If you need water or food, ask where to get it.Check where the toilets are and whether you can get a blanket. If you're hurt or need medication, say so at registration straight away.
Tell them about any allergies or medication you take.Also mention it if you're pregnant or here with small children. Tell them too if walking is difficult or you need help getting around.
If you can't understand the guidance, ask again.Ask for interpreting or translation help, and check the noticeboard for new guidance. Tell staff if you move somewhere else.

Not every shelter has staff who can speak the language you need, or the medication you need. Say what you need first, and check what help you can get there.

Official sources: Shinjuku City: shelter rules of conduct (in Korean) ↗ · Shinjuku City: earthquakes and shelter guidance (in Japanese) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

If explanations are hard to follow or registration isn't working, ask for interpreting help.Explain your situation again to the staff in charge of registration, or ask JNTO for support (050-3816-2787) for help. If you feel you've been treated unfairly because of your nationality, explain the situation to the local government's consultation desk and your country's embassy or consulate.

If speaking Japanese is difficult, show staff these phrases

Pick the phrase you need below and show it to staff.

What you want to say	Show this to staff
I'm a traveller. I can't get back to my accommodation.	旅行者です。宿泊先に戻れません。
Which shelter is open right now?	今、開いている避難所はどこですか。
Can I stay here?	ここに滞在できますか。
I'd like an interpreter, please.	通訳をお願いしたいです。
I need drinking water.	飲み水が必要です。
I'm hurt. I'd like medical treatment.	けがをしています。医療の支援が必要です。
I've lost my passport.	パスポートをなくしました。

119 and the JNTO help hotline → · What to do if you lose your passport →

Also useful to know

Frequently asked questions

Can foreign travellers ask for help at shelters too?

Yes. Foreign visitors can ask for help at shelters too. Tell the registration staff, "I'm travelling and can't stay at my accommodation." If there's no space or you need to go somewhere else, ask where you can stay.

Are all the shelters shown on the map open right now?

No. Being on the map doesn't mean a shelter is open right now. Check the notices from the local city or ward office about which shelters are open, and the on-site guidance. You also need to tell apart evacuation sites for escaping immediate danger and shelters for staying afterwards.

Official sources: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan: evacuation site and shelter map ↗ · Shinjuku City: temporary shelters for people unable to get home (in Japanese) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

Official sources for this guide

This guide is based on the official sources below. For current earthquake information, open shelters and transport, check the latest notices for the area you're travelling in. When reading guidance for other areas, check whether it applies where you are.