•Changes in time preferences induced by tsunami in the Great East Japan Earthquake.•Study uses panel survey data before and after the earthquake.•Employs the (β, δ) model to capture individuals’ time preferences.•Increased present bias (smaller β) and insignificant change in time discount factor (δ).•This change persists even five years after the earthquake. This study examines whether individuals’ time preferences are affected by the damage caused by the tsunami resulting from the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 using panel surveys before and after the earthquake. When the change in time preferences is measured using the (β, δ) model, present bias tendency increases (shrinking β), although there is no statistically significant change in the time discount factor (δ) for those affected by the tsunami. The hyperbolic discounting dummy also shows an increase in time inconsistency. This change persists even five years after the earthquake.