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Evacuation Shelter Experience

Join real evacuation drills and overnight shelter simulations

Local governments across Japan host annual evacuation drills open to the public, including international residents. These are rare opportunities to understand Japan's disaster response system from the inside.

What Happens at an Evacuation Drill?

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Emergency Announcement

Simulated earthquake alert via municipal PA system and J-Alert mobile notification

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Route Navigation

Walk designated evacuation routes to the designated shelter (usually a school or park)

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Shelter Check-In

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Emergency Meal

Eat actual disaster ration food — typically α-rice and canned goods

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Overnight Stay (Some Events)

Experience sleeping in cardboard partitions on gymnasium floors

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Debrief & Learning

Q&A with municipal disaster officers about real emergency procedures

How to Find Drills Near You

Tokyo Disaster Prevention ↗

Tokyo metropolitan annual drill schedule — typically September 1st (Disaster Prevention Day)

Osaka Prefectural Drill Info ↗

Osaka hosts multilingual drills with English, Chinese and Korean support

Local City Office (市役所) ↗

Contact your ward or city office's 防災課 (Bousai-ka / Disaster Prevention Division)

📅 Disaster Prevention Day — September 1st

Japan's national Disaster Prevention Day (防災の日) on September 1st sees drills nationwide. This is the best day to participate in official government exercises across the country.

Prepare for Japan's Disasters

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Emergency Kit

Must-have items for Japan earthquakes

Shop Amazon JP →

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Guided Tours

Join an expert-led disaster preparedness tour

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Travel Insurance

Essential coverage for Japan activities

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Japan eSIM

Emergency alerts require data connection

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