"Hotel Rooms Shaking Side to Side"... Korean Tourists Panic Amid Strong Earthquake in Japan

Following a strong magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Kumamoto, Kyushu, Japan, on the afternoon of the 28th [2026], South Korean tourists currently visiting the country or planning trips there expressed anxiety.

A 41-year-old tourist surnamed Lee, who was traveling in Fukuoka, Kyushu, told Yonhap News over the phone, "I felt even more anxious because we happened to be on the 14th floor, the very top floor of the hotel. It shook really hard. I didn't even have the energy to hold my phone."

Lee added, "I was alone in the room with my child, and it shook so violently that we panicked. Because Japanese buildings are well-designed to withstand earthquakes, it shook side to side for quite a while, but it managed to keep its balance."

The earthquake, which measured a magnitude of 7.1, occurred at 4:27 PM in the Kumamoto region of Kumamoto Prefecture, western Kyushu.

Lee said, "We were extremely anxious, but the Japanese people responded calmly without showing much agitation. It made me wonder if it wasn't a big deal to them."

A flood of posts raising safety concerns due to the sudden earthquake has been posted on a popular Naver online community frequently visited by people currently traveling in Japan or preparing for trips there.

Korean tourists across various regions in Japan voiced their anxiety, with posts saying, "I'm at Kagoshima Airport and the building is shaking," "I'm in Fukuoka and I can feel the earthquake," and "I'm in Kitakyushu, and I was startled when the emergency alarm went off and the hotel shook."

Those planning to visit Japan are also showing concerns about the aftermath of the earthquake.

One community user wrote, "I'm heading to Tokyo tomorrow, and now there's an earthquake. Even though it's far [from the epicenter], my acquaintances are panicking and contacting me."

Another user asked netizens whether they should proceed with their scheduled departure to Japan next week.

Comments on the post included, "I feel unsettled ahead of my departure," and "I'm scheduled to visit Kumamoto, so I have a lot of worries."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.