May 20, 1751 Earthquake: NW, Honshu, Japan
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck NW, Honshu, Japan on May 20, 1751. It killed 2,100 people.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- May 20, 1751
- Place
- NW, Honshu, Japan
- Magnitude
- 6.6 (Ms)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 37.200° N, 138.100° E
- Country
- Japan
The toll
- Deaths
- 2,100
- Damage
- Extreme (about $25 million or more)
- Houses destroyed
- 9,100
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1751, May 20, 37.5 138 E, Takada, 2000 deaths, 9100 houses destroyed. (reference #1068)
Mouth of River Kuwatori was buried by tsunami. Many landslides took place. More than 5,800 houses destroyed, more than 2,100 deaths. Takada castle destroyed. (reference #150)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- May 8, 1847, Zenkoji, Nagano, Japan
- September 27, 1611, Aidu, Japan
- August 2, 887, Niigata, Honshu, Japan
- February 1, 1666, Takata, Japan
- December 18, 1828, Sandyo IN Etigo, Japan
- January 1, 2024, Ishikawa, Honshu, Japan
- April 9, 1858, N, Hida, Japan
- October 23, 2004, Niigata Prefecture, Honshu, Japan
- April 28, 1714, Oomati, Japan
- April 21, 1659, Aidu, Japan
- June 16, 1964, W Coast, Honshu, Japan
- September 13, 1984, Mt Ontake, Central, Honshu, Japan
- December 9, 1802, Sado Island, Ogi, NW Honshu, Japan
- September 21, 1931, Honshu, Japan
- July 16, 2007, W Coast, Honshu, Japan
More
Significant earthquakes of 1751The 1700sRecent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 1315.