Disasters · Heavy rain, flooding & landslides

What to Do If Heavy Rain Hits During Your Japan Trip

If you're in a dangerous area, evacuate by alert level 4. Don't wait for level 5. If streets are already flooded and going outside is more dangerous, don't push your way to a distant shelter. For flooding, move inside your building to a higher spot unlikely to flood; for landslides, move to a room far from slopes. Moving like this doesn't guarantee your safety.

Official sources checked: 2026-10-12

If you're caught in heavy rain right now

Everyone in a dangerous area under a level 4 evacuation order (避難指示) must evacuate. People who need extra time to move, and those assisting them, should start earlier — at level 3, evacuation of the elderly and others (高齢者等避難). Don't wait for level 5.
Don't enter flooded streets or underpasses. If you're underground, follow staff guidance and get above ground before water comes in. Stay away from rivers, valleys, and steep slopes.
If streets are already flooded, or storms or landslides make going outside more dangerous, don't push yourself to reach a faraway shelter. Inside your current building, move right away to a higher spot unlikely to flood for flooding, or to a room far from slopes for landslides.
Call 119 if you need an ambulance, fire, or rescue services. Give the name and address of the building you're in and describe your situation. If you don't know the address, describe something locatable like a large nearby building, and answer the dispatcher's questions.

Official sources: JNTO · Who should evacuate at alert level 3 (in Korean) ↗ · JNTO · Alert level 4 evacuation orders (in Korean) ↗ · JNTO · Why you must not wait for alert level 5 (in Korean) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Inundation risk maps and underground safety (in Japanese) ↗ · JMA Sendai Regional Headquarters · Places to avoid during heavy rain (in Japanese) ↗ · Cabinet Office of Japan · How to evacuate and when staying indoors is allowed (revised March 2026) (in Japanese) ↗ · Fire and Disaster Management Agency · How to call 119 and what to do if you can't get through (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Tourist support hotline and emergency contacts (in English) ↗
Source 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. Don't look at the numbers alone — read what danger it warns of and which areas or sections it applies to.

避難指示

Meaning Everyone in a dangerous place must evacuate.

Do this If you're in the dangerous area covered by the notice, everyone must evacuate. Don't wait for level 5.

This is a level 4 notice. Read it together with the affected areas and the issued time. If streets are already flooded, don't 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 People who need extra time to evacuate should leave first.

Do this People who need extra time to move, and those assisting them, should evacuate from dangerous places first. Others should prepare to evacuate or leave early if needed.

This is a level 3 notice. It covers not only older adults but also people with disabilities, infants and small children — anyone who needs extra time to move — and those assisting them.

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

緊急安全確保

Meaning A disaster has already occurred or is imminent — protect yourself right now.

Do this If going outside is already more dangerous, protect yourself with what you can do now — move inside the building to a higher spot unlikely to flood, or to a room far from slopes.

Level 5 means a disaster has already occurred or is imminent. Don't wait for this notice — evacuate by level 4. Moving to high ground doesn't guarantee safety.

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

レベル４土砂災害危険警報

Meaning A level 4 warning for landslide risk.

Do this If you're in a landslide risk area, check the risk map and local evacuation guidance, and leave the dangerous place right away.

JMA warnings and municipal evacuation orders are separate. In landslide risk areas, watch the risk level and surroundings and evacuate early even before an order is issued.

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

運転見合わせ

Meaning Train service is temporarily suspended.

Do this Check notices for when your line and section will resume. Ask station staff whether other transportation is available.

Even after the rain stops, service may not resume right away while tracks are inspected. Don't guess at resumption times or alternatives.

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

洪水・内水 / 土砂災害

Meaning 洪水 means river flooding, 内水 means inundation where rainwater can't drain and floods streets and buildings, and 土砂災害 means landslides and related hazards.

Do this Find your lodging's address on the hazard map. Select the flooding/inundation and landslide items separately, and find evacuation sites away from each risk and routes to them.

These words mark the risk types you can select on the map. They don't mean the area is flooded right now.

Official sources: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism & GSI · Hazard map portal (in Japanese) ↗
Checked: 2026-10-12

Evacuation alert-level chart from the Cabinet Office and Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Distinguishes level 3 evacuation of the elderly and others, level 4 evacuation orders, and level 5 emergency safety measures. — "避難指示" means evacuation order. In dangerous places, you must evacuate by level 4. The numbers 1–5 are alert levels that distinguish actions — not rainfall amounts or water depth. This is official action guidance, not a currently issued warning.
Source: Cabinet Office of Japan (Disaster Management) & Fire and Disaster Management Agency · PDL1.0 · Used unmodified · Terms of use
Source & terms checked: 2026-10-12

What should I know before traveling if heavy rain is forecast?

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

On days heavy rain is expected, it's better to drop riverside walks and visits to valleys or mountain trails from your plans. If you plan to change lodging, check maps and local guidance before the rain intensifies to see whether the new lodging is in a risk area and whether your route there has flood or landslide risk.

Find your lodging's and destinations' addresses on the official map. Check river flooding and inundation from undrained rainwater (洪水・内水) separately from landslides (土砂災害) to see what risks exist.
Check whether the place you plan to evacuate to can be used for flooding versus landslides. Also check whether your route passes rivers, slopes, or underpasses. Shelters shown on maps aren't all open that day.
Before departing and before going out, look up your destination's name and the issued time in JMA warnings. Ask your lodging's staff where to get evacuation guidance, and save your lodging's Japanese address and contact information on your phone.

Official sources: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism & GSI · 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 maps and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · What weather warnings mean (in Korean) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

At which level should I evacuate?

In dangerous places, you must evacuate by alert level 4. If you need extra time to move, start at level 3. Don't wait for a level 5 special warning or emergency safety notice.

Local evacuation orders and JMA warnings are separate notices. If JMA has issued a level 3 or 4 warning, also check the Kikikuru (キキクル) map, which colors areas by growing risk. When a landslide risk area shows red, people who need extra time to move must start evacuating by then at the latest. If it shows purple, everyone else must leave the dangerous area immediately. Don't wait for black.

Levels 1–2 · Know where to evacuate and how to get there

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 extra time to move, evacuate first

Older adults, people with disabilities, infants and small children — anyone who needs extra time to move — and those assisting them must evacuate from dangerous places first. Others should limit unnecessary outings and prepare to evacuate. Evacuate before level 4 if needed.

Level 4 · Everyone in a dangerous place must evacuate

Everyone in a dangerous area under an evacuation order must evacuate. If JMA issued level-4-equivalent information first, don't wait for the local evacuation order. Check the risk map and surroundings and get out of the dangerous place.

Level 5 · Protect yourself where you are

A disaster has already occurred or is imminent. Evacuating far may be difficult, so protect yourself where you are with whatever you can do. A level 5 notice may never be issued. Don't wait for it.

See what to do for each JMA warning level ↗

What should I avoid if I'm caught in heavy rain outside?

Don't enter flooded streets or underpasses, and stay away from rivers, valleys, and steep slopes. If you're underground, follow staff guidance and get above ground before water comes in.

Don't cross flooded streets

Don't enter on foot or by car. On flooded roads, drainage channels, open manholes, and crumbling road edges may be invisible. Don't try to pass through even if the water looks shallow.

Don't go underground to escape the rain

Underground areas and underpasses can fill with water faster than the surroundings. If there's inundation risk, don't go in. If you're already underground, follow staff guidance and get above ground before water comes in.

Stay away from rivers and slopes

Don't go close to see how high the river has risen. Around steep slopes and valleys in landslide risk areas, don't stay inside buildings — evacuate out of the risk area early.

See why underground areas and underpasses are dangerous (JMA) ↗

Official sources: JMA Sendai Regional Headquarters · Places to avoid during heavy rain (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Inundation risk maps and underground safety (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Landslide risk maps and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗ · Cabinet Office of Japan · How to evacuate and when staying indoors is allowed (revised March 2026) (in Japanese) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

What if going outside is already more dangerous?

If streets are already flooded, or landslides or storms make going outside more dangerous, don't push yourself to go out. For flooding, move right away inside the building to a higher spot unlikely to flood; for landslides, to a room even a little farther from slopes.

This is action to reduce risk when evacuating outside has become difficult. Upper floors can flood, and sediment can reach rooms far from slopes. Moving inside the building doesn't make you safe, so evacuate out of the risk area before it comes to this.

To stay in your lodging from the start when flooding is forecast, check three things in advance. Ask your lodging and the municipality whether the building is outside zones expected to collapse or be swept away, whether your room is above the expected inundation height, and whether you can stay until the water recedes. Stock up on water, food, and medication, and be ready to go without electricity, running water, or toilets.

Don't stay just because you're on the second floor or higher. If water is expected to rise above your room, or the building risks collapsing or being swept away, staying inside is dangerous. If there's landslide risk, don't assume you can stay even if you meet all three flood conditions. Evacuate out of the risk area early.

Don't go back into flooded streets or dangerous buildings for your luggage. If you need rescue, call 119 from where you are.

See the Cabinet Office on indoor evacuation vs. emergency action (Japanese PDF) ↗

Official sources: Cabinet Office of Japan · How to evacuate and when staying indoors is allowed (revised March 2026) (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · When to evacuate outside during floods (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Landslide risk maps and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗ · Fire and Disaster Management Agency · How to call 119 and what to do if you can't get through (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Tourist support hotline and emergency contacts (in English) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

Can I just go to the nearest shelter?

Don't choose one just because it's close. Check whether it can be used for floods or landslides, whether it's open now, and whether you can get there.

On the official map or local shelter list, check whether each site can be used for river flooding (洪水), landslides (崖崩れ・土石流・地滑り), or inundation from undrained rainwater (内水氾濫). Don't assume a place you used for earthquakes works for floods too.
In local shelter-opening notices, find the facility name, your area, and the issued time. Confirm the facility is open now. Evacuation sites for escaping immediate danger and shelters for staying afterward serve different roles.
If staff direct you elsewhere, ask where to go and which route is passable. If your route is already flooded, don't push through it. Protect yourself where you are — for example, by moving inside the building to a higher spot unlikely to flood.

Official sources: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan · Evacuation sites and shelters by disaster type (in Japanese) ↗ · Cabinet Office of Japan · How to evacuate and when staying indoors is allowed (revised March 2026) (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Alert level 4 evacuation orders (in Korean) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

Can I return to my lodging or keep traveling once the rain eases?

Don't head straight for your lodging or the station once the rain eases. First check whether evacuation guidance is still in effect and whether your route back is blocked. Separately confirm whether you can enter your lodging and whether your trains or buses are running.

Even if the rain eases where you are, heavy rain upstream can raise flood risk later. Trains may stay stopped after the rain until track and slope inspections finish. Don't assume the danger is gone or that transportation is running just because the rain stopped.

First check whether evacuation guidance or warnings remain in your area and your destination, and whether roads are closed. If your route back is flooded or landslide risk remains, don't rush to move.
Call your hotel to ask whether you can enter your room and whether the road to the hotel is restricted. If you can't stay at your lodging, tell shelter staff you're traveling and have nowhere to stay.
If you plan to return home, check your booked flight and the trains or buses to the airport separately. Find your line and section in each operator's official notices and check when the information was issued. Without a resumption notice, it's better not to rush to the station or airport.
If you need to change or cancel bookings, ask your airline, lodging, or seller how to apply and whether there are fees. A disaster doesn't mean every booking is canceled for free or that you'll be given another place to stay.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · Linear rainbands and flood risk (in Japanese) ↗ · JR East · Why trains stop in heavy rain and pre-resumption inspections (in Japanese) ↗ · JR East · Train operation & suspension notices (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Official disaster & transportation guidance (in English) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

Who do I contact if I'm hurt or need help?

Call 119 if you need an ambulance, fire, or rescue services. If travel troubles from the disaster leave you needing help, you can call the JNTO tourist support line at 050-3816-2787.

Tell 119 the name and address of the building you're in and your situation. If you don't know the address, describe something locatable like a large nearby building or intersection, and answer the dispatcher's questions. If you can't get through, ask nearby staff or people to call for you. Don't cross flooded streets to find a place to call.

JNTO offers help in Korean, English, and Chinese, 24 hours a day, every day. From outside Japan, call +81-50-3816-2787. If you need urgent rescue, call 119 first, not JNTO.

When you arrive at a shelter, tell staff you're traveling and can't stay at your lodging, and ask for the help you need. If you've run out of medication or need to consult a doctor, explain that too. Ask on-site whether you can receive medication or supplies, request an interpreter, and whether there's space to stay.

Official sources: Fire and Disaster Management Agency · How to call 119 and what to do if you can't get through (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Tourist support hotline and emergency contacts (in English) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Can I start evacuating when a level 5 special warning is issued?

Don't wait for level 5. In dangerous places, evacuate by level 4; if you need extra time to move, start at level 3. Level 5 means a disaster has already occurred or is imminent. Municipalities may be unable to issue this notice, so don't wait for the announcement.

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

There's no evacuation order yet, but Kikikuru shows purple — what should I do?

If you're in a risk area, don't wait for an evacuation order. Purple corresponds to alert level 4. In landslide risk areas, start evacuating from the dangerous place immediately. If streets are already flooded and going outside is more dangerous, don't push yourself to move — protect yourself where you are with what you can do.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · What to do at each warning level (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Landslide risk maps and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

Can I stay put during a flood if I'm on the hotel's second floor?

Being on the second floor alone isn't enough. Check in advance whether the building is outside zones expected to collapse or be swept away, whether your room is above the expected inundation height, and whether you can stay until the water recedes. You need enough water, food, and medication, and must be able to cope without electricity, running water, or toilets. If there's landslide risk, don't assume you can stay even if you meet these flood conditions.

What if the road to the shelter is already flooded?

Don't cross flooded streets on foot or by car. If going outside is more dangerous, move inside your current building to a higher spot unlikely to flood. If you need rescue, call 119. Moving to a higher floor doesn't guarantee safety.

Official sources: Cabinet Office of Japan · How to evacuate and when staying indoors is allowed (revised March 2026) (in Japanese) ↗ · JMA Sendai Regional Headquarters · Places to avoid during heavy rain (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Tourist support hotline and emergency contacts (in English) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

Can I use my earthquake evacuation site for floods too?

First check the official map and local guidance for whether the site can be used for floods. Evacuation sites are designated separately by disaster type. Don't assume an earthquake site works for floods or landslides. Separately check whether it's open now and whether your route there is safe.

Why are trains still stopped even though the rain has stopped?

Rainwater remaining in the ground can still trigger landslides, and tracks and facilities must be inspected before trains resume. JR East says these inspections can take time. Check each operator's latest notices for whether your line is running and which sections are covered.

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

Can I get a free refund if heavy rain forces me to cancel my trip?

Heavy rain doesn't mean every booking is refunded for free. Ask your airline, lodging, or seller whether changing or canceling this booking costs a fee and where to apply. If you need to evacuate, don't delay evacuating to ask about cancellation.

Official sources: JNTO · Official disaster & transportation guidance (in English) ↗ · JNTO · Alert level 4 evacuation orders (in Korean) ↗
Source checked: 2026-10-12

Official sources for this guide

Check local notices for current warnings and access restrictions. For trains and flights, see each transportation operator's latest notices.