Photo/Illutration Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki speaks to reporters at the prefectural government office in August. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Foreign tourists stranded by a megaquake would be urged to make their way to Niigata and Matsumoto airports in central Japan for flights to their home countries.

This is one of the options that is expected to be considered by a study group being set up to deal with a Nankai Trough disaster.

Officials noted that the airports, located in Niigata and Nagano prefectures, lie outside of the projected disaster zone, while urban facilities would likely be severely affected.

Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki told a Sept. 5 news conference that his prefecture, along with Nagano, Niigata and Shizuoka, have agreed to form a study group to discuss how to help foreign tourists return home if a Nankai Trough earthquake strikes.

Foreign visitor numbers have surged since Japan lifted its travel curbs following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, the number of overnight stays in the four prefectures by foreign nationals totaled 4.3 million.

Haneda Airport in Tokyo and Narita Airport in neighboring Chiba Prefecture would likely be overrun, while Chubu and Kansai airports could expect significant damage as they would be closer to the epicenter.

There has been little discussion in Japan to date on how to assist foreign tourists in a Nankai Trough disaster.

This issue came to light after a megaquake advisory was issued in August.

The study group will seek input from the relevant national agencies and experts, with Yamanashi Prefecture serving as the secretariat.

A preparatory meeting for the group will be held later in September.

The group will also consider applying this strategy to other potential disasters, such as an eruption of Mount Fuji or earthquakes on the Sea of Japan side, officials said.

“If we can establish a cooperative framework among the four prefectures, the disaster-hit areas will be able to focus more on recovery and rebuilding,” Nagasaki said.

He added that he hopes to have a progress report in hand by the end of this fiscal year.

Related News