Japan Earthquake Alert Apps : Real-Time Warnings & Tsunami Alerts

Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. With millions living in seismically active areas, staying prepared is essential.

Since 2025, monitoring systems and mobile apps will continue to play a critical role in providing Japan earthquake warnings, tsunami alerts, and evacuation guidance for residents and travelers alike.

This guide highlights the best Japan earthquake alert apps, how they work, and how they can help you respond to natural disasters such as the Japan Hokkaido earthquake or other major tremors.

Why You Need a Japan Earthquake Alert App

Which App Should You Download in 2025?

Top Japan Earthquake Alert Apps

Yurekuru Call (ゆれくるコール)

Best for: Residents and long-term visitors
Languages: Japanese (primary) + limited English support

Features

Why It’s Great

Yurekuru Call is widely considered one of the most reliable earthquake alert apps in Japan because it is directly connected to official JMA earthquake data, providing accurate, near-instant warnings.

It’s highly trusted among locals for its speed and precision, making it particularly useful for those living in earthquake-prone regions such as Kanto, Tohoku, Kyushu, and Hokkaido.

Its forecast of shaking intensity helps users prepare mentally and physically before the strong tremors arrive, something especially valuable during nighttime earthquakes or sudden Japan earthquake scenarios.

NHK World Japan App

Best for: Tourists and foreigners
Languages: English

Features

Why It Matters

The NHK World Japan App is considered one of the safest and most dependable tools for foreign travelers because it delivers clear, verified earthquake alerts directly in English, without requiring users to understand Japanese.

During emergencies, every second counts and this app removes the language barrier that often slows tourists down.

It provides trustworthy, real-time information from Japan’s national broadcaster (NHK), ensuring that alerts about earthquakes, tsunamis, or evacuation instructions are accurate and quickly delivered.

For anyone visiting Japan, especially during periods of increased seismic activity, this app offers peace of mind by making essential disaster information simple, accessible, and highly reliable.

Yahoo!防災速報 (Yahoo! Disaster Alert)

Best for: Anyone staying long-term
Languages: Japanese

Features

Why It’s Great

Yahoo!防災速報 is favored by millions of Japanese residents because it consistently delivers some of the fastest and most reliable push alerts in the country.

Locals trust the app for its speed, accuracy, and clear presentation of hazard information.

For anyone living in or frequently traveling through Japan, especially areas prone to earthquakes or severe weather, this app provides near-instant notifications that can help you react quickly and stay safe.

LINE Disaster Alert (LINE防災)

Best for: LINE users (most people in Japan)
Languages: Japanese

Features

Why It’s Great

One of the standout advantages of LINE Disaster Alert is its seamless integration into the LINE app, Japan’s most widely used messaging platform.

Because alerts arrive as regular LINE messages, users don’t need to install or manage another app, everything is delivered through a platform they already check multiple times a day.

This makes the warnings harder to miss and ensures timely visibility during fast-moving emergencies. For both residents and tourists who rely on LINE, it’s one of the simplest and most convenient tools for receiving essential disaster information in real time.

Safety Tips App (by Japan Tourism Agency)

Best for: Tourists
Languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese

Features

Why It’s Great

The Safety Tips App is specifically designed with foreign visitors in mind, providing simple, easy-to-understand alerts in multiple languages such as English, Chinese, Korean, and Thai.

Unlike many local apps that are primarily in Japanese, this app ensures that tourists and short-term visitors can receive accurate disaster information without confusion, even in high-stress situations like a Japan Hokkaido earthquake or during tsunami warnings.

Its combination of early warnings, hazard alerts, evacuation guidance, and practical safety resources makes it an essential tool for travelers who want to stay informed and prepared while exploring Japan.

How Japan’s Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) Works

Japan’s EEW system detects the first signs of shaking (P-waves) and sends alerts seconds before the stronger waves (S-waves) reach you.

Depending on your location, you may receive:

• 5–10 seconds of warning before strong shaking
• Longer if you are farther from the epicenter

This short warning can give you enough time to:

• Stop walking or driving
• Move away from shelves and glass
• Protect your head
• Pause machinery

What Tourists Should Do During an Earthquake in Japan

Japan experiences frequent seismic activity, and earthquakes can happen without warning. Tourists, who may be unfamiliar with local safety procedures, should follow these steps:

Stay Calm and Take Immediate Cover

• Drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy table, desk, or other solid furniture.
• Hold on to the furniture to protect yourself from falling objects.
• Protect your head and neck with your arms or a bag/backpack.

Avoid Dangerous Areas

• Stay away from windows, glass doors, mirrors, and shelves.
• Move away from heavy furniture, hanging objects, and elevators.
• If you are outdoors, move to an open space away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.

If You Are in a Vehicle

• Stop the vehicle safely.
• Avoid stopping under overpasses, bridges, or near tall structures.
• Stay inside the vehicle until shaking stops.

Follow Official Alerts and Instructions

• Pay attention to earthquake alerts from apps like Yurekuru Call, NHK World, Yahoo!防災速報, LINE Disaster Alert, or the Safety Tips App.
• Follow evacuation orders and tsunami warnings immediately if you are in a coastal area.
• Listen to local authorities via TV, radio, or mobile notifications.

Prepare for Aftershocks

• Aftershocks often follow the main earthquake. Stay alert and move cautiously.
• Avoid damaged buildings until authorities confirm they are safe.

Know Emergency Contacts

• Familiarize yourself with local emergency numbers:
• • Police: 110
  • Fire & Ambulance: 119
• Check your hotel or accommodation for emergency procedures and evacuation routes.

If You Are Near the Coast

• Move to higher ground immediately if a Japan earthquake tsunami warning is issued.
• Avoid rivers and beaches during a tsunami warning.

Key Earthquake-Prone Areas in 2025

• Hokkaido: Has experienced significant quakes, including the Japan Hokkaido earthquake, making monitoring apps crucial.
• Tohoku and Kanto regions: Seismically active, requiring users to stay alert.
• Kyushu and Shikoku: Potential risk areas where apps can provide advance warning.

Conclusion

In Japan, earthquakes are frequent, and staying informed is a critical part of personal safety.

Using a Japan earthquake alert app ensures you receive instant Japan earthquake warnings, tsunami alerts, and safety instructions, helping you respond effectively during events like a Japan Hokkaido earthquake or other seismic activity.

For maximum safety, install at least two apps: one reliable local Japanese app and one English-friendly app for foreign visitors. Being prepared can save seconds, and in earthquakes, seconds can make all the difference.