Abu Volcano
Updated: Nov 15, 2025 12:39 GMT -
shield volcano
Honshu (Japan), 34.5°N / 131.6°E 
Summit height: 641 m / 2,103 ft
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 6 Jan 2025 (Volcanic Ash Advisory)
Abu volcano is a group of 56 smaller volcanic centers with no individual large central volcano, located near the Japan Sea coast in southwest Honshu, Japan, 80 km west of Hiroshima.
The group, also known as the Abu Monogenetic Volcano Group (AMVG), covers 400 sq km and consists of basaltic-to-dacitic lava flows, small shield volcanoes (some with associated cinder cones) and lava domes. Its total volume is ca. 4 cubic km, with no individual center being larger than 0.5 km3.
Irao-yama (641 m) is the highest peak. Some of the volcanic centers of Abu volcano form offshore islands or submarine vents.
The most recent eruption at the volcano was a central vent explosion at Kasa-yama ca. 8000 years ago.
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Abu volcano eruptions: 6850 BC (?)
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 01:03 am (GMT +9) | 0.4 29 km | 7.5 km (4.7 mi) to the SW | Japan: Yamaguchi Pref | Info | |
| Nov 14, 09:29 pm (GMT +9) | 0.8 29 km | 7.8 km (4.9 mi) to the W | Japan: Yamaguchi Pref | Info | |
| Nov 14, 01:02 pm (GMT +9) | 1.0 28 km | 7.1 km (4.4 mi) to the W | Japan: Yamaguchi Pref | Info | |
| Thursday, November 13, 2025 GMT (2 quakes) | |||||
| Nov 14, 06:16 am (GMT +9) | 0.6 29 km | 7.3 km (4.5 mi) to the W | Japan: Yamaguchi Pref | Info | |
| Nov 13, 10:07 pm (GMT +9) | 0.4 4.9 km | 4.9 km (3 mi) to the S | Japan: Yamaguchi Pref | Info | |
| Wednesday, November 12, 2025 GMT (2 quakes) | |||||
| Nov 13, 08:31 am (GMT +9) | 0.5 19 km | 24 km (15 mi) to the S | Japan: Yamaguchi Pref | Info | |
| Nov 12, 05:52 pm (GMT +9) | 0.2 15 km | 8.3 km (5.2 mi) to the W | Japan: Yamaguchi Pref | Info | |
| Tuesday, November 4, 2025 GMT (2 quakes) | |||||
| Nov 4, 02:41 pm (GMT +9) | 0.8 30 km | 7.7 km (4.8 mi) to the W | Japan: Yamaguchi Pref | Info | |
| Nov 4, 02:14 pm (GMT +9) | 1.2 19 km | 19 km (12 mi) to the E | Japan: SW Shimane Pref | Info | |
Background
Volcanism of the Abu group is believed to be caused by upwelling mantle diapirs, and is is related to subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate. The volcanic group is part of the southwestern Japanese arc, which lies subparallel to the Nankai trough.The erupted magmas of Abu are mainly alkaline basalt and calc-alkaline andesite - dacite in composition.
Eruptions from Abu volcano:
Volcanic activity occurred mainly in 2 phases. An earlier and more intense phase of activity was between ca. 3 and 1.6 million years ago when a quiescent interval followed. The second, less intense phase of activity started about 800,000 years ago and continues into present. The latest known eruption of the AMVG was dated by thermoluminescence at about 8800 years ago.
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Sources:
- Smithsonian / GVP volcano information
- Kiyosugi et al (2010) "Relationships between volcano distribution, crustal structure, and P-wave tomography: An example from the Abu monogenetic volcano group, SW Japan." Bull. Volcanol. 72 (3), 331-340.
Abu Volcano Photos
Pyroclastic flow on Sinabung volcano, Sumatra, Indonesia (Oct 2014) (Photo: Walter Reis)
Ashfall at Sinabung volcano, Sumatra, Indonesia (Oct 2014) (Photo: Walter Reis)
Driving through volcanic ash rain at Sinabung volcano, Sumatra, Indonesia (Oct 2014) (Photo: Walter Reis)
Pyroclastic flow on Sinabung volcano, Sumatra, Indonesia (Oct 2014) (Photo: Walter Reis)
Significant volcanic eruptions: Abu volcano
No historic eruptions are known from Abu volcano, but at least one eruption in 6850 BC can be inferred from geological evidence.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Abu volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Abu can be found on the news page of Abu volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kasa-yama | ? | ||||
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
Abu Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Abu volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Abu occurred in 6850 BC.
Latest satellite images
Abu 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).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Abu volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Abu volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Abu volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Abu volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Abu volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Abu volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Abu volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Abu volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Abu volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Abu volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Abu volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Abu volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Abu volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Abu volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Abu volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Abu volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Abu volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Abu volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Abu volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Abu volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Abu volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Abu volcano (scale of few kilometers)
