March 1, 1633 Tsunami: Sagami Bay, Japan
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake began at Sagami Bay, Japan on March 1, 1633. Its effects were recorded at 3 places. It killed 150 people, counting the earthquake or eruption that caused it.
Where the waves reached
The source (white) and every runup with a place, colored by the water height recorded there. A ring is a runup NCEI marks doubtful.
- Under 1 m
- 1 to 3 m
- 3 to 10 m
- 10 to 30 m
- 30 m and more
- Height not recorded
The tsunami
- Date
- March 1, 1633
- Source
- Sagami Bay, Japan
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 7.1
- Runups recorded
- 3
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 1
- Tsunami magnitude (Iida)
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Definite tsunami
- Source location
- 35.200° N, 139.200° E
The toll
- Deaths
- 150 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
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.
1633, March 1, about 5:00 [local time]. There was a strong earthquake in the Odawara region, Kanagawa Prefecture. The pleistoseismic zone apparently extended from the northern shore of Suruga Bay to Odawara. A tsunami was observed on the coast of Sagami Bay and the eastern part of the Izu Peninsula. Homes and fishing gear were washed away at Atami. (reference #414)
1633, March 1, 35.2 139.2 E, magnitude 7.1. Odawara castle and houses destroyed. About 150 deaths. tsunami hit Atami. Houses and fishing gear washed away. (reference #150)
March 1, 1633. Sea waves on the coast of Atami in Izu. (reference #1897)
Every runup
Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.
| Where | Country | Km from source | Water height, m | Inland, m | Measured by | First wave, UTC | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atami | Japan | 17 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Sagami Bay | Japan | 27 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Izu Peninsula, Honshu | Japan | 46 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1633The 1600sTsunamis of JapanThe earthquakeThis day in weather historyAlerts in force
Sources
Tsunami events and runups 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 tsunami event 245.