Safety in Japan: what overland travellers should know
Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 1 April 2026.
Safety
- Safe, with exceptions — Japan is considered a safe country, but the nightlife districts of the big cities see occasional scams and robberies against tourists: inflated bills, card payment fraud, and drinks spiked with sleeping drugs. Bag-snatching is on the rise in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and the ministry also notes heightened political risk from international tensions involving the region's main players.
- Earthquakes and tsunami — Japan is rated a high seismic risk country. The authorities monitor tremors constantly and push alerts to mobile phones just before a strong shock, and apps such as Safety Tips and NHK World carry disaster notifications.
- Typhoons — Typhoons hit frequently from June to October, most of all in the south-west, and reach the Tokyo area too in weaker form. They often bring landslides and flooding: follow local instructions, keep supplies on board and stay put rather than travelling through one.
- Volcanoes — Volcanic activity is ongoing in places. The Japan Meteorological Agency publishes regular bulletins on which volcanoes are active.
- Fukushima exclusion zones — The reactors damaged in March 2011 are in cold shutdown and the dismantling work will take many more years. The exclusion zones are clearly marked and monitored, and have shrunk over time: follow the local authorities and never cross the limits for any reason.
Before you rely on this
This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 1 April 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Japan before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.
Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 1 April 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.