Japan Earthquake: What UK Travellers to Kyushu Need to Know

What happened

A powerful earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu on the afternoon of 28 July 2026 local time. The Japan Meteorological Agency measured the quake at magnitude 7.1, while the US Geological Survey later assessed it at 6.8, and the shaking reached shindo 7, the highest level on Japan's seismic intensity scale, a level recorded only a handful of times since measurement began. The earthquake caused building collapses and fires in and around Kumamoto City, including the partial collapse of a shopping mall in the town of Kashima where rescue operations have continued, and a highway bridge buckled. Fatalities have been confirmed, with the toll rising as rescue work proceeds, and Japanese authorities instructed around 300,000 people across the prefecture to move to evacuation centres. A tsunami advisory issued immediately after the quake was lifted shortly afterwards. Strong aftershocks have followed, and the Japan Meteorological Agency has urged residents to remain alert to the possibility of further large earthquakes in the coming days, a pattern the region knows well from the 2016 Kumamoto sequence, when a second, larger quake followed the first by 28 hours. Figures in this article reflect reporting at the time of writing and will change as the situation develops.

If you are in Japan now

British nationals in Kyushu should follow the instructions of the Japanese authorities without hesitation: evacuation orders, aftershock warnings and building safety cordons in Japan are issued by the world's most experienced earthquake response system and err on the side of caution for good reason. The standard guidance during aftershocks is to drop, cover and hold on indoors rather than running outside, stay away from damaged structures, cliffs and steep slopes, and keep away from the coast whenever a tsunami advisory is in force. Japan's disaster information reaches phones automatically through the J-Alert system, and the NHK World app and website carry official information in English. Travellers elsewhere in Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, are a long way from the affected area and unaffected beyond possible transport ripple effects, but should still know their hotel's evacuation guidance as a matter of routine in Japan. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office publishes travel advice for Japan, and British nationals needing consular help can contact the British Embassy in Tokyo. Letting family at home know you are safe quickly matters more than travellers expect: UK contacts worried about a British national in the affected area can also reach the FCDO's consular assistance line.

Flights, bullet trains and getting around Kyushu

Transport disruption radiates from the affected area. Kumamoto's airport and the larger hub at Fukuoka serve Kyushu's international and domestic connections, and quake inspections typically suspend or delay flights in the immediate aftermath even where infrastructure is undamaged, so anyone flying to, from or via Kyushu should check directly with their airline before travelling to the airport. The Kyushu Shinkansen and local rail lines suspend automatically when strong shaking is detected and resume only after track inspection, which after a shindo 7 event can take days on the most affected sections, and expressways close for the same inspection cycle. Passengers whose flights are cancelled are entitled to a refund or rebooking from the airline, and where a cancelled flight departs the UK or is operated by a UK or EU carrier, care obligations apply during long delays even though extraordinary-circumstances rules will generally exclude fixed compensation. Rail passes and shinkansen tickets for suspended services are refundable through the operator. The practical rule for the coming days is to verify every leg of a Kyushu itinerary before setting out, and to build slack into connections, since aftershock-triggered suspensions can strike an otherwise recovered timetable without warning.

Trips booked, insurance and cancellation rights

Travellers with imminent trips to Kyushu face the awkward gap between concern and cover. Whether cancelling is financially protected depends on three layers. First, FCDO advice: if the FCDO advises against travel to the affected area, package operators will generally cancel or rearrange with a full refund under the Package Travel Regulations, and travel insurance cancellation cover typically engages. Second, operator goodwill: airlines and tour operators commonly offer fee-free changes for destinations in the news even without an advice change, and asking costs nothing. Third, insurance wording: policies vary widely on natural catastrophe cover, with some including cancellation or curtailment where a destination is rendered uninhabitable or unreachable and others excluding earthquakes entirely, so the policy document, not assumption, is the guide. Choosing not to travel to an area that remains open and without adverse FCDO advice is usually classed as disinclination, which neither operators nor insurers must cover. Travellers already in Japan whose plans are disrupted should keep receipts for additional accommodation and transport, as curtailment and delay sections of policies commonly reimburse reasonable extra costs. Anyone buying insurance now for an existing booking should note that cover for known events is excluded from the moment an event enters the news. Related: our global travel section, UK visa and immigration guides, money guides and the latest UK news.

Frequently asked questions

How strong was the Kumamoto earthquake?

The Japan Meteorological Agency measured it at magnitude 7.1, with the USGS assessing 6.8. Shaking reached shindo 7, the highest level on Japan's seismic intensity scale.

Is it safe to travel to Japan now?

Most of Japan is unaffected. The damage is concentrated in Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu, where aftershocks continue. Check FCDO travel advice for Japan and follow local authority instructions in the region.

Will my flight to Japan be cancelled?

Flights to Kyushu airports, particularly Kumamoto and Fukuoka, face inspection-related disruption. Routes to Tokyo and Osaka are largely unaffected. Check with your airline before travelling to the airport.

Can I cancel my trip to Japan and get a refund?

Only in limited cases. Refunds generally depend on FCDO advice changing, your operator cancelling, or specific natural catastrophe cover in your travel insurance. Choosing not to travel to an open destination is usually not covered.

How do I check on a British national in the earthquake area?

Contact the FCDO's consular assistance service, and encourage the traveller to register their safety with family directly. The British Embassy in Tokyo supports British nationals in Japan.