Plan your trip
How to read our alerts
Japan has earthquakes, typhoons and heavy snow every year. Most trips are never affected, but it helps to know what the signs mean. We show the official alerts of the Japan Meteorological Agency in plain words, so you can see at a glance whether a place you plan to visit has a problem today.
For information only. Alerts on Pai Yipon may be late, incomplete or wrong. Always check the official source and local announcements before you decide anything. You use them at your own risk.
How to use it
- 1Look at the cardNo label means we have no warning on record there. A coloured label on top means the Japan Meteorological Agency has issued a warning there.
- 2Open the alerts pageSee which part of the prefecture is affected. A warning on a remote island may not touch the city you are visiting.
- 3Check the official sourceEvery alert links to the JMA page it came from. Before you travel, also check with your airline, train or ferry company.
- 4In Japan, use Safety tipsThe free app for visitors from the Japan National Tourism Organization sends alerts to your phone in English and many other languages.
JMA's five warning levels
Japan rates weather danger from 1 to 5. Cards get a label from level 3 up.
- 1Early noticeBad weather is possible in the coming days. Nothing to do yet.Not shown
- 2AdvisoryStrong wind, high waves, thunder or frost. Common and usually minor.Map only
- 3WarningWeather that can disrupt travel: delays, closed roads, cancelled flights. Check before you go.Card label
- 4Danger warningDanger to life in the area, and local people are told to evacuate. Don't travel there.Card label
- 5Emergency warningRare, once-in-decades disaster. Follow local orders straight away.Card label
What each label means
- Heavy snow warning
Heavy snow, snowstorm
Deep snow or blizzards, mostly in Hokkaido, Tohoku and on the Japan Sea side in winter. Trains, buses and flights can stop for hours. Keep a spare day and warm clothes.
- Typhoon danger warning
Typhoon warning
Shown when warnings come with a typhoon nearby (wind, rain, waves, storm surge). The season runs from June to October and peaks in August and September. Flights to Okinawa and the islands are often cancelled.
- Landslide danger warning
Heavy rain, landslide, flood
Common in the rainy season (June to July) and in typhoon season. Stay off mountain roads, riverbanks and hiking trails while it lasts.
- High waves warning
High waves, storm surge
Ferries and boat tours may stop and beaches close. Stay away from the shore and harbour walls.
- Earthquake · shindo 5+
Earthquake · shindo
Shown for 72 hours after shaking of shindo 5− or stronger in the prefecture. Shindo is how hard the ground shook where you are, not the size of the quake (that is the magnitude).
- Tsunami warning
Tsunami warning
If you are on the coast, go to high ground or the upper floors of a strong building at once. Don't wait to see the wave.
- Heatstroke alert
Heatstroke alert
Issued by the Ministry of the Environment and JMA from late April to late October, when the heat index (WBGT) is forecast at 33 or more. Plan indoor sights for the afternoon, drink water often and rest in air-conditioning. A special alert means danger for everyone.
Advisory (map only)
Yellow on the map. Worth knowing, but rarely a reason to change plans.
Where the information comes from
| Information | Official source | How often we check |
|---|---|---|
| Weather warnings, levels 2 to 5 | Japan Meteorological Agency (気象庁) | Every 5 minutes |
| Earthquakes and shindo | Japan Meteorological Agency (気象庁) | Every 5 minutes |
| Tsunami warnings | Japan Meteorological Agency (気象庁) | Every 5 minutes |
| Typhoon position | Japan Meteorological Agency (気象庁) | Every 5 minutes |
| Heatstroke alerts | Ministry of the Environment (環境省) | Every 5 minutes |
| Alert app for visitors | Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) | – |
We use information published by the Japan Meteorological Agency under the Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use, and credit it on every alert. Area names are shown in English with the Japanese name next to them, so you can match station signs and local news. JMA terms of use
Good to know
Should I cancel my trip if I see a label?
Usually not. Warnings last a few hours to a day or two and often cover only part of a prefecture. Levels 4 and 5 are different: don't travel into those areas until they are lifted. The decision is always yours.
How up to date is this?
We check JMA every 5 minutes, so we are usually a few minutes behind, and can be further behind if a source is slow or down. When things move fast, JMA, local announcements and the Safety tips app come first.
Why are there so many small earthquakes?
Japan records many small earthquakes every month. Most are shindo 1 or 2, which few people notice, and buildings in Japan are designed for strong shaking.
Is this an emergency alert service?
No. It is a travel planning aid. In an emergency in Japan, call 110 for police or 119 for fire and ambulance.
Disclaimer
The alerts, maps and earthquake lists on Pai Yipon are general information only. They are not official warnings and not advice on whether to travel.
We use information from official Japanese sources automatically. It can be delayed, incomplete, out of date or wrong, including through mistakes in our own processing or wording. We make no guarantee that it is accurate, complete or available at any time.
No label does not mean a place is safe. Always check the official source, your airline or transport company, and local announcements before you decide.
You use this information at your own risk. Pai Yipon and Now On Company Limited accept no liability for any loss, injury, cost or decision based on it.
In an emergency, follow the instructions of the Japanese authorities and call 110 or 119.