Finding an evacuation point during an earthquake or tsunami can be daunting when you're visiting a new place, especially if you don't speak Japanese. A new initiative aims to make navigating emergencies in Japan easier by combining evacuation guidance, multilingual visitor information, and solar-powered lighting in one system.
Called Tomoshibi Guide, the system is designed for cultural heritage sites, parks, tourist attractions, and other public facilities. Applications for free installation opened on October 14, with the project aiming to expand its network across Japan.
During certain emergencies, including earthquakes of magnitude 6 or higher and tsunami warnings, the system automatically switches its guidance screens to display nearby evacuation shelters and directions. Visitors can access the information by scanning a QR code with their smartphones, without downloading an app or registering an account.
The solar-powered lights are designed to remain illuminated during power outages and include USB ports for charging smartphones, potentially helping travelers stay connected when electricity is unavailable.
Outside emergencies, the system provides information in five languages: Japanese, English, simplified and traditional Chinese, and Korean. Visitors can use it to locate facilities such as toilets, accessible restrooms, AEDs, drinking water, and rubbish bins, addressing some of the everyday challenges of navigating unfamiliar destinations.
The lighting units had already been installed at 127 locations across Japan as of August 2026. The project aims to increase that number to 1,000, particularly at cultural heritage sites and public facilities.
For international travelers, the initiative highlights an important part of travel preparedness, which is knowing where to find local information when plans change unexpectedly.
More information: Tomoshibi Guide
