Landslides are a summer risk to be aware of

When people think about summer hazards in Japan, extreme heat and typhoons probably come to mind first. There's another risk that is worth being aware of (particularly during the rainy season and after periods of heavy rain!), and that's landslides.

The landscape here means many communities, roads and hiking areas are surrounded by steep slopes. After heavy rainfall, the ground can become saturated, increasing the risk of mudslides and landslips.

Living in a mountainous part of Niigata, this is something I'm particularly conscious of. We've actually had a few landslide warnings over the last couple of days, so I definitely recommend paying attention to any local warnings, news broadcasts, or even reading the news online.