How much food and water to store in Japan?

Short answer. The Japanese government asks households to stock food and water for at least 3 days and ideally 1 week ("最低３日間、推奨１週間") ¹. Plan on 3 litres of water per person per day for drinking and cooking ². For two adults over one week, the Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF) models 48 litres of water, a cassette gas stove with 12 cartridges, and staple foods ².

How long should a Japanese household be self-sufficient?

At least 3 days, with 1 week recommended. This home stockpile benchmark is promoted by the Cabinet Office and restated in the Cabinet's March 2026 policy on securing evacuation facilities (shelters) ¹. The Prime Minister's Office page still frames the basic stock as 3 days of water and food, adding that 1 week is desirable for large-scale disasters ³.

How much water per person?

3 litres per person per day, for drinking and cooking: "飲料水と調理用水として1人当たり1日3リットルが必要です" ². MAFF's one-week example for two adults is 48 litres: 4 cases of 6 two-litre bottles ². The Cabinet Secretariat's civil-protection pamphlet uses the same rate for its 3-day stock: 9 L per person (3 L × 3 days) ⁴. More on water storage: /guides/water-per-person.

What food does the government suggest?

MAFF's model, published in its aff magazine (March 2026), is based on its food stockpile guide for disasters ²:

• Staples: rice (2 × 2 kg), somen noodles, pasta, cup noodles, microwaveable packed rice.
• Ready meals: 18 retort pouches (curry, gyudon topping and the like), 6 pasta sauces, 18 cans of meat or fish.
• Extras: long-keeping vegetables such as onions and potatoes, seasonings, umeboshi, nori, dried wakame, juice and instant soup.

A cassette gas stove and 12 gas cartridges let two adults cook for a week ². The full list, with quantities, is on the kit page. For rotation, see /guides/food-shelf-life; for cooking safely, /guides/cooking-without-power.

Which non-food items are recommended?

The Prime Minister's Office lists toilet paper and tissues, portable or emergency toilets, and matches and candles among the things to prepare ³. Water and sewer systems can stop working after a disaster: see /guides/emergency-sanitation.

What should go in a go-bag?

The Cabinet Secretariat's pamphlet lists an emergency take-away bag: portable drinking water, food such as cup noodles, canned food, biscuits and chocolate, valuables and ID, a portable radio with spare batteries, a torch, a helmet or padded hood, a lighter, matches and candles, clothes, a blanket, work gloves, wet wipes and disposable warmers ⁴. For chemical, biological or nuclear attacks it adds gloves, a hat, goggles, a raincoat and a mask or folded cloth ⁴. See also /guides/72-hour-kit.

Frequently asked questions

Is 3 days enough in Japan?

3 days is the minimum. The government recommends 1 week, particularly with large-scale disasters in mind ¹³.

How many water bottles do two people need for a week?

MAFF's example is 48 litres: 4 cases of 6 two-litre bottles for two adults ².

Why does the list include a gas stove?

MAFF's model assumes you cook the stockpiled rice, noodles and pasta when utilities are down; it allows 12 cartridges for two adults for one week ².

Does the pamphlet's 3-day stock match the MAFF list?

Both use 3 litres of water per person per day ²⁴. The pamphlet's 3-day food stock is simpler: 4-5 servings of alpha rice, 2-3 cans, 1-2 boxes of biscuits and 2-3 chocolate bars ⁴.

Sources

1. 内閣官房 (Cabinet Secretariat) — 緊急事態を想定した避難施設（シェルター）の確保に関する基本方針（令和８年３月31日閣議決定） — https://www.kokuminhogo.go.jp/pdf/hinan/260331shelter_hontai.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. 農林水産省 (MAFF) — 知って備える 家庭備蓄のイロハ（aff 2026年3月号 特集） — https://www.maff.go.jp/j/pr/aff/2603/spe1_01.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. 首相官邸 (Prime Minister's Office) — 災害が起きる前にできること — https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/headline/bousai/sonae.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
4. 内閣官房 (Cabinet Secretariat) — 武力攻撃やテロなどの緊急事態から身を守るために（パンフレット） — https://www.kokuminhogo.go.jp/gaiyou/shiryou/hogo_manual.html (accessed 2026-10-20)