Tokyo earthquake preparation for a short apartment stay

Save your municipality's earthquake map and your building's emergency instructions before you need them. The nearest school, an open park and a marked meeting point may serve different purposes. Check what each place is designated for as well as where it is.

Check the map for your apartment's full address, then ask the manager which stairs and meeting point the building uses. Tell the manager if you will need help using the stairs and ask how to get that help in an emergency.

Checked 8 September 2026. These preparation steps draw on official disaster advice and Tokyo Gas Network’s instructions. During an incident, follow current warnings and local authorities’ directions; ask the building manager about conditions in your apartment building.

Read what each place is for

Tokyo's evacuation-site explanation distinguishes these labels:

• 避難場所 (hinan basho — evacuation area): a place designated for escaping danger. In Tokyo's wards, large evacuation areas give people somewhere to escape fires spreading after an earthquake.
• 避難所 (hinanjo — evacuation shelter): temporary accommodation when you cannot continue living at home.
• 一時集合場所 (ichiji shūgō basho — temporary assembly point): a place where neighbors may gather before moving on to an evacuation area.

For example, a park marked as an evacuation area may help you escape a spreading fire. That label does not tell you where you can sleep that night. If you cannot safely live in your apartment, look for shelter information and current local instructions.

Find your address on the municipal map and check which danger each place protects you from. If you are unsure which place to use or how to get there, ask the municipality or accommodation manager. Tell them if you need an accessible route or extra help.

The Tokyo disaster map shows shelters and places for temporary stays separately. Check whether the shelter you need is open before going there.

Save the map and the Japanese names offline. Walk the intended route in daylight, checking the building's emergency stairs along the way. Keep the route clear of your own luggage.

Prepare the room you actually sleep in

JMA's preparation guidance asks people to secure furniture, keep escape routes usable and identify a space where objects cannot fall, topple or move onto them. Look at the space around the bed and the route to the door.

Move your own loose items away from high shelves and exits. Ask the manager about securing supplied furniture; do not drill into a rented wall or alter shared equipment yourself. Point out a heavy object above the bed or an obstructed exit while there is time to fix it.

Keep shoes, a flashlight and a charged phone where you can reach them. Save the full address, building name and manager's contact on paper as well. Agree with anyone staying with you how to contact each other if separated.

Stock supplies for the apartment as well as a bag

Tokyo's preparedness handbook distinguishes supplies for staying at home from a bag you can carry when leaving. Its stockpile list includes water, food, medicines, lights and portable toilets. Use its quantities and household checklist to prepare for the people staying with you.

Check what the accommodation supplies before buying the rest. Include food you can eat without cooking, charging equipment, essential personal items and anything needed for a child or a disability. Keep prescribed medicine with its instructions. Ask your clinician or pharmacist how much to keep on hand and what to do if you cannot get a refill after a disaster.

Water coming from the tap does not mean the toilet is safe to flush. Tokyo's handbook tells apartment residents to hold off using toilets until sewerage facilities have been checked after a disaster. Ask the building manager how you will know when the toilets are safe to use. Ask how to use the emergency toilet supplies too.

Protect yourself when shaking starts

The Tokyo Fire Department's earthquake actions put personal safety first. Take cover under a sturdy table or in a space protected from falling, toppling and moving objects. Wait for the shaking to stop; do not rush into the street beneath falling glass or signs.

Deal with a stove flame after the shaking stops, when it is safe to do so. Then make sure you can get out and check your surroundings. Do not assume the room is safe because the building is concrete or the reported shaking was weak.

If a spreading fire threatens you, follow the local evacuation instructions. Near a coast or river, strong shaking or a tsunami warning calls for prompt evacuation to a safe place such as higher ground. Use a place designated for the danger you face; an area chosen for escaping fire may not be safe from a tsunami.

If the gas supply stops

If you smell gas, use Tokyo Gas Network's gas-leak instructions. Keep flames away and do not operate electrical switches or a ventilation fan. For an indoor leak, open windows, close gas taps if safe, and contact the gas emergency service. If the smell is outside, keep it out by closing doors and windows and move away from the smell.

Do not press the meter's reset button while you suspect a leak. If there is no gas smell, use the gas company's no-gas checks and the instructions for that meter. Contact the manager or gas company if you cannot identify the equipment or service remains off.

These are Tokyo Gas Network instructions. If your building uses another gas company, save its emergency guidance instead. Do not test a reset procedure as a preparation exercise.

Deciding whether to stay or leave

After the shaking stops, check current warnings and local evacuation information. Follow the building’s instructions and report damage or blocked exits. If you’re in danger, leave for safety without waiting to finish packing. If you need an ambulance, call 119 and give the address.

Tokyo’s handbook describes staying at home as an option when you can safely continue living there. If you’re unsure whether it’s safe to stay or return, ask emergency staff or the building manager.