Daily Life Lessons · Disasters
Be able to prepare around your home and check information when a typhoon or heavy rain is approaching, and decide for yourself whether to evacuate from a dangerous area by "Level 4."
Typhoons and heavy rain are disasters that are often forecast in advance. Check your hazard map (ハザードマップ) beforehand to see whether your home or workplace is in an area at risk of flooding or landslides, and decide where you will evacuate to.
Before a typhoon arrives, bring inside anything that could be blown away by the wind, such as flower pots and laundry poles; close your windows and reinforce them if necessary; and clean out gutters and drains. Charge your smartphone and check your water, food, flashlight, and portable radio.
Since May 2026, warnings for heavy rain and similar hazards have been issued with an alert-level (警戒レベル) number, such as "Level 3 Heavy Rain Warning" (レベル3大雨警報) and "Level 4 Heavy Rain Danger Warning" (レベル4大雨危険警報). At Level 3, people who need more time to evacuate, such as older people and people with disabilities, start evacuating. At Level 4, everyone in a dangerous area evacuates. Never go to check on rivers or irrigation channels during heavy rain.
台風（たいふう）や 大雨（おおあめ）の 前に：
1. ハザードマップで、家の 近くが 危なくないか 見ます。 2. 逃げる 場所を 決めます。 3. 外の 植木鉢（うえきばち）などを 家の 中に 入れます。窓を 閉めます。 4. スマホを 充電（じゅうでん）します。水、食べ物、ライト、ラジオを 用意します。
警報（けいほう）には 「レベル」の 数字が あります。 ・レベル3：お年寄りや 障がいの ある人は 逃げます。 ・レベル4：危ない 場所に いる人は、みんな 逃げます。
大雨の とき、川を 見に 行っては いけません。
Before a typhoon comes, what should you do with flower pots on your balcony?
If they are blown away by the wind, they can cause injuries or break window glass.
What do you use to check whether your home is at risk of flooding or landslides?
You can see hazard maps on your municipality's website or on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "Hazard Map Portal Site" (ハザードマップポータルサイト).
When "Level 4" information is issued, what should people in dangerous areas do?
Everyone must evacuate from dangerous areas by Level 4. Do not wait for Level 5.
Who starts evacuating at "Level 3"?
People who need more time to evacuate, and the people who help them, start evacuating at Level 3.
During heavy rain, what should you do about rivers and irrigation channels?
The water can rise suddenly and you could be swept away.
Q. Do I have to go to an evacuation shelter?
A. "Evacuation" (避難) means "avoiding danger." Evacuation shelters are not the only place to go: you can also consider the home of a relative or friend in a safe area. Check on the hazard map whether your home is safe, and if you are unsure, follow your municipality's information.
Q. What if going outside is actually more dangerous?
A. If moving to an evacuation site is dangerous, make yourself as safe as possible by evacuating to an upper floor of a sturdy building nearby, or by moving to an upper floor of your home or a room away from cliffs and slopes.
Q. What if I cannot understand information in Japanese?
A. The free app "Safety tips," supervised by the Japan Tourism Agency, sends alerts such as tsunami warnings and weather emergency warnings (特別警報) in multiple languages. Also check the multilingual disaster information from your local government.
This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.
Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-09-28
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original