Disasters · Heavy rain, floods, and landslides

If heavy rain falls during your Japan trip

If you are in a dangerous place, evacuate by Level 4. Do not wait until Level 5. If roads are already flooded and going outside is more dangerous, do not push yourself to reach a shelter. For floods, move inside the building to a higher part unlikely to flood; for landslides, move to a room away from slopes. Moving like this does not guarantee safety.

Official sources checked: 2026-10-12

If you are caught in heavy rain right now

If a Level 4 evacuation order (避難指示) has been issued for a dangerous area, everyone must evacuate. People who need more time to move, and those who assist them, must start moving at Level 3 (高齢者等避難). Do not wait for Level 5.
Do not enter flooded roads or underpasses. If you are underground, follow staff guidance to ground level before water enters. Move away from rivers, valleys, and steep slopes.
If roads are already flooded or going outside is more dangerous due to storms or landslides, do not try to reach a distant shelter. In your building, for floods move to a higher floor unlikely to flood; for landslides move immediately to a room away from slopes.
If you need an ambulance, firefighters, or rescue, call 119. Tell them your building name and address and what is happening. If you do not know the address, describe a nearby landmark. Answer the questions they ask by phone.

Official sources: JNTO · Who should evacuate at Level 3 (in Korean) ↗ · JNTO · Level 4 evacuation order (in Korean) ↗ · JNTO · Why you must not wait for Level 5 (in Korean) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Flood risk map and underground safety (in Japanese) ↗ · JMA Sendai Regional Office · Places to avoid in heavy rain (in Japanese) ↗ · Cabinet Office · How to evacuate and when to stay indoors (revised March 2026) (in Japanese) ↗ · Fire and Disaster Management Agency · How to call 119 and what to do if it does not connect (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Traveler support line and emergency contacts ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

How to read Japanese signs and notices

When you see the Japanese below on signs or phone alerts, check what it means. Do not look at the numbers alone — read what danger is being announced and which area or section it covers.

避難指示

Meaning This means everyone in dangerous places must evacuate.

What to do If you are in a dangerous place in the target area, evacuate. Do not wait for Level 5.

This is a Level 4 notice. Read the target area and issued time together. If roads are already flooded, do not try to cross them.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · Weather information and alert levels (in Japanese) ↗
Checked: 2026-10-12

高齢者等避難

Meaning This means people who need more time to evacuate should evacuate first.

What to do People who need more time to move, and those who assist them, should evacuate first from dangerous places. Others should also prepare to evacuate or leave early if needed.

This is a Level 3 notice. It includes not only older adults but also people with disabilities, infants, and others who need more time to move, and those who assist them.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · Weather information and alert levels (in Japanese) ↗
Checked: 2026-10-12

緊急安全確保

Meaning This means a disaster has already happened or is imminent, and you must protect yourself right now.

What to do If going outside is more dangerous, protect yourself with what you can do now, such as moving to a higher part unlikely to flood or to a room away from slopes inside the building.

Level 5 means a disaster has already happened or is imminent. Do not wait until this notice comes out — evacuate by Level 4. Moving to high ground does not guarantee safety.

Official sources: Cabinet Office · Evacuation guidelines (revised March 2026) (in Japanese) ↗
Checked: 2026-10-12

レベル４土砂災害危険警報

Meaning This is a Level 4 warning for landslide risk.

What to do If you are in a landslide risk area, check the risk map and local evacuation guidance, and evacuate immediately from dangerous places.

JMA warnings and municipal evacuation orders are separate. In landslide risk areas, evacuate early based on the risk level and surroundings even if no order has been issued yet.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · Landslide Kikikuru and evacuation (in Japanese) ↗
Checked: 2026-10-12

運転見合わせ

Meaning This means train operations are temporarily suspended.

What to do Check notices for when your line and section will resume. Ask station staff whether you can take other transport.

Even after the rain stops, services may not resume immediately due to track inspections. Do not guess at resume times or alternatives.

Official sources: JR East · Service suspensions in heavy rain and pre-resume inspections (in Japanese) ↗
Checked: 2026-10-12

洪水・内水 / 土砂災害

Meaning 洪水 is river flooding, 内水 is flooding when rainwater cannot drain and fills roads or buildings, and 土砂災害 means landslides and related disasters.

What to do Find your accommodation address on the hazard map. Select and view flood/inland-water and landslide items separately, and find evacuation sites and routes that avoid those risks.

These are the terms for the risk types you can select on the map. They do not mean water is there right now.

Official sources: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism / Geospatial Information Authority of Japan · Hazard map portal (in Japanese) ↗
Checked: 2026-10-12

Cabinet Office and Fire and Disaster Management Agency evacuation alert level chart. Distinguishes Level 3 (evacuation of older adults and others), Level 4 (evacuation order), and Level 5 (secure safety immediately). — 「避難指示」 is an evacuation order. Evacuate from dangerous places by Level 4. Levels 1–5 are action alert levels, not rainfall amounts or water depths. This chart is official guidance on what to do, not a currently issued warning.
Credit: Cabinet Office (Disaster Management) / Fire and Disaster Management Agency · PDL1.0 · Used unchanged · Terms of use
Sources and terms checked: 2026-10-12

If heavy rain is forecast, what should I know before traveling?

First check whether your accommodation and places to visit are at risk of flooding or landslides. Find the address on a hazard map showing risk areas, and decide where to evacuate and how to get there.

On days when heavy rain is expected, it is better to remove riverside walks or valley/mountain road visits from your plans. If you plan to move accommodation, check before the rain strengthens whether the new place is in a danger zone, and whether the route has flood or landslide risk, on maps and local guidance.

Find your accommodation and visit addresses on the official map. View river flooding (洪水), inland flooding from poor drainage (内水), and landslides (土砂災害) separately.
Check whether your planned evacuation site can be used for floods vs. landslides. Also check whether the route there passes rivers, slopes, or underpasses. A shelter marked on the map may not be open now.
Before departure and before going out, find your area name and issued time in JMA warnings. Ask accommodation staff where to get evacuation guidance, and save your accommodation's Japanese address and contact in your phone.

Official sources: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism / Geospatial Information Authority of Japan · Flood and landslide risk maps (in Japanese) ↗ · Geospatial Information Authority of Japan · Evacuation sites and shelters by disaster type (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Landslide risk map and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · What weather warnings mean (in Korean) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

At what level should I evacuate?

In dangerous places, evacuate by Level 4. People who need more time to move should start at Level 3. Do not wait until a Level 5 special warning or secure-safety notice comes out.

Local evacuation orders and JMA warnings are different notices. If the JMA has issued Level 3 or 4-equivalent warnings, check Kikikuru, which shows growing danger by color. If landslide risk areas are shown in red, people who need more time to move must start evacuating by then at the latest. If purple, others must also leave dangerous places immediately. Do not wait for the map to turn black.

Levels 1–2 · Know your evacuation site and route

At Level 1, watch the latest weather information. At Level 2, find your location on the risk-area map and re-check where to evacuate and how to get there.

Level 3 · If you need more time to move, evacuate early

Older adults, people with disabilities, infants, and others who need more time to move — and those who assist them — must evacuate early from dangerous places. Others should also cut non-urgent outings and prepare to evacuate. If needed, evacuate before level 4.

Level 4 · Everyone in dangerous places evacuates

Everyone in dangerous places covered by an evacuation order must evacuate. If the JMA has already issued Level 4-equivalent information, do not wait for the local order. Check the risk map and your surroundings, and leave dangerous places.

Level 5 · Protect yourself where you are

A disaster has already happened or is imminent. It may be hard to evacuate far, so protect yourself where you are with what you can do. Level 5 notices may not always be issued. Do not wait for them.

See what to do for each JMA warning ↗

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · What to do for each warning (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Who should evacuate at Level 3 (in Korean) ↗ · JNTO · Level 4 evacuation order (in Korean) ↗ · JNTO · Why you must not wait for Level 5 (in Korean) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Landslide risk map and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

If you are caught in heavy rain outside, what places should you avoid?

Do not enter flooded roads or underpasses; move away from rivers, valleys, and steep slopes. If you are underground, follow staff guidance to ground level before water enters.

Do not cross flooded roads

Do not enter on foot or by car. On flooded roads, drains, open manholes, and collapsed road edges may be invisible. Even if the water looks shallow, do not try to pass through.

Do not go underground to escape the rain

Underground areas and underpasses can flood faster than surroundings. If there is flood risk, do not enter. If you are already underground, follow staff guidance to ground level before water enters.

Move away from rivers and slopes

Do not go close to see how swollen the river is. In landslide risk areas near steep slopes and valleys, do not stay inside buildings — evacuate early out of the risk area.

Why underground areas are dangerous · JMA ↗

Official sources: JMA Sendai Regional Office · Places to avoid in heavy rain (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Flood risk map and underground safety (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Landslide risk map and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗ · Cabinet Office · How to evacuate and when to stay indoors (revised March 2026) (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

If going outside is already more dangerous, what should I do?

If roads are already flooded or going outside is more dangerous due to landslides or storms, do not push yourself to go out. For floods, move inside the building to a higher part unlikely to flood; for landslides, move immediately to a room farther from slopes.

This is action to reduce danger when evacuating outside has become difficult. Water may reach upper floors, or sediment may enter rooms away from slopes. Moving inside the building does not make you safe, so evacuate out of risk areas before it comes to this.

To stay in your accommodation from the start when flooding is forecast, check three things in advance: whether you are outside zones expected to collapse or wash away, whether your room is above the expected flood height, and whether you can stay until the water recedes. Ask your accommodation and local government. Secure enough water, food, and medicine, and be able to endure without electricity, water, or toilets.

Do not stay just because you are on the 2nd floor or higher. If water is expected above your room or the building may collapse or wash away, staying inside is still dangerous. If there is landslide risk, do not assume you can stay even if you meet the three flood conditions. Evacuate out of risk areas early.

Do not return to flooded roads or dangerous buildings for your luggage. If you need rescue, call 119 from where you are.

Cabinet Office · Indoor evacuation vs. emergency action (Japanese PDF) ↗

Official sources: Cabinet Office · How to evacuate and when to stay indoors (revised March 2026) (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · When to evacuate outside the building in floods (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Landslide risk map and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗ · Fire and Disaster Management Agency · How to call 119 and what to do if it does not connect (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Traveler support line and emergency contacts ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Can I just go to a nearby shelter?

Do not choose just because it is close. Check whether it can be used for floods or landslides, whether it is open now, and whether you can get there.

On the official map or local shelter list, check whether each site can be used for floods (洪水), landslides (崖崩れ・土石流・地滑り), or inland flooding (内水氾濫). Do not assume a place you used for earthquakes can be used for floods.
In local shelter-opening notices, find the facility name, your area, and issued time. You must also check whether the facility is open now. Evacuation sites for immediate danger and shelters for staying afterward serve different roles.
If staff direct you elsewhere, ask where to go and which route you can take. If the route is already flooded, do not try to cross it. Protect yourself with actions possible on the spot, such as moving to a high place in the building where water is unlikely to reach.

Official sources: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan · Evacuation sites and shelters by disaster type (in Japanese) ↗ · Cabinet Office · How to evacuate and when to stay indoors (revised March 2026) (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Level 4 evacuation order (in Korean) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

When the rain weakens, can I return to my accommodation or continue traveling?

Do not head straight for your accommodation or the station when the rain weakens. First check whether evacuation guidance remains and whether your return route is blocked. Check whether you can enter your accommodation and whether your trains and buses are running.

Even if rain weakens where you are, flood risk may grow later from heavy rain upstream. Trains may stay stopped until track and slope inspections finish after the rain stops. Do not assume the danger is gone or transport has resumed just because the rain stopped.

First check whether evacuation guidance or warnings remain for your area and destination, and whether roads are closed. If your return route is flooded or landslide risk remains, do not rush to move.
Call your hotel to ask whether you can enter your room and whether routes to the hotel are closed. If you cannot stay at your accommodation, tell shelter staff you are traveling and have nowhere to stay.
If you plan to return home, check your booked flight and the trains/buses to the airport separately. Find your line and section in the operator's official notices, and check when the notice was issued. If there is no notice that operations have resumed, it is better not to rush to the station or airport.
If you need to change or cancel bookings, ask your airline, accommodation, and seller how to apply and whether there are fees. A disaster does not make every booking free to cancel or guarantee another accommodation.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · Linear rainbands and flood risk (in Japanese) ↗ · JR East · Why trains stop in heavy rain and pre-resume inspections (in Japanese) ↗ · JR East · Train operation and suspension notices (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Disaster and transport official notices ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Who do I contact if I am hurt or need help?

If you need an ambulance, firefighters, or rescue, call 119. If the disaster has caused travel difficulties and you would like to consult in English, call the JNTO traveler support line at 050-3816-2787.

Tell 119 your building name and address and what is happening. If you do not know the address, describe a nearby landmark or intersection. Answer the questions they ask by phone. If it does not connect, ask nearby staff or people to call for you. Do not cross flooded roads to find a place to call.

JNTO offers consultation every day, 24 hours, in Korean, English, and Chinese. From outside Japan, call +81-50-3816-2787. If urgent rescue is needed, call 119 before JNTO.

When you arrive at a shelter, tell staff you are traveling and cannot stay at your accommodation, and ask for the help you need. If you ran out of medicine or need to consult a doctor, tell them that too. Ask on site whether you can receive medicine or supplies, request interpretation, or whether there is space to stay.

Official sources: Fire and Disaster Management Agency · How to call 119 and what to do if it does not connect (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Traveler support line and emergency contacts ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Related guides

FAQ

Can I start evacuating when a Level 5 special warning comes out?

Do not wait until Level 5. In dangerous places, evacuate by Level 4; people who need more time to move should start at Level 3. Level 5 means a disaster has already happened or is imminent. Local governments may not be able to issue this notice, so do not wait for the announcement.

Official sources: JNTO · Who should evacuate at Level 3 (in Korean) ↗ · JNTO · Why you must not wait for Level 5 (in Korean) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

There is no evacuation order yet, but Kikikuru is purple — what should I do?

If you are in a risk area, do not wait for an evacuation order. Purple corresponds to Level 4. In landslide risk areas, start evacuating from dangerous places immediately. If roads are already flooded and going outside is more dangerous, do not push yourself to move — protect yourself where you are with what you can do.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · What to do for each warning (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Landslide risk map and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Can I stay on the 2nd floor of my hotel during floods?

You cannot stay just because you are on the 2nd floor. Check in advance whether you are outside zones where buildings may collapse or wash away, whether your room is above the expected flood height, and whether you can stay until the water recedes. You need enough water, food, and medicine, and must endure without electricity, water, or toilets. If there is landslide risk, do not assume you can stay even if you meet these flood conditions.

What if the road to the shelter is already flooded?

Do not cross flooded roads on foot or by car. If going outside is more dangerous, move inside your building to a higher part unlikely to flood. If you need rescue, call 119. Moving to a higher floor does not make you safe.

Official sources: Cabinet Office · How to evacuate and when to stay indoors (revised March 2026) (in Japanese) ↗ · JMA Sendai Regional Office · Places to avoid in heavy rain (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Traveler support line and emergency contacts ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Can I use the earthquake evacuation site for floods too?

First check on the official map and local guidance whether that site can be used for floods. Evacuation sites are designated separately by disaster type. An earthquake site may not work for floods or landslides. You must also check separately whether it is open now and whether the route there is safe.

Why are trains still stopped even though the rain stopped?

Even after the rain stops, rainwater remains underground and slopes may collapse, and tracks and facilities must be inspected before trains resume. JR East says these inspections can take time. Check in the operator's latest guidance whether the line you will take is running again and how far it goes.

Official sources: JR East · Why trains stop in heavy rain and pre-resume inspections (in Japanese) ↗ · JR East · Train operation and suspension notices (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Can I get a free refund if I cancel travel due to heavy rain?

Heavy rain does not make every booking free to refund. Ask your airline, accommodation, and seller whether changing or canceling this booking costs a fee and where to apply. If you need to evacuate, do not delay evacuating to ask about cancellation.

Official sources: JNTO · Disaster and transport official notices ↗ · JNTO · Level 4 evacuation order (in Korean) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Official sources for this guide

Check local notices for current warnings and access restrictions. For whether trains and flights are running, see the transport operators' latest notices.