Late on 8 December 2025, a strong tremor rattled the northeast coast of Japan’s main island. Tourists settling in for the night in Aomori and Hokkaido saw emergency alerts light up their phones as hotel staff calmly guided guests to safety points. Sirens briefly sounded in some coastal towns. A magnitude 7.5–7.6 earthquake had struck offshore in the Pacific, shaking buildings and prompting tsunami warnings in the region.
By morning, the immediate alarms had passed – tsunami advisories were lifted and trains and flights were resuming – but a new term lingered in the news: a “megaquake” warning. For travelers in Japan or with upcoming trips, this raises a pressing question: is it safe to visit Japan right now under a “megaquake” advisory?
In this guide, we break down what happened in the recent quake, what the Japanese Meteorological Agency’s (JMA) “megaquake” advisory really means, and how it affects travel plans. We’ll look at the on-the-ground situation in Japan in the days after the quake, official safety guidance from authorities, and practical tips for visitors. The goal is to give a clear, calm picture so you can make an informed decision about your trip to Japan.
What happened in the latest Japan earthquake?
On 8 December 2025 at 11:15 p.m. local time, a powerful earthquake struck off the Sanriku coast of Aomori Prefecture in northeast Japan. The quake’s magnitude was about 7.5 (7.6 on the moment magnitude scale), and its epicentre was roughly 80 km offshore in the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 50 km.
In Aomori’s coastal city of Hachinohe, the shaking registered as “upper 6” on Japan’s 7-point seismic intensity scale – strong enough that people couldn’t stand up during the tremor. Residents described glasses and dishes shattering in homes and hotel rooms as the ground heaved for about 30 seconds.
Japan’s authorities responded swiftly. The JMA issued tsunami warnings minutes after the quake, fearing waves up to 3 metres on parts of the northeastern coast. Local officials ordered around 90,000 coastal residents to evacuate to higher ground as a precaution.
In the end, only small tsunamis materialized – water levels of about 20 to 70 cm were observed at ports such as Kuji in Iwate Prefecture and other coastal towns. By the early hours of 9 December, the tsunami warnings were downgraded and later lifted entirely when no large waves arrived.
Initial reports indicate the physical damage was relatively limited given the quake’s strength. Dozens of people suffered injuries (the government reported roughly 30–34 minor injuries in the immediate aftermath, with updated counts later rising to around 52 people hurt in total).
Thankfully, no deaths have been reported as of 11 December. Some roads and bridges in Aomori and Iwate sustained cracks or minor structural damage. Notably, sections of an elevated rail bridge on the JR Hachinohe Line (a local railway in Aomori/Iwate) were damaged, leading to a suspension of that line until repairs can be made.
In Hachinohe city, a few older buildings had roof tiles or windows break, and one small fire was triggered but quickly contained. Power outages affected a few thousand homes immediately after the quake, and about 800 households were still without electricity for a short time overnight. By Tuesday morning, utilities crews had restored power to most areas and confirmed no irregularities at nuclear facilities in the region.
Crucially, this earthquake – while frightening – did not cause anything near the devastation of the 2011 Tōhoku disaster. There was no widespread tsunami or city-level destruction. As Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi noted in a briefing, damage was modest and largely localized. The event serves as a serious jolt, but not a nation-crippling catastrophe. Still, it was the strongest quake to hit this part of Japan in some years, and it has put both locals and travelers on edge for aftershocks or potential follow-up quakes.
What is a “megaquake” advisory and why was it issued?
In the wake of the 8 December quake, Japan’s Meteorological Agency took an unusual step: at around 2:00 a.m. it issued a “megaquake advisory” (formally called an Offshore Earthquake Warning for Hokkaido/Sanriku). This is a special warning introduced in 2022 as a precaution after large earthquakes in certain areas. It is essentially an alert that the probability of an even bigger earthquake in the short term has risen slightly, based on statistical patterns.
Here’s what it means in practical terms: Usually, the chance of an earthquake of magnitude 8.0 or higher occurring in any given week in that region is extremely low (about 0.1% by JMA’s estimates). After a significant quake like this one, historical data show the odds tick up a bit – to roughly 1% in the next 7 days. In other words, one in a hundred chance, as opposed to one in a thousand, that a “megaquake” (M8 or above) could hit in the coming week. That is still a very low probability, but it’s enough of a change that authorities want people to be on heightened alert just in case.
Importantly, the advisory is not a prediction that a megaquake will happen, nor a guarantee that it will occur. Officials have been at pains to stress this. In fact, similar warnings have been issued in the past without any larger quake materializing. For instance, in August 2024 a “Nankai Trough megaquake” advisory was issued for southwestern Japan after a magnitude 7.1 quake, and no megaquake followed during the advisory period. Residents went back to normal life after a week of vigilance.
So why issue it at all? It’s a reflection of lessons learned from the 2011 disaster. Back in March 2011, a magnitude 7.3 foreshock hit two days before the catastrophic 9.0 quake and tsunami. Authorities were caught off guard by the scale of the second quake.
Now, if a large precursor quake occurs in a known subduction zone, the government prefers to err on the side of caution and communicate “there is a small but elevated chance of something bigger soon”. It’s about raising awareness and preparedness. As one Cabinet disaster management official explained on 9 December, “It is unclear whether a large-scale earthquake will occur… But everyone should heed the call to take precautions to protect their own lives”.
The current megaquake advisory specifically covers a broad swathe of Japan’s northern Pacific coast, from Hokkaido down to Chiba Prefecture (just east of Tokyo). In total, 182 municipalities along or near the Pacific shore are included.
This encompasses the coastal parts of Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Chiba – essentially the areas facing the Japan Trench and Kuril (Chishima) Trench where an ensuing quake might strike. Notably, Tokyo city and other major inland areas are not within the advisory zone, though Tokyo sits not far south of Chiba.
Under the advisory, residents in the covered regions have been urged to stay vigilant for about a week (the advisory remains in effect until roughly 15–16 December) , and to be ready to respond quickly if another strong quake happens. The JMA and local governments are not calling for any pre-emptive evacuations or travel restrictions at this time.
Schools, businesses, and transport services have generally not been ordered to close. Instead, the guidance is: keep doing your daily activities, but with added caution. For locals, that means having go-bags and emergency supplies handy, securing furniture against tipping, knowing where to evacuate if a tsunami alert comes, and even some practical life tweaks like not sleeping in heavy pajamas (so they can move fast if needed).
Essentially, it’s a heightened state of readiness, “without panic or paralysis”, for the short window that a larger aftershock is considered slightly more likely.
Media headlines about the advisory have mentioned worst-case scenarios – for example, government models suggest a megaquake in the Japan Trench or Hokkaido offshore region could generate a tsunami up to 30 meters high in places and lead to very high casualties and damage if one struck directly. Those scenarios are real, but they represent extreme outcomes of a very low-probability event.
Officials are careful to note that the 1% short-term risk is still 99% likely that no such disaster will occur in this period. The aim is not to scare people away, but to encourage preparedness – a “wake-up call rather than a precise prediction,” as one observer put it.
For travelers, hearing the phrase “megaquake warning” can understandably be alarming. It’s not a phrase one encounters often. But it helps to know that this advisory is a new part of Japan’s safety protocol, born out of caution. It signals a temporary watchfulness, not that a cataclysm is imminent. With that in mind, let’s look at how life in Japan is carrying on right now and what visitors can expect.
How does the situation look on the ground for travelers?
Three days after the quake, most of Japan – including popular tourist cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima – is functioning normally. In fact, even in the northeast where the quake hit, the visible disruptions have been relatively minor beyond the first 24 hours.
If you arrived in Japan today, you might be hard-pressed to notice anything out of the ordinary in daily life, apart from news reports and maybe some safety posters or alerts in certain areas.
Transportation: Japan’s transport network proved resilient. The main Shinkansen bullet train lines underwent automatic safety stoppages during the quake but have since resumed regular service. For example, the Tohoku Shinkansen (which connects Tokyo with Aomori via Sendai) was briefly suspended between Morioka and Shin-Aomori right after the quake, but service resumed by Tuesday (9 December) after inspections.
Trains across northern Japan had some delays on the day of the quake, and about 26 trains were halted mid-journey as a precaution, affecting some 17,000 passengers, but by the next day schedules were largely back on track. The only significant rail outage ongoing is the JR Hachinohe Line along the Aomori coast, where some bridge damage is being repaired – that local line remains closed for now.
If your itinerary included a ride on that scenic coastal railway, you’ll need to find an alternate route (such as a bus) until it’s fixed. Major intercity trains and subway systems elsewhere are operating normally at this time.
Flights: Similarly, airports are open and flights are running routinely throughout Japan. The quake caused temporary disruptions at a few airports in the north – for instance, at New Chitose Airport (Sapporo’s main airport in Hokkaido), a ceiling panel in the terminal fell and about 200 passengers were stranded overnight due to safety inspections.
A number of domestic flights were delayed or canceled on 9 December as airlines repositioned aircraft and ensured runways were clear. Across Japan’s airports (including Tokyo Haneda, Sapporo Chitose, Sendai, Osaka-Itami, etc.), around 119 flights were canceled and 700+ delayed in the immediate aftermath, according to one industry report.
However, by now those backlogs have cleared. No airports were structurally damaged, and no air travel restrictions are in place. If you’re flying into Japan now, you may not notice any effect from the quake at all, aside from perhaps a note from the airline if your flight was one of those initially disrupted. Always check with your airline, but as of mid-December, flights are operating on normal schedules.
Attractions and cities: No major tourist attractions have reported damage. Museums, temples, ski resorts, theme parks – all are generally open. Even in the Tōhoku region (northeast Japan), sightseeing spots have mostly returned to business as usual.
For example, in Hokkaido, which is entering its peak ski season this month, resorts like Niseko and Furano saw no direct impact from the quake and remain fully operational. Early-season skiers are hitting the slopes, with just a bit more chatter about earthquake safety during après-ski. In coastal towns of Aomori, Iwate, and Miyagi, local authorities did conduct infrastructure inspections (roads, sea walls, etc.) after the quake.
A few small town events or fishing tours might have been postponed this week as a precaution, but by and large, life continues normally. There are no evacuation orders in effect now anywhere on land – the evacuations were only a short-term precaution on the night of the quake, and everyone returned home once the tsunami threat passed.
If you visit northern Japan in the coming days, you might notice some subtle reminders of the recent shake. Digital signboards in train stations and hotel lobbies display safety information about earthquakes in multiple languages.
You may receive an automatic alert on your phone (through Japan’s system that pushes emergency notifications) if an aftershock above a certain intensity is detected – don’t be alarmed, that’s standard procedure.
Aftershocks themselves have been ongoing but small; travelers have reported feeling a few mild tremors in the days after, but nothing approaching the main quake’s strength. Locals will typically shrug these off, but as a visitor it’s good to stay aware when you feel any rumbling.
From a traveler’s perspective, Japan’s infrastructure is intact and the vast majority of planned trips can proceed as normal. Trains are running, flights are on time, hotels and restaurants are open, and tourist sites are welcoming visitors. Outside of the immediate coastal stretch where the quake hit, many people in Japan experienced the event only as a late-night scare or even slept through it.
In Tokyo, for instance, some high-rise residents felt a gentle sway, but the city was unaffected. Kyoto and Osaka, far to the south and west, didn’t feel a thing. These areas are well outside the advisory zone and would not be directly impacted even if a larger quake did occur in the northeast.
That said, the entire country is tuned in to the news and taking sensible precautions. Travelers should do the same: stay informed (more on how below) and be prepared to adapt if needed. But there is no sense of widespread disruption.
As one travel writer noted, “Flights and most rail routes are operating normally, and authorities have not restricted travel to northern Japan or Hokkaido”. Tourists are still taking selfies at Sapporo’s snowy Odori Park and enjoying ramen in Sendai. The watchword is caution, not cancellation.
Official travel advice and what it means for you
Foreign governments have reacted to the Japan quake with measured advice. Not a single major country has issued a “Do Not Travel” warning or any sort of blanket ban on travel to Japan due to this earthquake. Instead, the guidance from abroad mirrors what Japanese officials are saying: stay alert, follow local instructions, but otherwise carry on with normal travel prudently.
For example, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updated its Japan travel advisory after the quake. It notes that “all tsunami advisories have been lifted” following the 7.5 quake, but that JMA has warned of the possibility of another large tremor over the next 7 days.
The FCDO urges travelers to “follow the advice of local authorities” and to monitor the NHK website for updates. Crucially, the UK has not advised against travel to any part of Japan. Japan remains at the FCDO’s lowest alert level (which generally means “safe to travel with normal precautions”).
Other countries’ advisories are similar: Australia’s Smartraveler, for instance, simply advises being aware that Japan has ongoing aftershocks and to heed any warnings, but does not discourage travel.
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo issued an alert on 8 December informing American residents and tourists about the quake and tsunami warning, basically telling people to move to high ground if they were in affected coastal areas and to stay tuned for local alerts.
Once the tsunami warning was canceled, that embassy alert essentially resolved. The overall U.S. State Department travel advisory for Japan remains at a normal level (usually Level 1 or 2 out of 4, primarily for general caution like natural disasters, typhoons, etc., but not a prohibition).
Why does this matter? Because travel insurance and tour policies often hinge on official advisories. If your government isn’t advising against travel, then cancelling your trip out of fear likely won’t be covered by standard insurance policies. As the travel site Time Out explains, “Because traveling to Japan has not been explicitly advised against by the FCDO, you won’t automatically be entitled to a refund” if you decide not to go.
In plainer terms: if you simply change your mind due to the earthquake advisory, you may have to bear any cancellation costs yourself. Airlines and tour operators are treating this as a normal situation, since flights are operating and attractions open. Unless Japan itself were to declare an emergency or foreign offices issue a do-not-travel alert, trips are expected to go ahead.
Of course, if you are already in Japan, follow the local guidance to the letter. This includes any advisories from your hotel, notices from local authorities, or instructions that might pop up via the emergency alert system on your phone.
For instance, if an aftershock triggers a tsunami advisory, you might hear announcements in coastal towns (often in English as well) to stay away from beaches and possibly to evacuate to higher ground if it escalated. Keep your phone charged and set to receive emergency alerts (most modern smartphones automatically get J-Alert notifications even without a Japanese SIM, as long as they are connected to a network).
Travelers should also stay updated through reliable sources. NHK World (the English-language service of Japan’s public broadcaster) is an excellent source for real-time updates and explanations. They broadcast in English 24/7 and have a free app and website with emergency information.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has an English webpage for earthquake and tsunami information as well. Following the Japan Safe Travel social media accounts (run by the Japan National Tourism Organization) can give you curated updates relevant to visitors.
Large tour companies sometimes send emails to clients after events like this, outlining any itinerary tweaks or just reassuring that all is fine. It’s worth scanning your inbox or contacting them if you haven’t heard anything. In most cases right now, the message will likely be “we’re monitoring the situation, but all tours are continuing as planned.”
Japan’s long-term “megaquake” risk – context, not panic
It’s important to put this current alert into context. Japan is located on the “Pacific Ring of Fire” – a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. Big earthquakes are a known part of Japan’s history and future, and the country arguably has the world’s most sophisticated earthquake preparedness because of this.
The fact that there’s talk of a possible magnitude 8+ earthquake in Japan shouldn’t be taken as a shocking new development; scientists and government planners have been aware of and preparing for such scenarios for decades.
In particular, Japan faces two major seismic threats along its Pacific coast: one in the northeast (the Japan Trench/Kuril Trench area, which was the source of the 2011 Tōhoku quake) and one in the southwest (the Nankai Trough area, which historically has produced massive quakes near Shikoku and Honshu’s southern coast).
The current advisory is about the northeastern zone. But you might have also heard about the Nankai Trough “megaquake” in news reports over the years. In 2023, a government panel reiterated that there is roughly a 70–80% chance of a magnitude 8–9 earthquake in the Nankai Trough in the next 20–30 years. This is often referred to as Japan’s next potential “Big One.”
It’s a statistical estimate based on earthquake patterns – much like how California is said to be “overdue” for a big quake along the San Andreas Fault. Japanese authorities openly discuss these probabilities so that people stay aware and prepared.
What does that mean for travelers? Essentially, Japan’s seismic risk is persistent, not a one-time spike. The country has lived under the shadow of possible large quakes indefinitely, yet tens of millions of people go about life each day and millions of tourists visit every year without incident.
The infrastructure you use – airports, trains, hotels, skyscrapers – are all built to some of the strictest seismic codes on the planet, specifically with these worst-case megaquakes in mind.
Tokyo’s high-rises, for example, are engineered with shock absorbers and bracing to withstand huge tremors; the bullet train system has automated shutdown systems that stop trains before humans even feel the shaking. This baseline of preparedness greatly mitigates the danger when quakes happen.
It’s also notable that Japan’s government doesn’t hide these risks. The “megaquake advisory” system itself was introduced in 2022 because authorities want to communicate proactively, even at the risk of causing brief alarm, rather than be caught unprepared.
There have been hiccups – the first such advisory, issued for the Nankai Trough in mid-2024, was criticized for using too much technical jargon, which led to some public confusion and panic buying of supplies in regions that weren’t even at risk. The government learned from that and is now emphasizing clearer messaging: an advisory means be ready, not that you must evacuate or cancel everything. They are trying to balance caution with normalcy.
The current alert in northern Japan is a reminder of these ever-present risks, but it doesn’t fundamentally change Japan’s safety profile. If anything, it highlights how closely monitored the seismic situation is.
Think of it this way: would you rather a country inform you that there’s a 1% risk of a big quake next week, or leave you in the dark? Japan chooses transparency and urging preparedness. For travelers, that means you have the benefit of a highly tuned early warning and response system backing you up during your visit.
So, is it safe to travel to Japan right now?
With all the above in mind, let’s address the core question. The answer will depend on where in Japan you plan to go and your personal comfort with uncertainty, but generally speaking: Yes, it is safe to travel to Japan now, with reasonable precautions.
Millions of people in Japan, including tens of thousands of foreign tourists currently in the country, are continuing their travels, commutes, and daily routines safely under the advisory.
For the vast majority of travelers – those visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, the Alps, Kyushu, etc. – the “megaquake” advisory in the northeast doesn’t directly affect your destination. These places are outside the advisory zone. You should certainly stay earthquake-aware as anyone in Japan should, but there is no specific heightened risk in, say, Kyoto at the moment.
It is currently safe to travel to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and other major cities; these areas are not under special warning (though Tokyoites are naturally following the news from the north). Normal travel safety rules apply: know how to respond in the rare event you feel shaking. But one could visit these cities right now and find life completely normal – many visitors might not even realize anything is going on elsewhere unless they read the news.
If your planned trip, however, centers on the northern Pacific coast areas – for example, perhaps you were going to do an off-the-beaten-path tour of coastal Tohoku (Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi) or eastern Hokkaido – you’ll want to be a bit more flexible and vigilant.
It’s not that these areas are “closed” or extremely dangerous, but they are the ones under the advisory, so the chance of disruption is slightly higher for the next week or so. If a large aftershock did happen, those are the areas that would feel it the most. Travelers heading into these regions in the next few days should:
- Stay updated on local conditions (e.g., check if any sightseeing spots have temporarily closed for inspections, or if any local train lines like the Hachinohe Line remain suspended).
- Have a backup plan in case, say, a planned coastal hike or boat tour is canceled last-minute due to safety precautions. Perhaps keep your itinerary in northern Japan a bit more open-ended than usual.
- Be comfortable with the precautions: you might experience earthquake drills, see tsunami evacuation route signs everywhere, or even choose accommodation on higher ground. If those aspects make you too anxious, you might consider focusing your trip on other regions until the advisory window passes.
For example, imagine you planned a trip to the Sanriku Coast to see the rugged shorelines this week. You can still go, but you should be prepared that if a strong jolt happens, you’d need to quickly move to high ground and follow any evacuation orders.
If that idea is more adventure than you bargained for, you could reroute to an inland destination or delay that portion of the trip. On the other hand, many travelers are proceeding with visits to Tohoku and Hokkaido right now, enjoying winter festivals and local cuisine, with the only difference being a bit more mindfulness about safety.
Ultimately, assess your own risk tolerance. Japan’s enhanced state of alert will end in a few days if no megaquake occurs, and even during this period the risk remains very low. Statistically, you’re more likely to experience travel delays from a winter snowstorm than a megaquake.
If you’re generally a cautious person and will spend your whole holiday worrying each time your phone buzzes, you have the option to postpone. But if you take comfort in the robust preparedness measures Japan has, you can reasonably continue with most travel plans.
Insurance and booking flexibility also play a role (see next section). If you have fully flexible bookings, you have the luxury of waiting a few more days to decide.
If everything is non-refundable and the trip of a lifetime is on the line, know that thousands of visitors are still roaming Japan safely this week. In any case, do not base your decision solely on dramatic headlines. Look at the facts: aside from one localized quake event and a cautionary advisory, Japan is as welcoming to travelers as ever.
The Takeaway
Japan’s recent “megaquake” advisory is unusual, but it does not mean the country is unsafe for all travelers. The alert reflects an extra level of caution following a significant earthquake, yet daily life in Japan continues with minimal disruption. The country’s infrastructure, emergency systems and preparedness standards are designed specifically for situations like this, which is why damage and recovery were limited despite the strength of the quake.
For visitors, the most important steps are to stay informed through official channels, follow local safety instructions and use basic precautions such as knowing evacuation points in your area. Japan’s alert systems and building standards provide a strong layer of protection, and many travelers will feel more comfortable once they understand how routine these measures are for residents. Choosing whether to travel now or wait is a personal decision, and both options are reasonable depending on comfort level.
If you do continue with your plans, you can expect transportation, tourism sites and daily services to operate normally, with only occasional advisories or alerts as part of Japan’s standard safety culture. Many travelers quickly adjust to these notifications and go on to enjoy their trip without issues. With accurate information, practical awareness and balanced expectations, you can travel through Japan confidently even during this advisory period.
FAQ
Q1. What exactly happened in the latest Japan earthquake?
Late on 8 December 2025, a magnitude 7.5–7.6 offshore quake struck near the Sanriku coast of Aomori, shaking buildings and triggering brief tsunami warnings.
Q2. How strong was the shaking in affected areas?
In Hachinohe the tremor reached upper 6 on Japan’s 7-point scale, strong enough that people could not stand and household items were thrown around.
Q3. Did a major tsunami hit the coast?
No. Initial alerts warned of waves up to 3 metres, but only small tsunamis of about 20–70 cm were recorded before advisories were lifted.
Q4. How much damage and how many injuries were there?
Damage was limited: dozens injured, some cracked roads and a rail bridge, a small fire and brief power outages, and no reported deaths as of 11 December.
Q5. What is a “megaquake” advisory in Japan?
It is a short-term alert indicating that the probability of a much larger quake, magnitude 8 or higher, is slightly elevated for about one week.
Q6. Does a “megaquake” advisory mean a huge quake will happen?
No. It means the chance has increased from very low to still low. It is a call for extra preparedness, not a prediction.
Q7. Which areas of Japan are covered by the current advisory?
The advisory covers 182 coastal municipalities along the Pacific from Hokkaido through Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Chiba.
Q8. What does daily life look like now for travelers?
Most trains and flights have resumed, tourist sites are open and major cities are operating normally, with only localised disruptions near the epicentre.
Q9. Are authorities telling people not to travel to Japan?
No. They urge residents and visitors in the advisory zone to stay vigilant but have not issued evacuation orders or broad travel restrictions.
Q10. Should I cancel my upcoming trip to Japan?
Only if you feel uncomfortable. For most itineraries, especially those outside the advisory areas, it is reasonable to continue your plans while staying informed.
Research Notes
For the factual backbone of this guide, I relied on reporting from Reuters and official summaries of the 7.5 magnitude quake off the coast of Aomori.
Coverage from Nippon.com was particularly useful for explaining the Japan Meteorological Agency’s rare “megaquake” advisory, including the increase in short term risk from about 0.1 percent to around 1 percent for a stronger event in the following week.
To understand what the advisory really means in practical terms, I drew on analysis from the Guardian and Time, which placed this alert in the wider context of Japan’s earthquake history and clarified that it is a heightened caution rather than a prediction of disaster. For the travel angle, I compared these accounts with updates from Euronews and UK government travel advice, which noted that flights and most rail routes were operating normally after brief suspensions, and that trips to major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto remain possible with sensible attention to local guidance. Together, these sources helped separate measured risk from sensationalism and shaped the practical advice offered to travelers.