Crimes

The Global Peace Index ranks Japan as one of the top 10 safest and most peaceful and harmonious nations and regions in the world, along with Iceland, New Zealand, Portugal, Austria, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Canada, Switzerland, and Ireland. The country has low crime rates, and the locals are generally nice and helpful. For these reasons, it is frequently recommended to newbie travelers as a good first destination to visit.

Natural Disasters

Because Japan lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the so-called Pacific typhoon belt, it is prone to experiencing volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunami, and typhoons.

Volcanic eruptions

Approximately 10% of the total active volcanoes today are in Japan, and the list includes Mount Io, Mount Rishiri, and Mount Usu in Hokkaido; Mount Aso and Mount Yufu in Kyushu; and Mount Hakone, Mount Bandai, and the iconic Mount Fuji in Honshu.

The last major eruption was in 2014 by Mount Ontake, which is Japan’s second highest volcano (at a height of 3,067 metres), located about 100 kilometres from Nagoya and 200 kilometres from Tokyo. It had a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 3 or 4, which is a classification described as catastrophic to cataclysmic. It left 63 people dead, and five missing.

Earthquakes

Every year, Japan records around 1,500 earthquakes that include ones that are as strong as magnitudes 4 to 6. Throughout its history, it has encountered some of the greatest the world has ever seen, including the Great Kanto earthquake, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake that hit the Kanto Plain on Honshu island in 1923 and left 130,000 people dead; the Great Hanshin earthquake, also known as the Kobe earthquake, which was a magnitude 7 that devastated the southern part of Hyogo Prefecture in 1995 and killed more than 6,400 people; and the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, which was a magnitude 9 that caused 16,000 deaths and several thousands more injured or missing.

Tsunami

Japan has a long recorded history of tsunami, and the first documented one happened in 684 CE. A magnitude 8.4 earthquake occurred and caused huge tidal waves to hit the shores of Awaji, Shikoku, and Kii. The last major one was in 2011, known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. The magnitude 9 earthquake triggered 10-metre high waves that swallowed the country’s northeastern coast, leaving almost 19,000 people dead and missing.

Typhoons

May to October is Japan’s typhoon season. Each year, about a dozen typhoons hit the country, with varying impacts and intensities. The strong ones can cause landslides and water levels to rise, which can lead to disruptions to transportation services, including cancelled flights, delayed bus and train departures and arrivals, and closed down highways and expressways. Sometimes, they can also result to damaged properties, injuries, and even deaths.

Protecting Yourself

The Japan Meteorological Agency is in charge of gathering and reporting scientific data on weather, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunami, and other natural phenomena to the public, and they send out early warnings and notices to help everyone prepare for an upcoming natural disaster.

Before going to Japan, it is advised that you become familiar with these early warnings and notices to know what to do in these instances.

Volcanic Eruption Forecasts and Warnings

These are available for the 110 active volcanoes found across the country to allow people in the vicinity to evacuate and to minimize potential damages and casualties. Do not attempt to get near or enter an area that has been restricted due to volcanic activity. If you encounter an eruption, get as far away from the crater as possible, and cover your nose and mouth to prevent inhaling the volcanic gas and ash.

Earthquake Early Warning Alarms

These are broadcasted on televisions, radios, cellular phones, and smartphones. If you see or read one, or hear the alarm while you are in your hotel room, do not panic, remain calm, and find a spot away from windows, bulky furniture and appliances, and doorways. Hide under a sturdy and durable table until the shaking stops. If you are at a sightseeing spot, stay calm and follow instructions given by the staff.

Tsunami Advisories and Warnings

These are issued about three minutes after an earthquake occurs. If you get one of these, move to higher grounds or elevated areas and remain there until the warning is cancelled.

Weather Warnings

Weather warnings and advisories are released in cases of strong winds and heavy rains that may lead to serious devastation. If possible, cancel your sightseeing plans, stay indoors, and wait until the weather is better. Communicate with your lodging or accommodation, as they are familiar with the best steps to take during these circumstances.

Designated Evacuation Shelters

All over Japan, there are Designated Evacuation Shelters where people can stay until the dangers and risks brought about by the natural disasters are gone.  They are typically public facilities authorized by the local governments, and include community centres and schools. In some areas, they can also be ryokan, inn, guesthouses, and hotels. To know where the closest Designated Evacuation Shelter is, consult with your lodging or accommodation.

Important Websites

Before heading out to Japan, it is recommended that you bookmark the following websites for weather forecasts, natural disaster updates and advisories, and lists of agencies and facilities to contact in case of emergencies:

• Japan Meteorological Agency – for up-to-date weather forecasts, disaster warnings and advisories, and others
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan – for a list of embassies and consulates in Japan (with their addresses and phone numbers)
• Japan Health Info – for assistance in locating English-speaking clinics and hospitals in case of medical emergencies

The post Safety Tips You Should Know Before Your Trip To Japan appeared first on Japaniverse Travel Guide.

Japan’s geography and geology make it prone to earthquakes, tsunami, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions. For this reason, it is essential to be aware of the safety precautions to observe while you are on your trip. Train stations, tourist information centres, hotels, and other establishments should have information readily available for visitors. You can also check the Japan Meteorological Agency website for the latest warnings and advisories.

Useful Phone Numbers And Websites

Electric

The standard electric supply in Japan is 100 Volts, with a frequency of 50 Hertz to 60 Hertz. Japanese electric outlets are Type A, meaning they have two, parallel, flat, non-polarized pins.

Insurance

Japan has a National Health Insurance program that covers all Japanese citizens, permanent residents, and foreign passport holders in Japan with Japanese visa valid for at least three months. This National Health Insurance guidebook provides more information.

Internet Access

There are many ways to access the internet while in Japan. Various train stations, tourist information centres, hotels, restaurants, cafes, and businesses all over the country offer free wi-fi. There are also data SIM cards, rental phones, and portable or pocket wi-fi available, as well as internet kiosks and internet cafes.

Laws And Customs

• Drugs – Japan has severe punishments in place for drug violators. You can find detailed information on what substances are banned, how to bring your prescription medication into the country, and more on the Japan Customs
• Identification – Tourists are required to have their passport with them all the time.
• Smoking – There are designated smoking areas found outside train stations, malls, offices, restaurants, and other establishments.
• Tattoos – If you have tattoos, be prepared to be turned away at some hot spring resorts, public swimming pools, beaches, and other places. In Japan, tattoos traditionally have a negative connotation and are associated with criminals.

Currency

The yen is the official currency of Japan. It is written as 円 in Japanese. Its symbol is ¥ and code is JPY.

Money

The yen comes in bills of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 denominations, and coins of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 denominations.

How To Pay For Items

Even though there has been an increase in the number of businesses that accept foreign credit cards and debit cards in Japan in the past years, cash is still the primary means of paying for goods and services. You can buy yen from your local bank before your trip, or exchange foreign currency at currency exchange counters on your arrival to Japan.

Withdrawing Money

There are ATMs and cash machines at Japanese airports, post offices, and convenience stores where you can withdraw yen using foreign issued cards. While in Japan, you can use the following websites to find an ATM near you: Japan Post Bank, Seven Bank, and Visa.

Cell Phones

Many foreign cell phone models these days are compatible with Japan’s mobile phone networks. To know if yours will work, check with your local carrier and take note of the rates before your trip.  Alternatively, you can get yourself a Japanese SIM card or a rental phone that you can use for calling, messaging, data, and other functions upon arrival to the country.

Phone Codes

Japan’s country code is +81. Below are the area codes of some major cities:

Public Phones

Public phones or pay phones are still common in Japan. They are useful in situations in which cell phone signal or reception is lost during emergencies like earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural disasters. They typically come in bright colours, like green and pink, and are found at airports, bus and train stations, public offices, and others. To use one, you have to insert a 10 yen coin for a one-minute call or a prepaid calling card loaded with 500 yen to 1,000 yen. In case of emergencies, you can simply dial 110 (police) or 119 (fire/ambulance) free of charge.

Toilets

Toilets are easy to find in Japan. There is at least one in almost every train or bus station, convenience store, department stores, parks, supermarkets, temples, shrines, museums, and others. They come in different types: Western-style, modern-style with bidet functions, and squat.

Time

Japan Standard Time (JST) is the timezone of Japan, equivalent to UTC+09:00, meaning it is 9 hours ahead of the UTC or Coordinated Universal Time. It does not observe Daylight Saving Time.

Public Holidays

Japan observes several public holidays every year, during which most offices, businesses, and establishments are closed.

Opening Hours

Most businesses in Japan are open on weekdays, from around 9 am until late in the afternoon. Banks, post offices, and offices usually operate from 9 am to 3pm or 5 pm; malls, shops, and department stores, from 10 am to 8 pm; and museums and other tourist attractions, from 10 am to 5 pm. It is best to visit a facility’s website to get accurate information.

Post

Japan has about 24,000 post offices that handle large volumes of letters, packages, parcels, and mail to be delivered within the country and overseas every day. They are usually situated close to main train stations, and are open Mondays to Fridays, from 9 am to 5 pm. Visit the Japan Post website for post office locations, rates, and other information.

Tipping

Tips are not expected at hotels, restaurants, and other business, and may just cause confusion or awkwardness, or even be seen as rude and offensive by some locals.

Recommended Vaccinations

Japan is one of the cleanest and safest countries in the world with top notch health and medical services. If visiting, you are not required to get vaccinated for anything else if you are up to date on your routine vaccines, i.e. polio vaccine, measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR vaccine), chicken pox/varicella vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, and annual flu shot.

Tap Water

Japan has excellent water purification and maintenance facilities that render its tap water drinkable. Wherever you are in the country, whether in a large urban area or in a small remote town deep in the mountains, you can drink water straight from a faucet in parks, temples, hotels, and others.

The post Tourist Information for Travelers to Japan appeared first on Japaniverse Travel Guide.

When I arrived in Japan in the spring of 2016, the first earthquake experience was quite the shock, even though I originate from a country where earthquakes happen every now and then. The ones I’ve had experienced so far came and went away in an instant, they were so fast the people around me were doubting if it was an earthquake or just the play of imagination. But the ones I got to go through in Japan were long, so very long that the only way I can describe my feelings would be “creeped out”. It’s also important to keep in mind that the earthquakes with high magnitudes here usually have aftershocks which can happen anytime within 24 hours from the original quake.

Living in Tohoku region I got to experience quite a few in the span of two years. With time you get used to them and even start ignoring most of the earthquakes. Which is fine, really. Unless your phone starts screaming at you and you can hear sirens going off throughout the whole city. Something I’ve experienced only once so far (if we don’t count the missile warnings).

My phone went off around 5 in the morning, on a night when I barely got any sleep. Keep in mind that these alarms go off about a minute before the earthquake actually hits. It was a large one, with many aftershocks in the next 24 hours. Funnily enough the main earthquake itself was an aftershock of the one that hit Tohoku region in 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake. Everything was shaking for about a whole minute, if not longer, things were falling down from the drawers all around me, and it did feel like the end of the world. But then things calmed down. It might have been because of the lack of sleep, but the confusion was driving me crazy and I didn’t know what to do. I just put my safety helmet on and hid under my desk. This event drove me to do better research, in case another big quake hits the region. And in this article I want to tell you how to behave when it does happen.

First and foremost, it is important to understand why there are so many earthquakes in Japan. The reason lies in the location of Japan itself. The four islands are situated at the junction of tectonic plates. The country has experienced about 25 devastating earthquakes in the past century. Quakes can be felt all over the country on daily basis. Earthquakes have been and still are a part of Japanese life, to a point that they even have a backstory in Japanese mythology. However, as a result of this lifelong struggle against earthquakes the Japanese have come up with buildings that do not budge to earthquakes. If some buildings do get destroyed, those are in general quite old. As a matter of fact, the people in Tohoku like to say “we aren’t afraid of earthquakes, because all of the buildings that may fall victim to one, already have in the Great Earthquake of 2011”.

When arriving in Japan make sure to get a warning application on your phone. If you buy a phone in Japan, then you will have it built-in, if you don’t then you can easily find one on both PlayStore and App Store. I personally recommend an app called Disaster Kit. This was the one that was built-in in my phone. It comes in Japanese but you get the option to translate the warning messages to English. Another popular application would be Safety Tips, released by JTA (Japan Tourism Agency), also available on both Android and iOS.

If you are in Japan for a long-term stay there are some precautions you need to take care of. Have all of your important documents in one place so you can easily take them out and put them in your bag if needed (you don’t want to be stranded in a foreign country without a passport, now do you?). Make sure to store a couple of liters of water at home at all times, and in addition to this have a stock of cup ramen. If a major earthquake occurs you might have no electricity or water for a few days, and believe me you will most definitely not be able to buy any of these in the stores either. Cup ramen is a good choice since it lasts for a long time, and you can eat it with cold water if you have to. It might not taste great, but hey, food is food.

When you are all stocked up make sure to check where is the closest safety area. These are usually located in the schools nearby, as well as other large buildings. If the earthquake is strong enough to make the sirens in the city and your phone go off, it might be a good idea to move to the safety area. Here you will get assistance and guidance for further actions.

What to do when you are in a building?

If you find it hard to get out of wherever you are, per say you are at work or at school, get under a table or a desk to protect yourself from major injuries. When things calm down start collecting water everywhere you can. In case of a huge earthquake one of the biggest inconveniences is the inability to flush the toilet, hence collecting water in your sink or bathtub might come in handy.

If you have important people to call to, do that within half an hour after the shake. Keep the calls short and limited to a minimum number of people. Make sure to carefully store your cell phone battery, since you might not get a chance to charge it for a while.

Before evacuating make sure to switch off the breaker, even if there is an outage at the moment. When evacuating avoid elevators and escalators and go for the stairs. It might also be a good idea to take a flashlight with you, especially if the earthquake occurs in the middle of the night.

What to do when you are outside?

Try avoiding utility poles and buildings to the best of your ability. These are quite dangerous since they can break, fall down and injure you. If you find yourself surrounded by high-rise buildings, protect your head with your bag and be cautions of breaking windows.

Don’t rush around! Keep calm, avoid confusion and commotion. Panic is your worst enemy in such situations. You will need to be thinking straight, since an aftershock might hit the region at any moment.

These are some of the basic, yet crucial and must-know actions in case of an earthquake in Japan. I do hope you will not get to experience a massive earthquake and will never have the need to following these tips, but it is always better to be safe than sorry!

The post What to Do if There is an Earthquake in Japan appeared first on Japaniverse Travel Guide.