Japan earthquake: is it safe to travel amid ‘megaquake’ warning and tsunami alerts?

Japan’s Meteorological Agency recorded the magnitude at 7.5 on its initial reports, with the epicentre lying roughly 80km offshore at a depth of around 44km, caused by thrust faulting –where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another along the Japan Trench. The shaking lasted for around 30 seconds and was felt as far away as Tokyo.

Within minutes, the JMA issued tsunami warnings for Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate, as harbour cameras showed the sea pulling back then rushing in. Ports along the northeast rim, including Kuji in Iwate and Urakawa in Hokkaido, recorded waves of up to 70cm.

By 6.30am on Tuesday, all tsunami warnings and advisories had been cancelled as gauges showed the waves subsiding. Nevertheless, the government’s disaster taskforce remains on high alert, with aftershocks including at least one magnitude-6.6 event rattling the region, and a “subsequent earthquake advisory” remaining in force along the Pacific side of northern Honshu and Hokkaido for the coming week.

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Which areas of Japan have been affected by the earthquake?

Tohoku and northern Honshu (Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi)

This is the area closest to the epicentre and has seen the strongest shaking and tsunami impact. Towns such as Hachinohe and Kuji have reported injuries, broken glass, toppled shelves and minor structural damage.

Hokkaido

New Chitose Airport near Sapporo closed runways temporarily for inspections, and part of the domestic terminal ceiling collapsed, although there have been no reports of serious injuries at the airport. Resorts in central and northern Hokkaido – including popular winter destinations like Furano and Niseko – are well away from the epicentre and have so far reported little more than minor rattling and momentary power flickers.

Tokyo and central Honshu

The capital felt a prolonged but moderate tremor. Trains briefly slowed or paused as automatic safety systems kicked in, but services have mostly returned to normal. There are no reports of significant damage in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya or Kyoto.

Western Japan (Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Okinawa)

Western and southern regions, including Kansai, Kyushu and Okinawa, are largely unaffected. Flights, ferries and Shinkansen services in these areas are operating normally.