What the record shows for Japan
The strongest earthquake on record near Japan is a magnitude 9.1 in 2011, centred 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, Japan - 15 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 10,116 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 500 km of Japan - roughly 506 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 169 tsunamis within 500 km of Japan between 701 and 2024. The most significant was in 1923 near Sagami Bay, triggered by an M7.9 earthquake, which killed around 105,385 people.
52 volcanoes are catalogued near Japan, including Niigata-Yakeyama, Myokosan, Shiga, Kusatsu-Shiranesan, Midagahara, Washiba-Kumonotaira and 46 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Japan lies at the junction of four tectonic plates and experiences roughly a fifth of the world’s strongest earthquakes.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Japan.
Earthquake risk in Japan - FAQ
Is Japan at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 506 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 500 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M9.1 in 2011.
What was the biggest earthquake in Japan?
The strongest earthquake on record near Japan is M9.1, in 2011 (2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, Japan), from USGS.
Does Japan get tsunamis?
Yes - 169 tsunamis since 701 (most recently 2024) within 500 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 105,385 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Japan?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.