Travellers have been told to “remain vigilant” after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck north eastern and northern Japan on Monday.
Yesterday, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) forecast imminent tsunami waves for parts of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate prefectures, with the highest tsunami waves recorded at around 80cm on the east coast.
Although all tsunami warnings and advisories have been lifted, authorities have warned that the risk of another, even more powerful earthquake will remain this week.
Here is the latest travel advice for Japan, plus all the key questions and answers, following the earthquake.
Is it safe to travel to Japan?
As of Tuesday morning, the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has warned travellers in Japan: “The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued a precautionary megaquake alert, meaning there is an increased risk of strong earthquakes occurring in the coming week.
“Residents and tourists in Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Chiba should remain vigilant and follow guidance from local authorities.”
General FCDO safety advice for Japan warns that the country sits “in a major earthquake zone”.
Travellers are told to “take note of instructions in hotel rooms and at train stations and follow the advice of local authorities” in the event of a disaster.
Earthquake, tsunami and aftershock warnings can be monitored on the Japan Meteorological Agency website.
What have local authorities said?
On Monday, Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said the government had set up an emergency task force and urged citizens in the affected areas to evacuate to safety.
Where did the earthquake hit?
The earthquake struck off the Sanriku coast at 4.53pm local time, with its epicentre located at latitude 39.8 north and longitude 143.2 east, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The quake registered a magnitude of 7.7 with a seismic intensity recorded as upper 5 on Japan’s seismic scale, which goes up to 7. According to the scale, the upper 5 indicates that “most people find it difficult to walk without holding on to a stable object” and that “unfixed furniture may fall over”.
Where are there tsunami warnings?
Japan is positioned along the infamous “Pacific Ring of Fire” where the Pacific, North American, Eurasian and Filipino tectonic plates converge. The high-convergence zone makes Japan one of the world’s most seismically active regions.
Yesterday, a forecast from Japan’s Meteorological Agency said tsunami waves could reach the Pacific coast of Hokkaido and Iwate prefectures.
Authorities urged the residents to stay away from coastal areas where tsunami waves between one and three metres were originally expected.
Warnings were later downgraded to “advisories”, meaning swells of up to one metre were predicted. By midnight local time, all warnings and advisories were lifted.
Are flights going to Japan?
Per FlightRadar24, flights to and from Japan are largely operating as scheduled following the earthquake.
On Monday, Tokyo Aomori bullet train services were suspended between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori stations for several hours before resuming later in the evening. Some motorways were also closed due to the tremors.
Can I cancel my Japan holiday?
As the FCDO has not warned against non-essential travel to Japan, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund. The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it’s best to contact them if you’re looking to postpone due to earthquake concerns. There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim on your travel insurance due to safety concerns unless government advice changes.
Read more: Japan earthquake mapped
