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Japan·Natural disasters

Japan natural hazards and disaster risk

Earthquakes, storms, volcanoes, floods, and wildfires. Combines the disaster sub-score with the active event feed from USGS, NOAA, NHC, JMA, GVP, and regional agencies. The Field Manual covers the response protocols.

Disaster sub-score
0Extreme risk
Overall Safe Trip Score 76

Recent signals

  • earthquakeUSGS2d ago
    M 5.7 - Izu Islands, Japan region
    Izu Islands, Japan region
    Source →
    -3.0
  • earthquakeUSGS2d ago
    M 4.7 - Bonin Islands, Japan region
    Bonin Islands, Japan region
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    -1.0
  • earthquakeUSGS2d ago
    M 4.5 - Bonin Islands, Japan region
    Bonin Islands, Japan region
    Source →
    -1.0
  • earthquakeUSGS3d ago
    M 4.5 - 26 km SE of Ashoro, Japan
    26 km SE of Ashoro, Japan
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    -1.0
  • earthquakeUSGS1w ago
    M 4.6 - 84 km SSE of Hiroo, Japan
    84 km SSE of Hiroo, Japan
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    -1.0
  • stormGDACS1w ago
    Green notification for tropical cyclone JANGMI-26. Population affected by Category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 1.274 million .
    From 27/05/2026 to 03/06/2026, a Tropical Storm (maximum wind speed of 139 km/h) JANGMI-26 was active in NWPacific. The cyclone affects these countries: Japan (vulnerability Low). Estimated population affected by category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 1.274 million .
    Source →
    -3.0
  • earthquakeUSGS1w ago
    M 4.5 - 31 km SE of Ōfunato, Japan
    31 km SE of Ōfunato, Japan
    Source →
    -1.0
  • earthquakeUSGS1w ago
    M 4.8 - 50 km ENE of Noda, Japan
    50 km ENE of Noda, Japan
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    -1.0
  • earthquakeUSGS1w ago
    M 4.6 - 40 km ENE of Kuji, Japan
    40 km ENE of Kuji, Japan
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    -1.0
  • floodGDACS1w ago
    Green flood alert in Japan
    On 22/05/2026, a flood started in Japan, lasting until 23/05/2026 (last update). The flood caused 0 deaths and 0 displaced .
    Source →
    -3.0
  • earthquakeUSGS2w ago
    M 4.8 - 32 km WNW of Ishigaki, Japan
    32 km WNW of Ishigaki, Japan
    Source →
    -1.0
  • earthquakeUSGS2w ago
    M 4.7 - 93 km ENE of Miyako, Japan
    93 km ENE of Miyako, Japan
    Source →
    -1.0
  • earthquakeUSGS2w ago
    M 6.7 - 49 km ESE of Ōfunato, Japan
    49 km ESE of Ōfunato, Japan
    Source →
    -5.0
  • earthquakeUSGS2w ago
    M 4.8 - Bonin Islands, Japan region
    Bonin Islands, Japan region
    Source →
    -1.0
  • earthquakeUSGS2w ago
    M 5.2 - Volcano Islands, Japan region
    Volcano Islands, Japan region
    Source →
    -3.0
  • earthquakeUSGS3w ago
    M 5.1 - Izu Islands, Japan region
    Izu Islands, Japan region
    Source →
    -3.0
  • earthquakeUSGS3w ago
    M 5.0 - 60 km ESE of Isen, Japan
    60 km ESE of Isen, Japan
    Source →
    -3.0
  • earthquakeUSGS3w ago
    M 4.9 - 146 km E of Miyako, Japan
    146 km E of Miyako, Japan
    Source →
    -1.0
  • earthquakeUSGS3w ago
    M 4.6 - 44 km WNW of Ishigaki, Japan
    44 km WNW of Ishigaki, Japan
    Source →
    -1.0
  • earthquakeUSGS3w ago
    M 4.6 - 117 km ENE of Miyako, Japan
    117 km ENE of Miyako, Japan
    Source →
    -1.0
  • earthquakeUSGS3w ago
    M 4.7 - 41 km E of Minami-Sōma, Japan
    41 km E of Minami-Sōma, Japan
    Source →
    -1.0
  • earthquakeUSGS3w ago
    M 4.6 - 5 km E of Chikusei, Japan
    5 km E of Chikusei, Japan
    Source →
    -1.0
  • earthquakeUSGS3w ago
    M 4.7 - 88 km NNW of Tatsugō, Japan
    88 km NNW of Tatsugō, Japan
    Source →
    -1.0

Foreign-ministry advisories

Practical guidance

What the disaster sub-score covers

Japan’s natural-disaster sub-score is 0/100 (high band). It combines the country’s long-term hazard exposure (fault lines, tropical cyclone tracks, volcanic chains, flood basins) with the live event feed from USGS, NOAA, NHC, JMA, GVP, and regional agencies. A score drop usually means a specific recent event; baseline hazard exposure barely moves year over year. The events feed above shows what is currently active.

Seasonality matters more than the headline number

Most natural-hazard risk is seasonal. Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November (peak August to October). Pacific typhoon season is broadly May to October. Indian Ocean monsoon flooding peaks June to September in South Asia. North Atlantic storm surge weights winter months. Volcanic and seismic risk is non-seasonal but clusters geographically; a country’s baseline score factors this in, but your specific itinerary’s exposure depends on which region you visit. The country safety guide’s natural- hazards chapter breaks it down by region.

What to actually do

Three concrete steps that move you out of the “tourist who got caught in it” bucket: enrol in your government’s traveller-notification programme (STEP for US citizens, LOCATE for UK, Smartraveller subscription for AU) so embassies can reach you in a major incident; download offline maps of your destination before you arrive (Maps.me or Google Maps offline) because mobile networks fail first in most disasters; and read the relevant Field Manual response guide for the specific hazard your destination carries. How to survive an earthquake while travelling and the wildfire, flood, and hurricane equivalents are linked from the relevant country safety guides.

Related for Japan

Long-form context

Travelling safely in Japan

Japan is statistically among the safest large countries in the world. Crime against tourists is rare; the relevant risks are seismic, meteorological, and procedural. This guide covers what to do when the ground moves, when typhoons close transport, how the world-class healthcare system actually works for foreigners, and the small set of cultural conventions that make a difference.

15 min read →

Frequently asked about Japan

What natural hazards affect Japan?

Japan's natural-disaster sub-score is 0/100. It combines long-term hazard exposure (fault lines, tropical cyclone tracks, volcanic chains, flood basins) with the live event feed from USGS, NOAA, NHC, JMA, GVP, and regional agencies. Currently active events are listed in the recent-signals feed above.

When is hurricane / typhoon season in Japan?

Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November (peak August to October). Pacific typhoon season is broadly May to October. Indian Ocean cyclone season splits between November to April (southern hemisphere) and April to December (Bay of Bengal). Japan's specific exposure window is documented in the country safety guide.

What should I do if a natural disaster happens while I am in Japan?

Three concrete steps before you go: enrol in your government's traveller-notification programme (STEP for US, LOCATE for UK, Smartraveller subscription for AU), download offline maps because mobile networks fail first in major incidents, and read the relevant Field Manual response guide (earthquake, hurricane, wildfire, flood) for the specific hazard your destination carries.