Japan Travel Safety FAQ: What the Advisories Actually Say

The question everyone asks, answered properly

UK advice says to take the same precautions you would at home and to get local advice on areas where you may need to be more alert. It says Tokyo's entertainment districts carry a higher crime risk, particularly at night in and around clubs and bars, where foreign nationals have been targeted for extortion, robbery, assault and sexual assault, and that reports of drink spiking and credit card fraud have increased. The US State Department rates Japan Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (updated 15 May 2025).

Japan faces earthquakes, typhoons, heavy rain and flooding; UK advice updated 28 August 2026 explicitly mentions flooding and heavy rain. Follow local warnings, check transport conditions and know the evacuation route for your stay. Snow can also close mountain roads in winter.

Earthquakes: know the alerts

UK advice says Japan is in a major earthquake zone and recommends monitoring earthquake, tsunami and aftershock information from the Japan Meteorological Agency, which lists helpful apps and websites for disasters. The Japan National Tourism Organization publishes earthquake safety tips, and the Japan Visitor Hotline offers English-language emergency assistance during natural disasters.

Read the evacuation information at your accommodation when you arrive, and follow instructions from staff and local authorities.

Typhoons, snow and the weather calendar

UK advice says the typhoon season in Japan runs between June and December, peaking between July and September, with the highest risk in southern parts of the country. Monitor approaching storms with the Japan Meteorological Agency and follow any evacuation orders. Heavy rain and flooding are common in the rainy and typhoon seasons.

UK advice says Japanese summers are extremely hot and humid, with temperatures often exceeding 35 degrees in July and August, and that heat stroke and heat-related illness are a significant risk. Japanese authorities publish a heat stroke index.

The practical frictions: language, cash, etiquette

• The language gap

  English signage is good in the cities and thin in the countryside. A translation app earns its keep daily, and the service culture means staff will persist until you are helped. Learn three words — please, thank you, excuse me — and the country opens.

• Cash still matters

  Cards are now accepted in most city hotels, department stores and stations, but smaller restaurants, temples and some ryokan still prefer cash. Convenience-store ATMs take foreign cards reliably; carry a modest float outside the big cities.

• Etiquette is simply how it works

  Queueing, quiet carriages, shoes off where indicated, no tipping — following the local pattern makes everything smoother, and nobody expects perfection from visitors. Onsen have their own short rulebook: wash first, no towels in the water, tattoos may need covering or a private bath.

• Health and water

  Check your government's health guidance and your insurance cover for medical treatment. Bring prescription medicines in original packaging with a copy of the prescription, because some medicines available elsewhere are restricted in Japan.

• Driving

  Japan drives on the left. Check licence requirements and local road conditions before driving, particularly in winter.

• ✓Download an earthquake-alert app and a translation app before you land.
• ✓Read the evacuation floor map in your hotel or villa on arrival.
• ✓Carry a cash float outside the big cities; convenience-store ATMs take foreign cards.
• ✓Check typhoon forecasts between June and December and book flexibly.
• ✓Check your government's Japan advisory the week before you fly.

Solo travellers, families and late nights

UK advice says female passengers on commuter trains have experienced inappropriate behaviour, including touching and upskirting. It advises shouting at the perpetrator to attract attention and asking a fellow passenger to call train or station staff. Check the rail operator's information on women-only carriages.

For nights out, UK advice says Tokyo's entertainment districts carry a higher crime risk, particularly in and around clubs and bars, and warns of drink spiking and credit card fraud. Keep your drinks in sight and check your card statements after your trip.

Where this fits your planning

Safety settled, the real Japan questions are where, when and what it costs — and those have their own guides. The flagship Japan guide walks the country region by region with honest rates; the town guides go deep on Kyoto, Tokyo, Niseko and the rest; and the Asia hub sets Japan beside Bali and Thailand if the trip is wider than one country.