Volcano Eruption Japan History: Most Notable and Recent Eruptions

Japan is home to numerous active volcanoes. Therefore, it is not surprising that the history of volcano eruption Japan is rather complex. The volcanic eruption record in this country dates back to the 5^th century. Since the 1700s, the region has experienced around 130 notable eruptions.

Moreover, thousands of Japanese people died in the last 1300 years due to this disaster. Meanwhile, in 2025, this country experienced a couple of volcanic eruptions. However, no fatalities have been confirmed from the latest volcano eruption in Japan.

Most Recent Volcano Eruption Japan

In 2025, two active volcanoes in Japan are erupting. They have experienced ongoing eruptions in the last few months. Moreover, both volcanoes are located on Kyushu Island. According to research, they also share a similar deep magma reservoir. What are these volcanoes?

1. Mount Sakurajima

Sakurajima is an extremely active volcano in Kagoshima, Kyushu. In addition, it is a stratovolcano with eruption characteristics of large ash clouds but small explosive eruptions. This 1,117-m volcano is also unique because it has three summits.

Mount Sakurajima has been active for over 2,700 years. Moreover, centuries ago, its explosions occurred in Kitadake or the northern summit. However, since the 21^st century, most Sakurajima eruptions have taken place at the Showa Crater in Minamidake or the southern summit.

The latest eruption of Sakurajima was on May 15, 2025, and came from this crater. This eruption lasted for a couple of days. During the event, Mount Sakurajima unleashed an ash cloud every couple of hours.

The height of the ash clouds ranged from 2,400 to 4,200 m above sea level. Consequently, Kagoshima City suffered from ashfall. The ashfall forced authorities to cancel several flights at the airport of this city.

This volcano erupted again from the end of May to the beginning of June. However, the most recent Sakurajima Volcano eruption Japan was not as powerful as the previous one.

2. Mount Shinmoedake

Shinmoedake Volcano is also experiencing an ongoing eruption in 2025. This volcano is in the same prefecture as Mount Sakurajima. They even share a magma reservoir and belong to a similar volcano group, i.e., Kirishima Volcano Group.

The eruptions of this 1700-m volcano are typically in the form of larger explosions. Moreover, this volcano has erupted at least 5 times in the last two decades. However, its eruption is not as frequent as that of the neighboring volcano, Mount Sakurajima.

The most recent eruption from Mount Shinmoedake occurred on June 22, 2025. This eruption lasted for two or three days. At that time, the volcano emitted massive volcanic gases and ash. The ash column from this eruption reached 5,000 m above the crater. 

Since then, authorities have analyzed the Shinmoedake eruption. Based on this analysis, they concluded that the volcanic eruption lacked lava and was composed of volcanic ash and gas.

Therefore, authorities decided that Shinmoedake activity and eruption are not as hazardous as they expected. Moreover, they concluded that this volcano’s alert level is only alert level 3. However, they keep monitoring this volcano for signs of full-scale magmatic eruption.

Most Notable Japan Volcano Eruptions 

There are several notable volcanic explosions in the Japan volcano eruption history. Some of these volcanoes are still active to this day. However, few of them are dormant. Below are the most distinguished volcanic eruptions in this country.

1. Prehistoric Mount Aso Eruption

Mount Aso is a huge active volcano. The 1,592-m volcano has erupted many times in the last 70 years. Its last eruption was in 2021. 

Moreover, its most notable explosion occurred 90,000 years ago. This volcanic eruption shook nearby areas at a magnitude of 8 SR. In addition, Mount Aso’s pyroclastic clouds destroyed many villages near the volcano, and the volcanic ash covered the entire Kyushu.

2. 1707 Mount Fuji Eruption

One of the most famous volcanic eruptions in Japan was the Mount Fuji eruption that occurred 300 years ago. It was also the last eruption of this volcano. Since then, Mount Fuji has been dormant.

During its last eruption, this volcano emitted volcanic ash in an amount of 800 million cubic meters. Moreover, the ash fell over areas within a 100-km radius of the mountain. Because of this ashfall, several areas in Japan suffered from agricultural failure that led to famine.

3. 1792 Mount Unzen Eruption

About 85 years after the Fuji eruption, Unzen Volcano exploded. It was one of the most destructive explosions in the country. Mount Unzen’s eruption in 1792 caused its massive lava dome to fall, and generate a destructive landslide into the Ariake Sea.

Due to the massive size of this avalanche, it triggered a tsunami. This deadly wave hit coastal areas along the Ariake Sea. Moreover, people in those areas were unprepared for this tsunami. Consequently, thousands of people died due to this hazard.

Nowadays, it is rare for a volcano eruption Japan to cause fatalities because of Japan’s excellent warning system. This system is integrated with cell broadcast for effective communication. Other countries can do the same if they have HITECH Cell Broadcast. Purchase this tool now on smsbroadcaste.com to improve your emergency alert system.