The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, in collaboration with the Disaster Prevention Center, organizes tours to help foreign residents learn local disaster prevention rules and practice appropriate evacuation actions during emergencies. The tours focus mainly on earthquake preparedness, fire extinguishing, smoke, and urban floods, and feature a high level of technological sophistication, including VR simulations, smoke-filled environments, and interactive exercises such as opening basement doors or car doors under simulated water pressure to provide realistic and safe experiential learning.
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Disaster Prevention Experience Tour for Foreigners
General Information
Activities for foreigners to build skills and awareness for disaster safety.
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 tool addresses the problem that many foreign residents in Tokyo may lack awareness of local disaster prevention rules and may not know how to take appropriate evacuation actions during emergencies, increasing their vulnerability in disaster situations.
The tours specifically involve migrants and foreign residents, who are considered a vulnerable group in disaster situations. Language barriers, unfamiliarity with Tokyo’s disaster prevention systems, and limited access to local information can leave them at higher risk during emergencies.
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 purpose of engagement in the Disaster Prevention Experience Tours for Foreigners is to raise awareness and build practical skills among foreign residents, enabling them to understand Tokyo’s disaster prevention rules and take appropriate evacuation actions.
The tours engage participants through practical experiences and workshops. Simulations are also used to provide immersive disaster scenarios, allowing participants to safely practice evacuation and response actions.
The tours are fully planned and managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Disaster Prevention Center. Participants’ role is primarily as recipients of information and experiential learning, rather than as contributors to decision-making or the design of the program.
Through repeated practice, learning local disaster rules, and experiencing VR simulations, foreign residents build lasting preparedness skills, enhancing resilience and contributing to a safer, disaster-ready community.
Hazard Type
Geographical Scope - Nuts
Geographical Scope
Population Size
Population Density
Vulnerable Groups
Governance
Emergency Preparedness
Infrastructure Readiness
Engagement Level
Empowerment Level
Implementation
The Disaster Prevention Experience Tours for Foreigners are unique in targeting vulnerable foreign residents and combining practical exercises to teach disaster preparedness. The experiential approach enhances learning and confidence, while collaboration between the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Disaster Prevention Center ensures accurate and authoritative guidance.
English, Chinese, Vietnamese and Nepali.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Disaster Prevention Center.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s disaster risk management combines infrastructure development, policy implementation, and technological innovation with public education. The Disaster Prevention Center adds specialized expertise through simulations, training, and innovative tools that build practical skills, decision-making, and community resilience.
Official information on the implementation steps is not available. However, five main actions can be identified to implement the Disaster Prevention Experience Tours for Foreigners:
- Assess the needs of foreign residents and identify preparedness gaps.
- Design and develop program content with workshops, multilingual materials, and VR simulations.
- Mobilize resources (staff, trainers, technology, funding, etc.).
- Train facilitators and pilot test the activities. Implement and evaluate the tours to improve effectiveness and impact.
The implementation of the tours requires human resources such as government coordinators, trainers from the Disaster Prevention Center, multilingual guides, and technical staff. It also relies on technological resources including VR equipment, simulators, audiovisual tools, and IT systems. Financial resources are provided mainly through government funding.
Currently, there is no detailed information on the timeframes or phases for implementing the tours. To date, three tours have been organized over slightly more than one year, providing initial outreach and training to foreign residents.
Experience of the Implementing Organisation in DRM
Target Audience
Resources Required
Timeframe & Phases
Participation Results
Specific implementation challenges and solutions are not documented, but general challenges likely include language barriers, access to technology, participant engagement, resource allocation, and adapting content for cultural diversity.
Specific information on risks and the mitigation plan is not documented.
Risk & Mitigation Plan
Scalability and Sustainability
Specific information on the sustainability model is not documented.
The tours can be easily scaled to different regions by focusing on local hazards, and adapting them to the community’s language, infrastructure, and emergency procedures, making them relevant and practical for diverse populations. In contexts where the use of technological tools is limited due to funding constraints, the tours can still be organized in a more traditional format, relying on in-person workshops, demonstrations, and practical exercises to teach disaster preparedness and evacuation procedures effectively.
The Disaster Prevention Experience Tours for Foreigners feature a high level of technological sophistication, combining VR simulations with realistic physical experiences such as smoke-filled environments, opening basement doors, and manipulating car doors under simulated water pressure. These advanced tools allow participants to safely practice complex disaster scenarios, enhancing practical skills, decision-making, and preparedness in ways that go beyond traditional workshops.
Official information on direct costs for the implementation of the tours is not available.
Official information on operational costs for the implementation of the tours is not available.