Japan earthquake: Is it safe to travel despite the “huge earthquake” warning?

Published on 09/12/2025 – 14:55 GMT+1

Japan declared a state of alert after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck its northern regions late Monday, prompting tsunami warnings and a rare government warning about the possibility of a “mega-earthquake” occurring within the next week.

The warning comes as Hokkaido enters its busy winter tourist season, with ski resorts now welcoming visitors at the start of the pre-holiday season.

What does a “big earthquake” warning mean?

The quake struck off the east coast of Aomori — the northernmost point on the main island of Honshu — at around 11:15 p.m., registering an upper 6 on Japan's seismic intensity scale, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

Slow, strong waves shook parts of Aomori, and shock waves were recorded north in Hokkaido. There were no reports of deaths or serious damage to key infrastructure, and no malfunctions were detected at nearby nuclear power plants, according to NHK, Japan's national broadcaster.

Initial tsunami warnings for Iwate, Hokkaido and Aomori were later lowered and fully lifted early Tuesday morning.

Transport disruptions have been limited so far, although Tohoku Shinkansen services between Morioka and Shin-Aomori were briefly suspended before resuming on Tuesday.

But the Japan Meteorological Agency has issued a warning of a “megaearthquake” — an earthquake of magnitude 8 or higher — that could occur along the Japan Trench and Chishima Trench off Hokkaido.

The warning remains in effect until December 16, and authorities indicate that a stronger tremor could bring tsunami waves 3 meters high to the area.

This represents the first alert of “mega-earthquakes” in the country since this category was introduced in 2022.

What does it mean for travelers?

Hokkaido is one of the busiest winter destinations in Japan. The ski hub, Niseko, saw record numbers during the 2024-2025 season, with more than 11 million lift trips and an estimated 2.2 million visitors across its four resorts. With another snowy La Niña winter forecast, Niseko expects strong numbers again this season.

While a “mega-earthquake” may sound alarming, officials stress that this is not a prediction, but rather a statistical probability based on patterns seen in large offshore earthquakes.

Flights and most railway lines are operating normally, and authorities have not imposed travel restrictions to northern Japan or Hokkaido.

No direct impact has been reported so far in Niseko and Furano – Hokkaido's two main ski areas – including widespread damage to buildings or closure of ski resorts.

However, travelers are encouraged to stay informed and review basic earthquake safety guidelines while visiting the area.

How to stay safe in Hokkaido

Japan is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, and earthquakes are a common feature of life.

Nearly 2,000 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or higher have struck an area within 300 kilometers of Hokkaido in the past 10 years, according to an open source earthquake list.

In addition to checking national travel warnings and monitoring updates from Japanese authorities, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) recommends travelers download the Safety Tipsapp app, which sends earthquake, tsunami and other weather warnings within Japan in 15 different languages.

The Japan National Tourism Authority adds that during an earthquake, travelers should disembark, cover themselves and hold on to something stable. Those inside should stay inside and avoid windows. People outdoors should stay away from buildings, trees, and power lines to avoid falling objects.

In either case, avoid using elevators during or immediately after an earthquake.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos