Japan faces numerous natural disaster risks including earthquakes, typhoons, and flooding. We'll explain in straightforward terms how to build disaster preparedness supplies, create evacuation plans, and perform daily safety checks—all practical steps you can take in a rental home.
Reviewed by: Nobuyuki MoriPresident, M-Assets Co., Ltd. / Licensed Real Estate Transaction Specialist (Miyagi #018212)
Do you find yourself postponing disaster preparedness because you think, "I can't do major renovations in a rental"? However, stockpiling supplies and creating an evacuation plan are necessary for all households, regardless of whether you rent or own. In fact, rental homes often require more intentional preparation because moving resets your setup, making it crucial to actively maintain readiness.
Disaster preparedness is essential even in rental housing. This practical guide from a rental property professional covers concrete steps you can take in apartments—from stocking supplies and preparing evacuation plans to securing furniture—to protect against earthquakes, typhoons, fires, and other risks.
A complete guide to gathering disaster preparedness stockpiles and emergency supplies for rental apartments and condos. Discover practical stockpile guidelines, priorities, and compact storage tips that work even with limited rental space.
A comprehensive guide to disaster preparedness measures you can implement even in rental homes. Covering how to read hazard maps, confirm evacuation routes, prepare emergency evacuation kits, and understand furniture anchoring options—a practical disaster prevention guide for foreign residents and all renters.
Japan is an earthquake-prone country, and Sendai in particular is a region with high disaster awareness stemming from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake experience. This guide introduces cost-effective disaster prevention measures that work in rental homes.
The first step in disaster preparedness is understanding the risks in your area. Follow these steps to check:
How to Check Hazard Maps
Sendai City offers the "Sendai City Disaster Prevention Map" on its official website, where you can view evacuation sites, evacuation routes, and hazard areas on an interactive map.
The building's own earthquake resistance is also important. Properties that received their building permits after 1981 comply with the "new seismic standards" and experienced relatively less damage during the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. Check with your real estate company about the relationship between the building's age and its seismic standards.
The Cabinet Office recommends "at least 3 days, preferably one week" of emergency supplies. In rental homes with limited storage, efficient stockpiling is essential.
Emergency Supply Checklist (Per Person) | Category | Item | Quantity/Duration | |----------|------|----------| | Water | Mineral water | 2L×7 bottles (2L per day × 7 days) | | Food | Rice, ready-to-eat meals, canned goods | 7-day supply of staples | | Emergency toilet | Portable toilet | 50–100 uses | | Medicine | Prescribed medication, adhesive bandages, fever reducer | 1 set each | | Flashlight | Hand-crank, LED | 1 or more | | Mobile charger | Power bank | 1 large capacity | | Other | Cash, document copies | 5,000+ yen in small bills |
Storage Tips
The rotating stock method involves buying commonly used foods in bulk, consuming older items, and replacing them. This prevents the failure of accidentally throwing away expired items.
Prepare an evacuation bag that you can grab instantly if you need to leave suddenly. Store it by the entrance or another easily accessible location.
What to Pack in Your Evacuation Bag
Keep the total weight under 15 kg so you can actually carry it.
Having a predetermined action plan for what to do during an earthquake in your rental home can prevent panic.
Immediately When the Earthquake Hits (While Shaking)
Once the Shaking Stops
Criteria for Evacuation
Identify your evacuation location in advance and decide with family or roommates where you'll meet afterward.
Large-scale preparations matter, but small daily habits can save lives.
Things to Do Regularly
In the case of apartment buildings, attending disaster drills organized by your building's management association or management company helps you learn the building's evacuation routes and the location of emergency equipment.
Disaster prevention is entirely feasible in a rental home. What matters most is being "prepared to act when something happens" rather than achieving "perfect preparation." Starting with these three steps—checking hazard maps, stockpiling supplies, and learning evacuation routes—will significantly improve your ability to respond in an emergency.
SUMUIE also offers consultation on choosing properties where you can live safely. Feel free to ask any questions about hazard map information or building earthquake resistance.
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