Tokachi Volcano

Updated: Jun 10, 2025 13:25 GMT - refresh

stratovolcanoes

Hokkaido (Japan), 43.42°N / 142.69°E

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Summit height: 2077 m / 6,814 ft

Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)

Last update: 11 Mar 2022 (alert level raised)

Tokachi volcano (十勝岳 Tokachidake) is a group of stratovolcanoes and lava domes in central Hokkaido, Japan.
Frequent historical eruptions were mostly small to moderate phreatic explosions (VEI 1-2) and cluster in 5 periods: 1857, 1887 and 1889, 1925-1931, 1952 to 1962, and 1985 and 1989. 3 eruptions generated pyroclastic flows, but only the 1670 eruption produced lava flows.
Larger eruptions were in 1926 and 1962 and caused damage and fatalities. Partial cone collapse of the western flank of Tokachi-dake during the 1926 eruption produced a disastrous debris avalanche and lahar that killed more than 140 people.

The fields near Tokachi are a popular spot for photographers and tourists for viewing lavender fields.

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Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: explosive
Tokachi volcano eruptions: 2004, 1988-89, 1985, 1962, 1961, 1959, 1958, 1957, 1956, 1954, 1952, 1931,
1928, 1928, 1925-27, 1889, 1887, 1857

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
Jun 10, 07:27 pm (GMT +9)	0.9 30 km	5.2 km (3.2 mi) to the W	45 km southeast of Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan	Info
Monday, June 9, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Jun 10, 04:02 am (GMT +9)	0.1 1.4 km	3.6 km (2.2 mi) to the SW	Japan: Taisetsu Mountains Region	Info
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Jun 4, 08:39 am (GMT +9)	3.1 154 km	18 km (10.9 mi) to the SW	Japan: Kamikawa-Sorachi Region I FELT IT	Info
Monday, June 2, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Jun 2, 10:25 am (GMT +9)	1.4 5.5 km	5.5 km (3.4 mi) to the W	Japan: Taisetsu Mountains Region	Info

View recent quakes

Background

The Tokachi volcano group volcanoes are dominantly andesitic in composition and are aligned along a NE-SW trend on a plateau of welded Pleistocene ignimbrite. Many explosion craters and cinder cones are found on the upper flanks of the small volcanoes. The youngest craters are at the NW end of the chain.

Significant volcanic eruptions: Tokachi volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Tokachi has had at least 27 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 17 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1957 from Tokachi volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Tokachi volcano since around 1800. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Tokachi can be found on the news page of Tokachi volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
2004 Feb 25 - Apr 19	1962-II Crater Historical obs./docs.	1?
1988 Dec 10 ? - 1989 May 16 ±15 d.	1962 Crater Historical obs./docs.	2
1985 Jun 19 - Jun 22	East wall of 1962 crater Historical obs./docs.	1
1962 Jun 29 - Sep 16 ±15 d.	South of Shin-funkako Historical obs./docs.	3
1962 Jun 29 (eruption 1962 Jun 29 - Sep 16 ±15 d.)	Historical obs./docs.	3	5		Info
1962 Jun 29: 5 killed, 11 injured by falling blocks. (reference #1492) Sulfur mining office at edge of Taisho crater damaged by volcanic blocks. 5 dead, 11 injured. (reference #12936) 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. #12936 Japan Meteorological Agency and Volcanological Society of Japan (2013): National Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes in Japan (fourth edition, English version). Japan Meteorological Agency. [accessed May 20, 2021] Link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1961 Aug 14	NW of Kami-Horokamettoku-yama Historical obs./docs.	1
1959 Aug 15 ±5 d. - Nov 25	NE of Shin-funkako (Showa Crater) Historical obs./docs.	1
1958 Oct 4	NE of Shin-funkako (Showa Crater) Historical obs./docs.	1
?? 1957 Aug 20	Uncertain Eruption	1
1956 Jun 16 ±15 d.	NE of Shin-funkako (Showa Crater) Historical obs./docs.	1
1954 Sep 16 ±15 d.	NE of Shin-funkako (Showa Crater) Historical obs./docs.	1
1952 Aug 17	NE of Shin-funkako (Showa Crater) Historical obs./docs.	?
1931 May 16	Historical obs./docs.	1
1928 Dec 4 - Dec 25	Shin-funkako Historical obs./docs.	1
1928 Jan - May 23	Shin-funkako Historical obs./docs.	1
1925 Nov 20 - 1927 Sep	Shin-funkako Historical obs./docs.	3
1926 Sep 8 (eruption 1925 Nov 20 - 1927 Sep)	Historical obs./docs.	3			Info
1926 Sep 8: 2 people went missing near the crater due to an eruption. (reference #12936) Cited references #12936 Japan Meteorological Agency and Volcanological Society of Japan (2013): National Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes in Japan (fourth edition, English version). Japan Meteorological Agency. [accessed May 20, 2021] Link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1926 May 24 (eruption 1925 Nov 20 - 1927 Sep)	Historical obs./docs.	3	144	catastrophic	Info
1926 May 24: Initial explosion destroyed hot spring bath house killing 3. Second explosion 4 hours later produced avalanche from Cone and hot mudflows Which swept down Hurano valley mixed with snowmelt reaching town 20 km W of crater in 26 minutes. 137 killed, 207 or more injured, and 5,080 houses destroyed in Hurano Valley. Finch cites newspaper reports as suggesting 400 lives lost - lava flows, floods and explosions each taking a share - with 144 bodies recovered in 2 days. Witham lists range of 144-207. (reference #9675) A melted snow lahar occurred, burying Kamifurano and Biei. 144 dead or missing, approximately 209 injured. 372 buildings damaged, 68 livestock killed, 602 birds killed, and mountain forest, farmland, road, bridge, and railroads damaged. (reference #12936) 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. #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. #12936 Japan Meteorological Agency and Volcanological Society of Japan (2013): National Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes in Japan (fourth edition, English version). Japan Meteorological Agency. [accessed May 20, 2021] Link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1889	Maru-yama (Yunuma) Historical obs./docs.	2
1887 Jun	Lower part of Maru-yama? Historical obs./docs.	2
1857	Historical obs./docs.	2

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

Eruptions of Tokachi volcano

1962 eruption
A larger vulcanian-style eruption occurred at Tokachi volcano on 29 June 1962 from a vent near the 1926 crater. The explosion produced an ash column column rose to 12,000 ft altitude (ca. 4 km) and ejected many lava bombs and blocks. 5 miners were killed by projectiles. Ash fell on the eastern flank of Tokachi and damaged crops.

1926 eruption and deadly mudflow
An eruption at Tokachi volcano started in late 1926 and lasted throughout 1926 and ended in September 1927. The eruption consisted of ash eruptions from a new vent in the summit area (Shin-funkako).
In May 1926, a hot debris avalanche formed and reached a mine 2 km NW of the crater where it killed 26 workers. The avalanche quickly turned into a large mudflow (lahar) by mixing with melting snow from the upper slopes and raced down the Hurano valley, reaching the towns of Kami-Furano 25 km NW of the crater in only 26 minutes. 137 residents were killed.
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Source:
- Tomoyuki et al (2004) "The characteristics of 1926 volcanic mudflow at Mount Tokachi, the evidences of eyewitnesses and examination of the deposited materials", Journal of the Japan Society of Erosion Control Engineering, v .56 (5), pp. 33-44

Tokachi Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Tokachi volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Tokachi occurred in 2004.

+How often does Tokachi volcano erupt?

Since 1857, Tokachi volcano has had at least 17 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 9.9 years.

+How active is Tokachi volcano at present?

Tokachi volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 16 eruptions, and been active during 16 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Tokachi has been in eruption one in 7.9 years on average. The last eruption was in 2004 and ended 21 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Tokachi volcano?

The largest eruption of Tokachi volcano in historic times occurred in 1962. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Tokachi 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).