The time to find your evacuation shelter is now, not during a disaster. Knowing exactly where to go — and the difference between the two types of evacuation sites — can save crucial minutes when an earthquake or typhoon forces you to leave home.
How to find your nearest shelter
- Search Google Maps for "避難所" plus your area name (for example, "避難所 Shibuya"). This shows designated shelters near you.
- Check your ward or city website. Every municipality publishes a list of official shelters and a hazard map (ハザードマップ) showing flood and landslide risk for your address.
- Use the national Hazard Map Portal. Most foreign residents have never heard of it, but the government's Hazard Map Portal (ハザードマップポータル) lets you type in any address and instantly see its flood, landslide, tsunami, and storm-surge risk, plus nearby shelters. Take five minutes to check your own home before a disaster ever happens.
- Look for the green signs. Designated sites are marked with green signs showing a white running-person symbol heading toward a doorway. Learn to recognize them around your neighborhood.
避難場所 vs 避難所 — know the difference
Japan has two distinct types of evacuation site, and confusing them can be dangerous:
- 避難場所 (hinan basho) — temporary gathering point. An open, safe space such as a park or large open area where you go to escape immediate danger like fire or a collapsing area. It is not for staying overnight.
- 避難所 (hinanjo) — shelter with services. A building, usually a school gym or community center, where you can stay for an extended period. It provides shelter, basic food and water, and information.
In an immediate crisis you may go to a 避難場所 first to get to safety, then move to a 避難所 if you cannot return home. The Cabinet Office's national disaster prevention portal (防災) explains these evacuation categories in more detail.
What to bring
- Your emergency kit (water, food, flashlight, first aid). Build yours with the Kit Builder.
- Your residence card (在留カード) and a copy of your passport.
- Health insurance card and any regular medications.
- Phone charger and power bank.
- A change of clothes and any personal hygiene items.
What to expect inside
- Registration at the entrance. You will usually be asked to sign in so staff know who is present.
- Sleeping on the gym floor. Most shelters are school gymnasiums; expect to sleep on mats or cardboard on a hard floor, often in a large shared space.
- Shared, simple meals such as onigiri (rice balls) and miso soup, distributed at set times. Supplies can be limited at first.
- Announcements in Japanese. Important information is usually given in Japanese, so stay alert and ask for help understanding it.
As a foreign resident
- You have the right to use any shelter. Evacuation shelters are open to everyone in the area, including foreign residents and tourists — you do not need to be a citizen.
- Language tips. Keep a translation app ready, learn a few key phrases, and do not hesitate to ask staff for help slowly.
- Ask for a 通訳ボランティア (interpreter volunteer). Many shelters, especially in larger cities, can arrange volunteer interpreters to help non-Japanese speakers.
Flooding is one of the most common reasons you may be ordered to evacuate. Learn how to read the warning levels and decide whether to leave or stay put with our flood and heavy-rain preparation guide.
Next step: Pack a go-bag with the Kit Builder, and read our earthquake survival guide to know when evacuating is the right call.