The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has released their Tokyo Virtual Hazard series of VR videos that let people experience how to prepare against wind and flood disasters. The three videos on river flooding, landslide disasters, and floods caused by storm surges each consist of two parts: a disaster experience and a disaster preparedness learning experience.
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Tokyo Virtual Hazard Series
General Information
A series of VR videos that help people experience disasters and learn how to prepare for disasters.
Tokyo Metropolis is Japan’s capital and a prefecture-level unit with a unique “Metropolis” status. It includes the 23 special wards, western suburban cities, towns, villages, and remote islands. With a population of around 14 million, Tokyo is one of the world’s largest metropolitan economies and a major hub for finance, commerce, and culture. Tokyo faces significant natural hazards, including earthquakes, typhoons, and flooding, compounded by high population density and complex urban infrastructure
Needs Addressed
The Tokyo Virtual Hazard series addresses challenges such as low awareness of local disaster risks, limited opportunities to practice response actions, and difficulties in understanding effective preparedness measures. Through immersive VR experiences of river flooding, landslides, and storm surges, it helps people visualize disaster impacts, learn practical safety steps, and strengthen their readiness to respond calmly and effectively.
The Tokyo Virtual Hazard series is not designed for any specific vulnerable group; instead, it is intended for the general public. By making disaster experiences and preparedness training accessible to everyone, the series ensures that people of all ages and backgrounds can strengthen their awareness and readiness for floods, landslides, and storm surges.
Emergency management in Tokyo is characterized by multistakeholder governance, involving collaboration among public authorities, private sector actors, research institutions, and the community. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government coordinates disaster management policies and services across the city. Fire and police departments, disaster prevention centers, research centers, community organizations, and volunteers handle rescue, training, and local preparedness. Companies maintain essential services, while residents participate in drills and follow preparedness guidance.
Tokyo’s emergency preparedness is recognized internationally as a model for urban disaster management. The city’s emergency preparedness is based on comprehensive planning, strict building codes, early-warning systems, public education, and integration of technology.
Tokyo’s infrastructure readiness is very high, with earthquake-resistant buildings, robust transportation networks, reliable utilities, and integrated disaster management systems. Evacuation routes, shelters, and emergency logistics are well planned.
The role of stakeholder involvement in the Tokyo Virtual Hazard series is primarily informational. The videos function as a one-way communication tool, where government authorities provide citizens with disaster awareness and preparedness guidance.
The technique used in the Tokyo Virtual Hazard series is educational and experiential engagement, where immersion and realism are used to inform and motivate action, rather than participatory discussion or consultation.
In the Tokyo Virtual Hazard series, participants do not directly influence its design or implementation. Participants’ role is primarily as recipients of information, learning from the immersive VR experiences rather than contributing to decision-making or shaping the series
While the technology does not enable direct citizen input or interaction with authorities, it effectively bridges the gap between information and practical experience, making disaster prevention and preparedness more accessible and impactful. The Tokyo Virtual Hazard series helps citizens make better-informed decisions during real emergencies, reduces panic, and strengthens overall community resilience by improving individual readiness and confidence in responding to disasters.
Hazard Type
Geographical Scope - Nuts
Geographical Scope
Population Size
Population Density
Vulnerable Groups
Governance
Emergency Preparedness
Infrastructure Readiness
Engagement Level
Empowerment Level
Implementation
The Tokyo Virtual Hazard series stands out for its use of immersive VR technology to simulate disaster scenarios in a highly realistic and engaging way. Unlike traditional disaster preparedness materials, the VR format allows participants to experience the effects of floods, landslides, and storm surges firsthand, providing a sense of scale, urgency, and context that text or video alone cannot convey. This innovative approach enhances learning and retention, enabling users to practice decision-making and safety actions safely.
Japanese and English
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Tokyo Metropolitan Government's DRM experience is characterized by a comprehensive approach that combines infrastructure development, public education, technological innovation, and policy implementation.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
The steps involved in the Tokyo Virtual Hazard series’s implementation have not been publicly disclosed. However, seven general steps can be outlined:
- Assess hazards and select disaster scenarios;
- Develop VR content with expert guidance on preparedness;
- Build and test the VR platform for usability and accessibility;
- Pilot and refine based on user feedback;
- Deploy in schools, community centers, or online;
- Monitor and evaluate effectiveness;
- Ensure sustainability through funding and operational support.
The Tokyo Virtual Hazard series’s implementation relied on three main resources: institutional support from government and disaster authorities for the development of educational content such as emergency management guides, technical resources for the development of the series and its features like VR-mode, and public financial resources for development, maintenance, and updates.
The Tokyo Virtual Hazard series' timeframe and implementation phases have not been publicly disclosed.
Experience of the Implementing Organisation in DRM
Target Audience
Resources Required
Timeframe & Phases
Participation Results
Information on the challenges faced during implementation and the adaptive strategies used has not been publicly disclosed. However, general challenges in implementing a tool like Tokyo Virtual Hazard series include ensuring access to VR technology, supporting user digital literacy, securing sustainable funding, adapting content to different regions or hazards, and measuring its impact on disaster preparedness.
Details on the Tokyo Virtual Hazard series' risk assessment and mitigation plan have not been publicly disclosed.
Risk & Mitigation Plan
Scalability and Sustainability
The Tokyo Virtual Hazard series is sustainable over time since best practices for disaster prevention and preparedness remain constant and do not require frequent updates. Its long-term value could be enhanced by developing additional series tailored to specific vulnerable groups and by expanding coverage to other types of risks beyond floods and landslides.
The Tokyo Virtual Hazard series could be implemented in other contexts by adapting VR content to local hazards and community needs, with governments coordinating alongside VR developers and disaster experts. It can be delivered in schools, community centers, or public spaces, making disaster preparedness more engaging and accessible.
The technology, specifically immersive VR, plays a central role in the series by transforming traditional disaster education into an experiential and engaging learning process.
The direct costs of implementing the Tokyo Virtual Hazard series have not been publicly disclosed.
The operational costs of implementing the Tokyo Virtual Hazard series have not been publicly disclosed.
The Tokyo Virtual Hazard initiative shows that immersive VR training can make disaster risks more tangible, closing the gap between awareness and action by motivating people to prepare. The approach is scalable and adaptable, though challenges like accessibility and integration with broader disaster policies must be addressed.