Kirishima Volcano

Updated: Oct 29, 2025 18:11 GMT - refresh

Shield volcano

Kyushu (Japan), 31.93°N / 130.86°E

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Summit height: 1700 m / 5,577 f

Current status: erupting (4 out of 5)

Last update: 30 Sep 2025 (Smithsonian Daily Volcanic Activity Report)

Kirishima (霧島 in Japanese, Kirishimayama), one of Japan's most active volcanoes. It is actually a group of 18 young, small stratovolcanoes north of Kagoshima Bay: Takachihonomine, Nakadake, Ohatayama, Karakunidake, Tairoike, Ohachi, and Shinmoedake (新燃岳) are the principal vents.
Historic eruptions have been recorded since 742 and there are more than 60 recorded eruptions, mainly from Ohachi and Shinmoedake, with the exception of a small lava flow from Iwoyama in 1768. Relatively large eruptions occurred in 788, 1235, 1716-17 and 1768, and in 2011.
A violent eruption started at Kirishima on January 26, 2011, the largest one for more than 50 years.

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Kirishima webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: Explosive
Kirishima volcano eruptions: 2018, 2017, 2011, 2008, 1992, 1979, 1971, 1959, 1946(?), 1923, 1914, 1913-14, 1903, 1899-1900, 1898, 1898, 1897, 1896, 1895-96, 1894, 1891, 1889, 1888, 1887, 1880, 1832, 1822, 1771-72, 1769, 1768, 1719, 1717, 1716-17, 1716, 1706, 1690, 1678, 1677, 1667(?), 1662-64, 1659-61, 1637-38, 1628, 1620, 1615-18, 1613-14, 1598-1600, 1596?, 1595, 1588, 1587, 1585, 1576-78, 1574, 1566, 1566, 1554, 1524, 1381, 1235, 1184, 1175(?), 1167, 1113, 1112, 945, 858, 857, 843-48, 837-39, 788, 742

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
Oct 29, 03:13 pm (GMT +9)	0.5 6.5 km	6.7 km (4.2 mi) to the NE	6 km southwest of Kobayashi, Miyazaki, Japan	Info
Oct 29, 12:13 pm (GMT +9)	0.2 8.7 km	7.2 km (4.5 mi) to the E	Japan: Southern Miyazaki Pref	Info
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 GMT (5 quakes)
Oct 29, 06:01 am (GMT +9)	0.3 8.6 km	6.6 km (4.1 mi) to the NE	Japan: Southern Miyazaki Pref	Info
Oct 29, 01:42 am (GMT +9)	0.2 8.2 km	14 km (8.6 mi) to the NE	Japan: Southern Miyazaki Pref	Info
Oct 28, 08:41 pm (GMT +9)	0.1 8.1 km	13 km (8.2 mi) to the NE	Japan: Ebino Region S Kyushu	Info
Oct 28, 09:24 am (GMT +9)	0.6 7.8 km	6.5 km (4.1 mi) to the E	Japan: Southern Miyazaki Pref	Info
Oct 28, 09:14 am (GMT +9)	0.4 10.5 km	14 km (8.8 mi) to the NE	Japan: Southern Miyazaki Pref	Info
Sunday, October 26, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Oct 27, 04:01 am (GMT +9)	1.0 9.7 km	5.8 km (3.6 mi) to the E	Japan: Southern Miyazaki Pref	Info
Oct 26, 12:15 pm (GMT +9)	1.3 8 km	7.3 km (4.5 mi) to the NE	Japan: Southern Miyazaki Pref	Info

View recent quakes

Background

The large Kirishima volcanic group covers an NW-SE elongated area of about 20 x 30 km. The late-Pleistocene to Holocene volcanoes are dominantly andesitic in composition and consist of stratovolcanoes, conder cones, maars overlying shield volcanoes. The larger edifices are the centrally located, 1700-m-high stratovolcanoes Karakuni-dake, and the large maars Onami-ike and Mi-ike, located SW of Karakuni-dake. Eruptions in the past 10,000 years have been concentrated along an E-W line of vents from Mi-ike to Ohachi, and at Shinmoe-dake to the NE. Frequent small-to-moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded since the 8th century. Fumaroles are located on North slope of the Karakunidake.

Eruptive history of Kirishima volcano
By most authors, the "Kirishima volcano" is referred to those volcanic edifices overlying (younger than) the Kakuto ignimbrite, related to the Pleistocene Kakuto caldera that formed around 300,000 years ago.
A series of stratovolcanoes, now poorly preserved, grew in the early stage of activity following the Kakuto caldera formation. An interval of volcanic quiet followed until about 60-70,000 years ago, when the present-day stratovolcanoes which make up the Kirishima complex started to grow.
About 35,000 years ago, a major eruption triggered the collapse of Hinamoridake volcano at the northeastern end of the complex. It produced a major debris avalanche that covers the area of present-day Kobayashi City.
22,000 - 18,000 years ago, Iimoiyama and Maruokayama stratovolcanoes and a number of smaller edifices formed.
18,000 years ago, the Old-Karakunidake, Koshikidake and Shinmoedake volcanoes grew.
15,000 years ago, a large eruption built present-day Karakunidake volcano, by rapid accumulation and welding of pyroclastic fall and flow deposits draped over the older cone. Shortly later, lava flows erupted from a vent on the southeast flank of Shinmoedake, building Nakadake.
9000 years ago, Shinmoedake had a larger explosive eruption.
7000 years ago, Old-Takachiho volcano formed from a vent on the southeastern area of Kirishima. Other monogenetic volcanoes that probably formed about that time include Ohataike and Biwaike maar.
6300 years ago, a major eruption from Old-Takachiho volcano occurred and built up the main cone present today.
The next 1000 years, only minor activity if any took place.
About 5000 years ago, Takachiho-no-mine stratovolcano formed on the western slope of Old-Takachiho. Small lava flows erupted from Fudoike and Ohatayama.
4000 years ago, Shinmoedake had another larger explosive eruption.
The Miike maar formed 3000 years ago, following a powerful explosion that ejected a large pumice deposit and produced base surges.
Only about 1000 years ago, Ohachi volcano formed on the western slope of Takachiho-no-mine and has remained the most active vent of Kirishima volcano since then.

Explosive eruptions from Kirishima volcano
During the past 22,000 years, volcanic activity was concentrated in a zone running NW-SE and in the past 10,000 years mainly from Takachiho volcano in the southeastern part of the Kirishima complex. Kirishima's activity during the past 22,000 years comprises a number of large explosive (vulcanian to subplinian) eruptions that have left important tephra layers, including:
- Karakunidake scoria (ca. 18,000 years ago)
- Kamamuta scoria (ca. 7000 years ago)
- Ushinosune ash (ca. 6500 years ago)
- Miikee pumice (ca. 3000 years ago)
- Araso tephra ca. 700 AD
- Katazoe tephra 788 AD. This eruption was studied by Miyamoto (2005) as an example of a case where 3 types of magma were erupted: basalt, basaltic-andesite and andesite.
- Miyasugi tephra (ca. 1000 AD): several scoria layers from powerful vulcanian-type eruptions, similar to the recent 2011 eruption. They occurred in historic time, but the exact date is unknown.
- Takaharu tephra (ThT) in 1235 AD, the largest tephra layer from an eruption in historic time (subplinian eruption, ca. 0.3 cubic km of ash and pumice)
- Shinmoedake-Kyoho pumice 1716-1717 AD
- Shinmoedake-SHowa ash 1959 AD

Ohachi volcano
Ohachi Volcano is the youngest and most active of the Kirishima group of stratovolcanoes, located at the southeastern part of the group.
It has a considerably large crater compared to the size of the cone, with thick layers of welded scoria visible in the crater walls.
The oldest tephra recognized from Ohachi Volcano is the Araso tephra (AsT), which erupted around 700 AD, thus suggesting that Ohachi is little over 1300 years old.
Ohachi's rate of activity was not constant throughout its history. In its early stage from AD 700 to 1235, 80% of its present-day volume was erupted.
The magma chamber of Ohachi volcano has been estimated to be shallow, at around 4-6 km (ca. 1-2 kbar lithostatic pressure).

Magma discharge rates from Kirishima volcano
Based on magma discharge, the past 22,000 year interval of volcanic activity at Kirishima can be divided in 3 phases:
22,000 - 15,000 years ago: 0.8 million m3 / year
15,000 - 7,000 years ago: a relatively quiet period with only 0.04 m3 average magma output /year
7,000 years ago - present: 0.5 million m3 / year
In total, Kirishima volcano has erupted about 10-15 cubic kilometers of magma during the past 22,000 years. In the earlier period from 22-15,000 years ago, 5 stratovolcanoes, and 2 smaller cones were formed. The eruptions were dominantly effusive (lava flows).
Following an 8000 year long interval with much less activity, the rate of eruptions increased again. Activity in the recent epoch has been more explosive and concentrated in the southeastern part of the complex.

Geothermal activity
The Kirishima volcanic area contains various thermal waters. Hydrogen sulfide springs, acidic sulfate springs and chloride springs are found in geographically narrow zone. Bicarbonate springs are distributed in the Shinkawa ravine in the southwestern periphery of the Kirishima volcanic area and the Hinatayama-Himegi region, both of which are on the southwestern periphery of the Kirishima volcanic area.

Sources:
- Tsutsui et al (2006) "Eruptive History of Ohachi Volcano, Kirishima Volcano Group, Southern Kyushu, Japan", Bull Volc Soc Japan (Kazan), 52: 1-21
- Ryusuke IMURA (1989) "Eruptive History of the Kirishima Volcano during the past 22,000 years" Master Thesis Kagoshima University, March 1989
- Tsuyoshi Miyamoto (2005) "Magma chamber structure of Katazoe scoria eruption, Ohachi volcano at Kirishima volcanoes", PhD thesis, CNEAS, Tohoku Univ.
- Fujita Shun'ichi (2000) "Geochemical aspect on the genesis of the hydrothermal system of the Kirishima volcano and its southwestern area" Journal of the Balneological Society of Japan, v50 (1), pp 1-11

Significant volcanic eruptions: Kirishima volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Kirishima has had at least 78 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 69 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 7 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Kirishima volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Kirishima volcano since around 1900. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Kirishima can be found on the news page of Kirishima volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
2018 Mar 1 - Jun 27	Shinmoedake Historical obs./docs.	3
2017 Oct 11 - Oct 17	Shinmoedake Historical obs./docs.	2
2011 Jan 19 - Sep 7	Shinmoe-dake Historical obs./docs.	3
2011 Jan 28 (eruption 2011 Jan 19 - Sep 7)	Historical obs./docs.	0		light	Info
2011 Jan 28: Shinmoedake (Shinmoe peak), a stratovolcano of the Kirishima volcano group, erupted for the first time in 52 years on Jan. 27, 2011 according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). On Feb. 1 an eruption smashed more than 180 window panes in hospitals and schools about six kilometers from the crater, injuring a 92 year-old woman.. The eruption was the strongest on February 2, according to the JMA. The weather agency maintained a level 3 alert for Shinmoedake and Sakurajima volcano, 45 kilometers (28 miles) to the southwest, indicating an eruption may seriously affect places near residential areas. Cited references #2379 Siebert, L, Simkin T (2002-): Volcanoes of the World: an Illustrated Catalog of Holocene Volcanoes and their Eruptions. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-3, (http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/) #9261 Biggs, Stuart (2011): Japan's 'OO7' Volcano on Kyushu Erupts for Ninth Time in a Week, JMA Says. Bloomberg. Downloaded from: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-03/japan-s-oo7-volcano-erupts-for-ninth-time-after-52-year-dormancy.html Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2010 Mar 30 - Jul 10	Shinmoe-dake Historical obs./docs.	1
?? 2009 Nov 15	Uncertain Eruption Historical obs./docs.	1
2008 Aug 22	Shinmoe-dake crater and W flank Historical obs./docs.	1
1991 Dec 1 - 1992 Apr 19	Shinmoe-dake Historical obs./docs.	1
1989 Aug 26 (eruptive episode 1989 Aug 26)	Historical obs./docs.	0	2		Info
1989 Aug 26: No eruption. (reference #9675) Cited references #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1979 Feb 16 ±60 d.	Shinmoe-dake Historical obs./docs.	1
1971 Aug 5	North foot, near Tearai hot springs Historical obs./docs.	1
1959 Feb 13 - Feb 17	Shinmoe-dake Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1946 Apr	Uncertain Eruption	2
1934	Discredited Eruption
1923 Jul 1 (eruption 1923 Jul)	Historical obs./docs.	2	1		Info
1923 Jul 1: 1 death. Cause not listed. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1923 Jul	Ohachi Historical obs./docs.	2
1914 Nov 8	Ohachi Historical obs./docs.	?
1913 Nov 8 - 1914 Jan 8	Ohachi Historical obs./docs.	2
1903 Aug 29 - Nov 25	Ohachi Historical obs./docs.	2
1899 Jul 28 - 1900 Feb 16	Ohachi Historical obs./docs.	2
1900 Feb 16 (eruption 1899 Jul 28 - 1900 Feb 16)	Historical obs./docs.	2	2		Info
1900 Feb 16: 2 killed, 3 injured. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Kirishima Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Kirishima volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Kirishima occurred in 2018.

+How often does Kirishima volcano erupt?

Since 742 AD, Kirishima volcano has had at least 69 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 18.6 years.
Many eruptions of Kirishima have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 88 out of 1283 years until now. In other words, Kirishima has been active at least one in 14.6 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Kirishima is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Kirishima volcano at present?

Kirishima volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 15 eruptions, and been active during 15 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Kirishima has been in eruption one in 8.4 years on average. The last eruption was in 2018 and ended 7 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Kirishima volcano?

The largest eruption of Kirishima volcano in historic times occurred in 1235 AD. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Kirishima Volcano Maps

Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).