Natural disasters
In Japan, there is a risk of natural disasters due to typhoons, heavy rain, and earthquakes. Heavy rains may cause rivers to overflow and buildings to be flooded. There is a risk of landslides if there are mountains nearby. It’s a good idea to monitor weather and disaster information on TV and the Internet.
Commonly heard terms in times of disaster
| Earthquake Early Warning (kinkyu jishin sokuhou) |
This system calculates the location and estimated intensity of seismic tremors automatically upon detecting a strong earthquake, and issues an alert several seconds to several tens of seconds before the strong shaking begins. Alerts are delivered automatically via television and smartphones. Take action to protect yourself before the shaking hits. |
|---|---|
| Emergency warning (tokubetsu keihou) *Disaster Prevention Weather Information |
An emergency warning issued when heavy rain or other severe weather is forecast and the risk of a serious disaster is extremely high, urging the public to take immediate action to protect themselves. |
| Danger Warning (kiken keihou) *Disaster Prevention Weather Information |
Everyone must evacuate immediately from any dangerous areas. |
| Warning (keihou) *Disaster Prevention Weather Information |
A warning issued to urge vigilance when a serious disaster may occur. Warning types include heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and tsunamis. |
| Advisory (chuihou) *Disaster Prevention Weather Information |
A notice issued to urge caution when a disaster may occur. Advisory types include heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and tsunamis. |
This website provides disaster-related emergency and evacuation information.
Hyogo Emergency Net (available in 12 languages)
Evacuation information
Evacuation information is issued by Asago City and the Japan Meteorological Agency when a disaster might occur or is already occurring. The greater the level, the more dangerous the situation. When a level 4 alert is issued, everyone has to evacuate to a safe place.
| Level 5 |
Urgently secure safety (from Asago City) *in the event of a Danger Warning or Emergency warning |
Take action to protect your life. *This alert is issued when a disaster has already occurred or when there is an immediate danger that one will occur. When it is dangerous to move to an evacuation center now, people on the first floor of buildings must evacuate to the second floor or higher. |
|---|---|---|
| Level 4 |
Evacuation order (from Asago City) *in the event of a Warning or a Danger Warning |
Everyone must evacuate from dangerous locations. *This alert is issued when rivers break their banks or mountainsides collapse. |
| Level 3 |
Evacuation of elderly people etc. (from Asago City) *in the event of a Warning |
People who need time to evacuate (the elderly, people with disability, etc.) must evacuate from dangerous locations. *Check the latest updates on the news. |
| Level 2 |
Heavy rain, flooding, and storm surge advisory (from the Japan Meteorological Agency) |
Prepare for evacuation by checking the actions to take when evacuating on the hazard map. |
| Level 1 |
Early warning information (from the Japan Meteorological Agency) |
Stay alert for further updates. |
Hazard map
A hazard map shows the predicted extent of damage if there is a natural disaster.
They can be viewed on the city or Hyogo Prefecture websites. You can also receive hard copies at the Disaster Readiness and Safety Section.