Akan Volcano

Akan volcano (阿寒岳, Akan-dake) is one of Hokkaido's most active volcanoes. Akan consists of a large 24 x 13 km diameter caldera and a group of younger partly Holocene andesite cones. The highest point of the complex is the Mount Meakan (1499 m) stratovolcano.
The frequent historic eruptions occurred all from the Me-Akan group, east of Lake Akan. Me-Akan volcano (雌阿寒岳 Meakan-dake) consists of 9 overlapping cones. Its summit has 3 craters.
Me-Akan has had at least 17 small phreatic eruptions since the beginning of the 19th century and from geologic studies it is known that there were at least 4 major magmatic eruptions with pyroclastic flows have occurred in prehistoric time during the past 10,000 years.
Lake Akan is part of the Akan National Park. It is known for a rare green algae (marimo) which can grow to about the size of a soccer ball. The only town around the lake is the resort of Akankohan known for its hot springs and the "bokke", bubbling mud pools found at the lakeshore.
Akan volcano eruptions: 2008, 2006, 1988, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1962, 1960, 1959, 1958, 1957, 1956, 1955, 1954, 1951(?)-52, 1927 (?), 1808 (?), 1800
Latest nearby earthquakes
Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jun 3, 10:30 pm (GMT +9) | 1.1 5.5 km | 19 km (12 mi) to the NE | ![]() | Info | |
Friday, May 30, 2025 GMT (2 quakes) | |||||
May 31, 07:43 am (GMT +9) | 1.1 94 km | 29 km (18 mi) to the S | ![]() | Info | |
May 31, 12:33 am (GMT +9) | 0.9 3.3 km | 18 km (11 mi) to the NE | ![]() | Info |
Background
The Akan caldera is located immediately SW of Kutcharo caldera and has an elonogated, irregular shape due to several caldera-forming explosive eruptions between the early and mid Pleistocene.Growth of 3 post-caldera stratovolcanoes, 3 at the SW end of the caldera and the other at the NE side, has reduced the size of the caldera lake. The conical O-Akan volcano was frequently active during the Holocene. The 1-km-wide Nakamachineshiri crater of Me-Akan volcano was formed during a major pumice-and-scoria eruption about 13,500 years ago.
Akan Volcano Photos


Significant volcanic eruptions: Akan volcano
Additionally, there are 2 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Akan volcano.
Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Me-Akan (Ponmachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
NE flank of Me-Akan Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (Ponmachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (Ponmachineshiri crater no. 4) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (SE rim of Ponmachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (Ponmachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (Nakamachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (Nakamachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (Nakamachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (Nakamachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (Ponmachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (Naka- and Ponmachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (Ponmachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (Ponmachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (Ponmachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (Ponmachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Me-Akan (Nakamachineshiri) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 1 | |||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 1 | |||
Me-Akan Historical obs./docs. | ? | ||||
Me-Akan Historical obs./docs. | 1 |
Eruptions of Akan volcano
Tremor was recorded on 17 November 2008. A small ash eruption occurred on 18 November, and was later detected by a fresh deposit of ash on snow in up to 400 m distance from the Ponmachineshiri crater. Another ash eruption occurred on 28 November, producing a small ash plume reaching 2 km altitude.
(Source: Smithsonian / GVP monthly reports)
A small eruption occurred from a vent on the NE flank of Meakan on 21 March 2006. Ashfall was observed 10 km SE of the volcano.
A small ash eruption occurred from Meakan volcano on 9 November 1998.
A small phreatic eruption occurred on 21 November 1996.
Akan Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Akan volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Akan occurred in 2008.
+How often does Akan volcano erupt?
Since 1780, Akan volcano has had at least 19 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 12.9 years.
+How active is Akan volcano at present?
Akan volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 17 eruptions, and been active during 17 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Akan has been in eruption one in 7.4 years on average. The last eruption was in 2008 and ended 17 years ago.
+When was the largest eruption of Akan volcano?
The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Akan volcano occurred in 50 BC. It only has a VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) of 1, likely because it was a mainly effusive eruption generating lava flows but very little ash.
Latest satellite images
Akan Volcano Maps





















