Recent earthquakes in Japan
Japan sits at the junction of four tectonic plates — the Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian, and North American — making it one of the most seismically active countries on Earth. Most large events strike offshore along the Japan Trench and Nankai Trough, where oceanic plates subduct beneath the archipelago at roughly 8 cm per year. The 2011 M9.1 Tōhoku earthquake ruptured the Japan Trench boundary and generated a major tsunami. In the past 24 hours, Japan has recorded 2 earthquakes, the largest an M4.8 (54 km E of Tomioka, Japan).
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.6 | Oct 27, 01:17 UTC | 67 km | 203 km SSE of Tateyama, Japan |
| M4.8 | Oct 27, 00:25 UTC | 49 km | 54 km E of Tomioka, Japan |
| M4.5 | Oct 26, 08:10 UTC | 139 km | 56 km S of Kuril’sk, Russia |
| M4.2 | Oct 26, 04:12 UTC | 60 km | 37 km E of Hachinohe, Japan |
| M4.8 | Oct 25, 22:16 UTC | 482 km | Bonin Islands, Japan region |
| M5.3 | Oct 25, 22:14 UTC | 485 km | Bonin Islands, Japan region |
| M4.5 | Oct 25, 06:04 UTC | 53 km | 74 km SSE of Onagawa Chō, Japan |
| M4.2 | Oct 25, 02:47 UTC | 500 km | Bonin Islands, Japan region |
| M4.8 | Oct 25, 02:36 UTC | 499 km | Bonin Islands, Japan region |
| M6.5 | Oct 25, 02:09 UTC | 492 km | Bonin Islands, Japan region |
| M5.3 | Oct 24, 23:59 UTC | 10 km | 44 km ESE of Miyazaki, Japan |
| M5.1 | Oct 23, 16:07 UTC | 38 km | 72 km ENE of Noda, Japan |
| M4.8 | Oct 22, 17:21 UTC | 76 km | 39 km NE of Shikotan, Russia |
| M4.3 | Oct 21, 15:13 UTC | 169 km | 19 km S of Makurazaki, Japan |
| M4.7 | Oct 21, 14:40 UTC | 94 km | 33 km NE of Shizunai-furukawachō, Japan |
| M4.5 | Oct 21, 01:04 UTC | 90 km | 2 km N of Honchō, Japan |
Notable recent activity
A strong M6.5 earthquake struck Bonin Islands, Japan region at 02:09 UTC on Oct 25 at a depth of 492 km.
A moderate M5.3 earthquake struck 44 km ESE of Miyazaki, Japan at 23:59 UTC on Oct 24 at a depth of 10 km.
A moderate M5.3 earthquake struck Bonin Islands, Japan region at 22:14 UTC on Oct 25 at a depth of 485 km.
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes does Japan get?
Japan records over 1,000 felt earthquakes a year and thousands more too small to notice — roughly a fifth of the world's magnitude 6 and larger events occur in or around the country. Most are small offshore adjustments along the subduction zones.
Why does Japan have so many earthquakes?
Japan lies where four tectonic plates converge. The Pacific and Philippine Sea plates subduct beneath the Eurasian and North American plates, storing and releasing strain along the Japan Trench, Nankai Trough, and a dense network of inland faults.
What was the biggest earthquake in Japan?
The magnitude 9.1 Tōhoku earthquake of March 11, 2011 is the largest instrumentally recorded in Japan. It ruptured the Japan Trench off the northeast coast and produced a tsunami that reached over 10 metres in places.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.