Following a 7.5-magnitude earthquake in the Pacific Ocean, tsunami warnings on Japan’s eastern coastline have caused concern.
Tsunami warnings for waves up to three metres high have been issued following the major earthquake in northeastern Japan.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has forecast imminent tsunami waves for parts of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate prefectures.
Here is the latest travel advice for Japan, plus all the key questions and answers, as the first tsunami waves are recorded in Iwate prefecture.
Read more: Tsunami warning issued after powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake
Is it safe to travel to Japan?
As of Monday morning, the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has not issued any new travel advice for Japan.
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?
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.
Broadcaster NHK showed ships sailing out of Hachinohe port in Hokkaido in anticipation of the waves, as an alert reading “Tsunami! Evacuate!” flashed across the screen.
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 7.5 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.
A forecast from Japan’s Meteorological Agency said tsunami waves could reach the Pacific coast of Hokkaido and Iwate prefectures.
Authorities have urged the residents to stay away from coastal areas where tsunami waves of up to three metres (9.84 ft) are expected.
Yellow tsunami warnings – which means waves reaching one metre high – are also in place in areas including Fukushima and northeastern Hokkaido.
Are flights going to Japan?
Per FlightRadar24, flights to and from Japan are largely operating as scheduled following the earthquake.
However, Tokyo Aomori bullet trains are currently suspended between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori stations after the major earthquake rocked the country.
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 tsunami 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.
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