Japan’s disaster preparedness culture is among the most developed in the world — supermarkets rotate emergency stockpiles, hardware stores dedicate entire aisles to preparedness products, and municipal offices distribute free hazard maps and checklist pamphlets. This guide helps foreign residents build a practical kit and maintain it so it works when needed.
The Two-Kit System
Japanese emergency guidance distinguishes between two scenarios: evacuation (leaving home quickly) and shelter-in-place (staying home during or after a disaster). Prepare for both:
- 非常持ち出し袋 (grab-and-go bag) — a backpack ready to grab in under 2 minutes
- 備蓄品 (home stockpile) — 7+ days of food, water, and supplies if evacuation is not necessary
Grab-and-Go Bag Contents
Water and food (3 days):
- Water: 1.5L per person per day minimum (3 days = 4–5L per adult — use lightweight pouches, not glass bottles)
- Compact high-calorie food: emergency rations (カロリーメイト), compressed biscuits (乾パン), energy bars, trail mix
- Collapsible water container for refilling at evacuation shelter water points
Documents (keep waterproofed):
- Residence card (在留カード) — photocopy, not original if possible
- Passport copy or passport number noted
- Health insurance card copy
- Building/rental contract with landlord contact
- Bank account information
- Emergency contacts (printed — phones die)
- Prescription list and medication names in Japanese and English
Safety and communication:
- LED flashlight + extra AA/AAA batteries (hand-crank or solar backup is valuable)
- Portable battery pack (20,000+ mAh) — fully charged and rotated monthly
- USB-C and Lightning cables for your devices
- AM/FM radio (hand-crank or battery) — NHK Radio 1 is the official emergency broadcast
- Whistle (for signaling if trapped)
- Work gloves (thick, for handling debris)
- N95 dust masks (5–10 units)
- Emergency mylar blanket (2 per person)
- Body warmers (カイロ) for winter scenarios
First aid and medical:
- Standard first aid kit: bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, medical tape, scissors
- Pain reliever, antihistamine, antidiarrheal
- 3–7 day supply of any prescription medication
- Feminine hygiene products if applicable
- Baby/child supplies if applicable
Practical items:
- Cash in small denominations (¥1,000 and ¥500 coins) — ¥30,000–50,000 recommended
- Waterproof bags (zip-lock sizes, large dry bag)
- Multi-tool or Swiss Army knife
- Duct tape (small roll)
- Lighter or waterproof matches
- Change of clothes and sturdy shoes
- Toothbrush, soap, toilet paper
Home Stockpile (備蓄品)
The home stockpile is for shelter-in-place scenarios: no evacuation needed, but shops are closed, utilities disrupted, and deliveries suspended for 3–7+ days. Japanese government guidance recommends a minimum 7-day supply.
- Water: 2L per person per day × 7 days + extra for cooking and hygiene. Store in 2L PET bottles, rotating quarterly. Tap water stored in clean sealed containers is safe for 3–5 days.
- Food: Retort pouches (レトルト食品) — curry, ramen, rice, stew — are the standard Japanese emergency staple. Long shelf life (1–3 years), just boil or microwave. Rotate stock: buy extras of foods you actually eat, use oldest first.
- Cooking: Portable gas stove (カセットコンロ) with 6–10 gas cartridges — an essential Japanese household item, widely available at AEON, Cainz, and Loft
- Sanitation: Toilet bags (非常用トイレ) for when plumbing is disrupted — Japanese-designed bags with absorbent gel, designed for use in existing toilet
- Power: Portable battery station (ポータブル電源 — Jackery, EcoFlow, Anker) for charging devices; some models support small appliances
Where to Buy Emergency Supplies in Japan
- Home centers (ホームセンター): Cainz (カインズ), Konan (コーナン), DCM — largest selection of preparedness products, anchor straps, and portable stoves
- 100-yen stores (百均): Daiso, Seria — surprisingly good for zip-lock bags, mini flashlights, whistles, first aid basics
- Outdoor shops: Mont-Bell, Snow Peak, Alpen — high-quality gear including lightweight water filters, emergency blankets, and trail food
- Amazon Japan: Large selection, keyword: 防災グッズ (disaster preparedness goods), 非常持ち出し袋 (emergency evacuation bag)
- Your ward office: May distribute free hazard maps and basic preparedness checklists (in multiple languages in major cities)
Maintenance Schedule
A kit that never gets checked becomes unreliable. Set a twice-yearly reminder (disaster prevention day, September 1, is a natural anchor) to:
- Rotate food and water stock (replace anything within 6 months of expiry)
- Recharge portable battery bank and test flashlight batteries
- Update document copies if residence card, insurance card, or contact info changed
- Review medication supply and confirm prescriptions are current
- Check clothing and shoes still fit