Essential Apps for Japan
Emergency and disaster preparedness smartphone applications
12 Essential Apps
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12 apps found
iOS Emergency Alerts
HighFor phones with SIM cards from the major carriers in Japan (SoftBank, KDDI Au, NTT DoCoMo), navigate to iOS Settings, Notifications, then scroll down and tap "Emergency Alerts" to ON, to receive alerts directly to your mobile device.
NERV Disaster Prevention Application
HighNERV is an app that delivers optimized disaster prevention and weather information, such as earthquake, tsunami and volcanic eruption alerts, or flood and landslide information based on the user's registered location. Japan residents and visitors can get real time information to help them take appropriate action.
Android 8.1+ Emergency Alerts
HighFor mobiles with Android 8.1 (or later), you can directly receive Emergency alerts. Here's how to enable for [SoftBank](https://did2memo.net/2017/09/18/jishin-kinkyu-jishin-sokuhou-settings-android-softbank/), [KDDI Au](https://did2memo.net/2017/09/15/jishin-kinkyu-jishin-sokuhou-settings-android-au/), and [NTT DoCoMo](https://did2memo.net/2017/09/10/jishin-kinkyu-jishin-sokuhou-settings-android-docomo/) (in Japanese).
NHK World TV
HighNHK's News and alert app for Smartphones. Enable alert notifications in settings.
Digi-Police Anti-Crime App
NormalDigi Police is an app created by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Agency, to help fight crime. It has an SOS Message mode, that allows a person being molested (on the train) to stay silent while broadcasting the situation. In Japanese language.
Yurekuru Call
HighQuake alert smartphone app with in-app purchases.
Safety Tips
HighA multilingual disaster safety tips and early warning app for quake, tsunami, volcano, weather warnings (etc).
Google Translate
HighEssential translation app with offline capability, camera translation, and conversation mode. Critical for emergencies when you need to communicate quickly.
Yahoo! Transit
HighComprehensive Japan train and bus route planner. Essential for navigating during disruptions or finding alternative routes during emergencies.
VoiceTra Voice Translation App
HighVoice translation app developed by NICT supporting 31 languages. Useful for emergency medical situations or police interactions.
Hyperdia Train Route Planner
NormalPopular English-friendly train route planner for Japan. Helpful for finding alternative routes during service disruptions.
Tokyo Metro Disaster App
NormalOfficial Tokyo Metro app with real-time service info, facility locations, and emergency notifications.
On this page
App Categories
- Safety and Security
- Transportation
- Medical Services
The Apps You Need Before an Emergency
For international residents in Japan, smartphone apps are crucial tools that bridge language barriers and can save lives during emergencies.
Key Points
- J-ALERT Reception: Receiving Japan's emergency alerts in English requires specific apps
- Translation Features: Essential for emergency communication with medical facilities and police
- Transit Information: Critical for finding alternative routes home during disasters
- Multilingual Support: Many apps provide information in English and other languages
When to Download
Install these apps immediately upon arrival in Japan — during an actual emergency, app stores may be slow or inaccessible due to network congestion. Download before you need them.
Critical Settings to Verify
- Location Services Permission: Essential for disaster information apps
- Notification Permission: Critical for receiving J-ALERT
- Offline Translation Download: Download Japanese language pack in Google Translate
- Download on Wi-Fi: Some apps are large; use Wi-Fi to avoid data charges
Need IT Support for Your Japan Office?
eSolia is a Tokyo-based bilingual IT support company that helps international teams get set up and stay productive in Japan. From configuring devices and deploying apps across your team, to running a full bilingual helpdesk and managing your office IT infrastructure, we handle the technology so you can focus on your business. Contact us to discuss your needs.
Related Pages
- Emergency Contacts Directory — 66+ essential contacts
- J-ALERT System — Understanding Japan's nationwide instant warning system
- Emergency Information Home — Main emergency information page