Japan earthquake tests country’s resilience as travellers navigate disruption

A powerful magnitude-6.8 earthquake has struck Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, disrupting transport, damaging infrastructure, and forcing visitors to rethink travel plans in parts of Kumamoto Prefecture. The quake hit at around 4.27pm local time on 28 July, with the strongest shaking recorded in Hikawa Town, where Japan’s seismic intensity scale reached the maximum level of 7.

While the immediate danger has eased, the travel impact is likely to continue. A tsunami advisory for the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas was issued after the earthquake, warning of waves of around one metre before being lifted. Railway services across Kyushu were suspended, including the Kyushu Shinkansen linking Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima, while Kumamoto Airport halted operations for safety checks.

Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka remain outside the main impact zone, with normal tourism operations continuing. However, travellers heading to Kumamoto, Mount Aso, and rural hot-spring areas should expect possible delays, road closures, and last-minute itinerary changes as inspections continue.

The earthquake is also a reminder that Kyushu’s appeal, volcanic landscapes, mountain roads, and remote villages, can become a logistical challenge during disasters. Visitors should monitor updates from the Japan Meteorological Agency and transport operators, keep flexible bookings where possible, and avoid affected coastal and mountainous areas until authorities confirm conditions are stable.

The ITIJ team recently asked experts whether specialist reputation management and crisis recovery consultancies help destinations restore their reputations after natural disasters.