Disasters · Shelters & help

How to find a shelter and get help in Japan

Find a nearby shelter on the official map, then check local notices to confirm it is open now. When you arrive, tell the staff you are travelling and cannot stay at your accommodation, then ask for the help you need.

Official sources checked: 2026-10-12

Where can I find a shelter?

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

What is the difference between an evacuation site and an evacuation shelter?

Designated emergency evacuation sites (指定緊急避難場所)are places to head to right away to escape danger. Check which disasters — earthquakes, tsunamis, large fires — each site is suited for.Designated evacuation shelters (指定避難所)are places to stay when you cannot be at home or in your accommodation. Do not head straight to a nearby school; first confirm it is operating as a shelter.

Open the official map. Open the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan guideand tap the ‘指定緊急避難場所’ or ‘指定避難所’ map button.
Find your area.Look up your current location or around your accommodation, and check that the site is suited to the disaster you need to avoid now.
Check that a shelter is open.Look for ‘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 directions while you travel.

Official sources: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan · Map of evacuation sites and shelters (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

If trains have stopped and you cannot get back to your hotel

Ask station staff whether there is somewhere you can stay right now. A place where people can rest temporarily in this kind of situation is called atemporary stay facility (一時滞在施設). Shinjuku City (新宿区) says it provides a place to rest, plus water, food and blankets. In other areas, ask local staff or the municipality what is open and what you can receive.

Official sources: Shinjuku City · Temporary stay facilities for people who cannot get home (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Where can I check the latest evacuation information by city?

Check the official website of the city you are visiting for evacuation guidance 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 the current opening status, so confirm a place is open before you head out.

Official disaster information links for Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo
City you are visiting	Current evacuation guidance & open shelters	Evacuation site & shelter map	Korean-language guide
Tokyo東京	Tokyo Metropolitan Government disaster map ↗ Under ‘区市町村ごとの防災情報’, open your ward or city’s ‘避難所’ (shelter) and evacuation guidance.	Tokyo official map guide ↗ Search by address or facility name, then under ‘防災施設’ choose ‘避難所’ or ‘避難場所’.	Find Tokyo’s Korean-language guide ↗ You can view the Korean guidebook under ‘韓国語版’ (Korean edition). Check currently open locations on the Tokyo disaster map.
Osaka大阪	Osaka Disaster Prevention Net ↗ On the Osaka City page, look at ‘避難情報’ (evacuation guidance) and ‘避難所情報’ (shelter information).	Osaka official map guide ↗ Follow the ‘マップナビおおさか’ link in the city office’s guide to find evacuation sites and shelters.	Find Osaka’s Korean-language guide ↗ From ‘한국・조선어 (Korean)’ you can reach the disaster prevention net and multilingual support information. If auto-translation does not work, show the original Japanese text to staff.
Fukuoka福岡	Fukuoka City emergency information ↗ Check which areas have evacuation guidance and which shelters are currently open. Outside Fukuoka City, check the notices from that area’s city office.	Fukuoka official map guide ↗ Open the ‘総合ハザードマップ’ (comprehensive hazard map) below the guide. Use the magnifying glass for ‘避難所・避難場所’ to find nearby facilities.	Find Fukuoka’s Korean-language guide ↗ The ‘韓国語’ link leads to a disaster-preparedness handbook for foreign residents. Check currently open locations in the emergency information.
Sapporo札幌	Sapporo disaster-prevention portal ↗ Under ‘表示情報 → 避難情報’, look for ‘開設中の全ての避難施設’ (all currently open shelters). You can also check shelter information in the ward-by-ward tables.	Sapporo official map guide ↗ Choose your ward to find evacuation sites. Whether the facilities in this list are open now must be checked separately on the disaster-prevention portal.	Find Sapporo’s Korean-language guide ↗ Choose ‘한글(자동 번역) (Korean, auto-translated)’. There you can find tourist disaster guidance and transport information for JR, buses and more.

For the latest status, follow the links above to the official sites. Check the announcement time and the affected areas, and if on-site staff direct you to evacuate, follow their instructions first.

If you are travelling in another city or a smaller town

Open the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan hazard map portaland select ‘わがまちハザードマップ’ to find the area you are visiting. It links to the area’s official disaster map. Check currently open shelters separately in the notices on the relevant city, ward or town office website.

Fujikawaguchiko Town (富士河口湖町)

If you are travelling in a mountainous area like Fujikawaguchiko,the town’s disaster information pageand the staff at your accommodation can help you confirm where to stay and how to get there. Even when a map shows the nearest route, it may be closed on site.

Official sources: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan · Find your area’s official hazard map (in Japanese) ↗ · Fujikawaguchiko Town · Local disaster and shelter information (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Can foreigners also get help at shelters?

Yes. Foreigners can also ask for help at shelters.When you arrive, explain your situation to the check-in staff — that you are travelling and cannot return to your hotel, or that you cannot stay at your accommodation. If there is no space or you need to go to another facility, ask where you should go.

Official sources: Yokohama City · Shelter information for foreign residents (in Japanese) ↗ · Shinjuku City · Temporary stay facilities for people who cannot get home (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

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

Tell them how many people are with you.When you check in, write down your name, accommodation and contact details. Also ask where you are supposed to stay.
If you need water or food, ask where to get them.Also check where the toilets are and whether you can get blankets. If you are injured or need medicine, say so when you check in.
If you have allergies or take regular medication, let them know.Mention it if you are pregnant or have come with young children. Also say so if you have difficulty walking or need help getting around.
If you could not understand the instructions, ask again.Ask for interpretation or translation help, and watch the notice board for new updates. If you move somewhere else, tell the staff.

Not every shelter has staff who speak your language or the medication you need. Say what you need first, then confirm what help is available there.

Official sources: Shinjuku City · Shelter living rules (in Korean) ↗ · Shinjuku City · Earthquakes and shelter information (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

If you have trouble understanding the explanations or cannot check in, ask for interpretation help.Explain your situation again to the check-in staff, or ask the JNTO visitor hotline (050-3816-2787) for help. If you feel you were treated unfairly because of your nationality, explain the situation to your local municipality’s consultation desk and to your country’s embassy or consulate.

If you cannot speak Japanese, show staff this sentence

Below, pick the sentence you need and show it to staff.

What you want to say	Show staff
I am a traveller. I cannot return to my accommodation.	旅行者です。宿泊先に戻れません。
Which shelters are open right now?	今、開いている避難所はどこですか。
May I stay here?	ここに滞在できますか。
I would like to ask for an interpreter.	通訳をお願いしたいです。
I need water.	飲み水が必要です。
I am injured. I would like medical care.	けがをしています。医療の支援が必要です。
I have lost my passport.	パスポートをなくしました。

119 · Visitor help phone numbers → · What to do if you lose your passport →

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Can foreign travellers also ask for help at shelters?

Yes. Foreigners can also ask for help at shelters. Tell the check-in staff that you are travelling and cannot stay at your accommodation. If there is no space or you need to go elsewhere, ask where you can stay.

Are all the shelters shown on the map open now?

No. Even if a shelter appears on a map, it may not be open now. Check the notice announcing that shelters are open from your local city or ward office, along with on-site guidance. You also need to distinguish between a place to escape immediate danger and a shelter for staying afterwards.

Official sources: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan · Map of evacuation sites and shelters (in Japanese) ↗ · Shinjuku City · Temporary stay facilities for people who cannot get home (in Japanese) ↗
Sources 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 are visiting. When looking at guidance for another area, confirm whether it also applies where you are.