Two tourists from Tokyo decided to leave the island earlier than planned due to the continuous tremors and explain their reasons to Protothema.

Santorini, one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, has always been closely tied to its seismic history. However, who would have expected that even tourists from Japan—a country where earthquakes are an almost daily occurrence—would be so alarmed that they changed their travel plans?

Suzuki and Akane, a couple from Tokyo, arrived on the island yesterday for a short getaway. However, the repeated seismic tremors made them reconsider. Instead of staying until tomorrow as originally planned, they decided to leave today, cutting their trip short.

"We don't know if the buildings here meet the same standards as in Japan. We're used to earthquakes, but we were caught off guard because here, they were continuous and lasted longer. In Japan, our buildings are designed to withstand quakes, so we feel safer there. That's why we got scared here," Suzuki explains.

Japan is globally renowned for its advanced earthquake-resistant technology. A 50-story skyscraper in Tokyo can sway without collapsing, and seismic activity is an expected part of daily life. In contrast, Santorini, with its unique architecture and traditional cave dwellings, does not have the same level of earthquake adaptation.

"We Didn’t Expect to Be Afraid"

"In Japan, we experience earthquakes often, but we know that our buildings are built to endure them. Here, we felt more vulnerable. The continuous tremors made us anxious, and we decided not to take any further risks," adds Akane.

Santorini is located in one of the most seismically active regions in the world, as part of the Aegean volcanic arc. Earthquakes are not uncommon, but the fact that even two Japanese visitors—who have grown up in a country where the ground shakes regularly—felt unsafe adds a new perspective to the island’s recent seismic activity.

Their experience is not unique. Many tourists express uncertainty about how to react to an earthquake in Greece, as emergency guidelines are not always clearly communicated. Regardless, Santorini remains a breathtaking destination, but for some, like Suzuki and Akane, the power of nature in the Aegean was an unexpected challenge they weren’t willing to face.