Sakurajima Volcano

Updated: May 21, 2025 03:32 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano

Kyushu, Japan, 31.59°N / 130.66°E

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Summit height: 1117 m / 3,665 ft

Current status: erupting (4 out of 5)

Last update: 20 May 2025 (Volcanic Ash Advisory)

Sakurajima (also spelled Sakurashima or Sakura-jima, 桜島 in Japanese) volcano in southern Kyushu is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and one of the few that are at present in constant (persistant) activity. Its ongoing typical activity range from strong strombolian to large ash explosions every 4-24 hours.
The volcano is the historically active center of the larger complex of the Aira caldera volcano. Located across Kagoshima Bay, which separates the city and the volcano by 4.2 km of water, its summit is only 8 km east of the city of Kagoshima with a population of half a million. Sakurajima's eruptive history has been recorded since the 8th century. It frequently deposits ash on Kagoshima. Due to its explosive potential, it is considered a very dangerous volcano and closely monitored.
The largest historical eruptions of Sakurajima took place during 1471-76 and in 1914.

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Typical eruption style: Explosive
Sakurajima volcano eruptions: 1955-ongoing, 1954(?), 1950, 1948, 1946, 1942, 1941, 1940, 1939, 1938, 1935, 1914-15, 1899(?), 1860, 1799, 1797, 1794, 1792, 1791, 1790, 1785, 1783, 1782, 1779-81, 1756, 1749, 1742, 1706, 1678, 1670(?), 1642, 1478, 1471-76, 1468, 778, 766, 764, 716-18, 712(?), 708

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
May 21, 05:01 am (GMT +9)	0.9 100 km	26 km (16 mi) to the N	6.6 km north of Kirishima, Kagoshima-ken, Japan	Info
May 20, 05:05 pm (GMT +9)	0.4 0 km	27 km (16 mi) to the SW	18 km southwest of Kagoshima, Kagoshima-ken, Japan	Info
Sunday, May 18, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 18, 10:42 am (GMT +9)	1.2 8.8 km	24 km (15 mi) to the S	East China Sea, 21 km south of Kagoshima, Kagoshima-ken, Japan	Info
Saturday, May 17, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
May 18, 06:53 am (GMT +9)	3.1 158 km	13 km (8.4 mi) to the SW	East China Sea, 5.9 km south of Kagoshima, Kagoshima-ken, Japan I FELT IT	Info
May 18, 06:53 am (GMT +9)	2.3 162 km	13 km (7.8 mi) to the SW	East China Sea, 5.2 km south of Kagoshima, Kagoshima-ken, Japan	Info
Friday, May 16, 2025 GMT (3 quakes)
May 17, 06:12 am (GMT +9)	0.7 5.9 km	26 km (16 mi) to the SW	22 km south of Kagoshima, Kagoshima-ken, Japan	Info
May 16, 05:01 pm (GMT +9)	0.3 0 km	26 km (16 mi) to the SE	4.2 km west of Kanoya, Kagoshima-ken, Japan	Info
May 16, 10:25 am (GMT +9)	2.6 168 km	17 km (10.5 mi) to the W	6.9 km southwest of Kagoshima, Kagoshima-ken, Japan	Info

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Background

Sakurajima's present day volcano is a new volcanic cone inside the 17 x 23 km wide Aira caldera forming the northern half of Kagoshima Bay. The caldera formed around 22,000 years ago during a Plinian eruption that produced large pyroclastic flows.
Around 13,000 years ago, another smaller caldera, the so-called Wakamiko caldera was formed in the NE corner of the Aira caldera and was partially filled by volcanic cones. One of the new vents in this caldera eventually became present-day Sakura-jima located on the southern rim of Aira caldera. Sakurajima's early activity took place mainly at the Kita-dake summit cone until about 4850 years ago, after which its vent shifted to Minami-dake. The construction of Sakurajima formed a new island that was joined to the Osumi Peninsula during the major explosive and effusive eruption of 1914.
External link: Living in the Shade of Sakurajima—The Most Active Volcano in Japan (medium.com)

Sakurajima Volcano Photos

Powerful strombolian explosion from Sakurajima volcano, Japan, at 13:48 UTC on 27 Sep 2013 (22:48 local time) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Lightning in eruption column from an explosion of Sakurajima volcano, Japan (2013) (Photo: Martin Rietze)

Sakurajima, Japan, July 2013: The largest explosion observed from close occurred at 23h33 (14:33 UTC) - although the eruption was not mentioned in Tokyo's VVAC, the ash p...

The same eruption two minutes after the start still goes on strong, with much lightning and fountains of lava and ash. Sakurajima volcano, Japan, 27 Sep 2013. (Photo: Tom...

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Significant volcanic eruptions: Sakurajima volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Sakurajima has had at least 48 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 36 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 6 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Sakurajima volcano.

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

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
2017 Mar 25 - ongoing	Minamidake summit crater Historical obs./docs.	2
1955 Oct 13 - 2016 Aug 22	Minami-dake and east flank (Showa crater) Historical obs./docs.	3
2013 Sep 4 (eruptive episode 2013 Sep 4)	Historical obs./docs.	0		light	Info
2013 Sep 4: A moderately large vulcanian explosion occurred this morning, producing significant fallout of lapilli and small bombs in several kilometers distance. Cars parked at the Arimura Lava observatory observation point to the south of the volcano were damages and windshields broken, at a distance of about 4 km. There are no reports of injuries to people. The ash plume from the eruption rose to approx. 12,000 ft (3.6 km) elevation, i.e. about 2.5 km km height. In itself, today's explosion is not even among the largest that have occurred in the past months, but the volcano clearly continues to be in a state of elevated activity when seen on a long-term average. (reference #10730) JMA reported that 34 explosions from Sakura-jima's Showa Crater ejected tephra as far as 1,300 m during 26-30 August. Incandescence from the crater was visible at night on 26 August. An explosion on 29 August at 0927 generated an ash plume that rose 3 km and caused ashfall in areas from Miyazaki (80 km NW) to Kagoshima (12 km W). Tephra 1 cm in diameter was confirmed in an area 4 km E. Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported that during 28 August-3 September explosions generated plumes most days that rose to altitudes of 1.5-4 km (5,000-13,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E, NE, and NW. On 31 August a pilot observed an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 2.7 km (9,000 ft) a.s.l. and traveled NE. (reference #2432) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #10730 volcanodiscovery.com (2013): Sakurajima volcano (Japan): large explosion damages cars. Wednesday Sep 04, 2013 16:49 PM. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1974 Aug 9 (eruption 1955 Oct 13 - 2016 Aug 22)	Historical obs./docs.	3	5		Info
1974 Aug 9: Rain-induced mudflows killed 5. 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
1974 Jun 17 (eruption 1955 Oct 13 - 2016 Aug 22)	Historical obs./docs.	3	3		Info
1974 Jun 17: Rain-induced mudflows killed 3. 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
1955 Oct 13 (eruption 1955 Oct 13 - 2016 Aug 22)	Historical obs./docs.	3	1-50 (*)		Info
1955 Oct 13: 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
?? 1954 Nov 16 ±15 d. - Dec 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	1?
1950 Jun 29 - Sep 9	Minami-dake Historical obs./docs.	1
1948 Jul 27	East flank of Minami-dake (750 m) Historical obs./docs.	1
1946 Jan - Nov	East flank of Minami-dake (750 m) Historical obs./docs.	2
1946 Jan (eruption 1946 Jan - Nov)	Historical obs./docs.	2	1		Info
1946 Jan: 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
1942 Jul 16	East flank of Minami-dake (750 m) Historical obs./docs.	1
1941 Apr 28 - Aug 26	East flank of Minami-dake (750 m) Historical obs./docs.	2
1940 Apr 24 - Jul 9	Minami-dake and east flank (750 m) Historical obs./docs.	2
1939 Oct 26 - Nov 12 ?	East flank of Minami-dake (750 m) Historical obs./docs.	2
1938 Feb 25 - Mar 31	Minami-dake Historical obs./docs.	2
1935 Sep 20 - Sep 24	Minami-dake Historical obs./docs.	1
1914 Jan 12 - 1915 May	West, east and SE flanks Historical obs./docs.	4
1914 Jan 12 (eruption 1914 Jan 12 - 1915 May)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	4	63	heavy	Info
1914 Jan 12: 63 total deaths. Half or more of the deaths resulted from collapse of stone walls and cliffs, mainly in Kagoshima during the earthquake. Few (6?) deaths on island because of effective evacuation; another 12 buried in landslide that was probably earthquake-induced. Uncertain number killed in building collapses during earthquake. Two people buried by pumice at Fumato. 23 drowned attempting to swim from island. Other estimates of deaths range 23 to 140. Injuries probably totalled 121, but estimates range from 87 to 127. (reference #1412) 58 deaths and 2268 houses destroyed, 120 collapsed and 2148 burnt down by eruption. (reference #150) 35 people killed, 127 wounded, and 4,177,139 Yen in damages. (reference #2060) Cited references #150 Iida, Kumizi (1984): Catalog of tsunamis in Japan and its neighboring countries. Aichi Institute of Technology, Yachigusa, Yakusa-cho, Toyota-shi, 470-03, Japan, 52 p. #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. #2060 Koto, Bundjiro (1916): The Great Eruption of Sakura-jima in 1914. Journal of the College of Science, Tokyo Imperial University, Japan; Vol. 38, Article 3. #3339 Jaggar, T.A. (1924): Sakurajima, Japan's Greatst Volcanic Eruption: A convulsion of nature whose ravages were minimized by scientific knowledge, compared with the terrors and destruction of the recent Tokyo earthquake. National Geographic Magazine, April 1924, p. 441-470. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
?? 1899 Sep 24 - Sep 25	Uncertain Eruption	1?
1860	Minami-dake Historical obs./docs.	1

(*) Estimated numbers

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 Sakurajima volcano

2006-2010 Activity: moderate explosions at 1-5 days intervals
Moderate explosions with typical plume heights of around 2 km occured every 1-5 days during most of 2006-10. In 2009, a slight increase of activity was observed. Plume heights of explosions reached a maximum of 5 km altitude (4 km height). ...more info

4 June 2006: first eruption outside the summit crater in 58 years
On 4 June 2006, Sakurajima erupted from a small vent outside the summit crater, near or within the crater which erupted the 1946 (Showa) lava flow on the E slope of Minami-dake summit. The eruption continued intermittently until the next morning.

Activity in 2000-2005
Sakurajima returned to low to medium levels of activity, with 150-200 eruptions per year. Occasional stronger explosions, such as on 7 October 2000, caused eruption columns as tall as 5 km above the crater, abundant ash falls, and damage windshields to cars.

Oct - Dec 1999 eruptions
Vigorous activity began in October 1999, marked by lava fountains and large large amounts of ejected ballistic bombs, blocks and lapilli falling as far as 4 km from the crater. ...more info

Activity in the 1990s
Compared to the 1980s, activity remained at lower levels at Sakurajima in the 1990, with explosions often occurring only at intervals of several days. Long pauses in explosive activity characterize the year 1995. ...more info

Activity in the 1980s
Explosions continue to occur typically one per day or two. Between 1985 and 1987, the activity produces particularly violent eruptions, peaking in November with 3 powerful explosions that cause much damage to cars and houses by impacting volcanic bombs. ...more info

Activity in the 1970s
Sarkurajima's activity was characterized by typically one explosion per day. THe largest eruptions produced plumes up to 4 km high, and on several occasions, landing aircraft at Kagoshima airport were damaged when flying through ash.
The eruptions caused no fatalities, but damaged cars, windows and crops in the immediate area around the volcano. ...more info

Sakurajima Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Sakurajima volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Sakurajima began in 2017 and is continuing (as of May 2025).

+How often does Sakurajima volcano erupt?

Since 708 AD, Sakurajima volcano has had at least 36 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 36.6 years.
Many eruptions of Sakurajima have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 115 out of 1317 years until now. In other words, Sakurajima has been active at least one in 11.5 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Sakurajima is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Sakurajima volcano at present?

Sakurajima volcano is extremely active: Since 1900, it has been frequently active, showing eruptive activity during 82 years out of 126 as of now. The latest eruption is still continuing at present.

+When was the largest eruption of Sakurajima volcano?

The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Sakurajima volcano occurred around 8050 BC. It ranks as a plinian eruption with a magnitude 5 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale. Eruption of this size are often catastrophic on a regional scale.

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See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

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Sakurajima Volcano Tours

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Sakurajima Volcano Special

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Sakurajima 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).