Tsunamis of Japan
Every tsunami NOAA records that began in or off Japan, oldest to newest.
Japan’s tsunamis on the map
At the source, colored by the highest water recorded. A ring is an event NCEI rates doubtful or questionable.
- Under 1 m
- 1 to 3 m
- 3 to 10 m
- 10 to 30 m
- 30 m and more
- Height not recorded
The record
- Events
- 385
- Probable or definite
- 303
- Deaths counted
- 298,690
The deadliest
- September 1, 1923, Sagami Bay, Japan
- June 15, 1896, Sanriku, Japan
- May 27, 1293, Kamakura, Sagami Bay, Japan
- March 11, 2011, Honshu Island, Japan
- May 21, 1792, Shimabara Bay, Kyushu Island, Japan
- April 24, 1771, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- January 18, 1586, Ise Bay, Japan
- November 11, 1855, Tokaido, Japan
- January 16, 1995, Kobe, Japan
- December 30, 1703, Off SW Boso Peninsula, Japan
- September 20, 1498, Enshunada Sea, Japan
- February 3, 1605, Nankaido, Japan
- December 2, 1611, Sanriku, Japan
- October 28, 1707, Nankaido, Japan
- October 1512, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan
Every event
Newest first.
- April 20, 2026, Off Northeast Coast Honshu, Japan
- December 12, 2025, Off Northeast Coast Honshu, Japan
- December 8, 2025, Off Northeast Coast Honshu, Japan
- November 9, 2025, Sanriku, Japan
- January 13, 2025, Hyuganada Sea, Japan
- September 23, 2024, Izu Islands, Japan
- August 8, 2024, Hyuganada Sea, Japan
- January 1, 2024, W Coast, Honshu, Japan
- October 8, 2023, Izu Islands, Japan
- October 6, 2023, Izu Islands, Japan
- October 5, 2023, Izu Islands, Japan
- May 5, 2023, Noto Peninsula, Japan
- March 16, 2022, Off Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
- February 13, 2021, Off Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
- June 18, 2019, Niigata, Japan
- March 20, 2019, Nagasaki, Japan
- March 11, 2019, Bonin Islands, Japan
- September 4, 2018, Southern Japan
- May 6, 2018, S. of Honshu Island, Japan
- November 15, 2017, Bonin Islands, Japan
- November 21, 2016, E. Coast Honshu Island, Japan
- August 20, 2016, Sanriku, Japan
- November 13, 2015, Japan
- May 2, 2015, S. of Honshu Island, Japan
- February 16, 2015, Honshu, Japan
- July 11, 2014, Sanriku, Japan
- October 25, 2013, E. Coast Honshu Island, Japan
- December 7, 2012, Off East Coast of Honshu Island, Japan
- March 14, 2012, Hokkaido Island, Japan
- July 10, 2011, Off East Coast of Honshu Island, Japan
- April 7, 2011, E. Coast Honshu Island, Japan
- March 11, 2011, Honshu Island, Japan
- March 9, 2011, Off Sanriku, Japan
- March 9, 2011, Honshu Island, Japan
- December 21, 2010, Bonin Islands, Japan
- February 26, 2010, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- August 10, 2009, S Coast, Honshu, Japan
- September 11, 2008, Hokkaido Island, Japan
- July 19, 2008, Off East Coast of Honshu Island, Japan
- June 13, 2008, Aratozawa, Japan
- July 16, 2007, W Coast, Honshu, Japan
- March 25, 2007, W Coast, Honshu, Japan
- October 23, 2006, Izu Islands, Japan
- January 1, 2006, S. of Honshu Island, Japan
- November 14, 2005, E. Coast Honshu Island, Japan
- August 16, 2005, E. Coast Honshu Island, Japan
- January 19, 2005, E. Honshu Island, Japan
- November 28, 2004, Hokkaido Island, Japan
- September 5, 2004, South Coast Honshu Island, Japan
- September 5, 2004, South Coast Honshu Island, Japan
- October 31, 2003, E. Honshu Island, Japan
- September 25, 2003, Hokkaido Island, Japan
- March 26, 2002, Japan
- July 30, 2000, S Coast, Honshu, Japan
- July 15, 2000, S Coast, Honshu, Japan
- July 1, 2000, Kozu-Shima Island, Honshu, Japan
- May 30, 1998, Sanriku, Japan
- September 30, 1997, S. of Honshu Island, Japan
- December 2, 1996, Sea of Japan
- October 19, 1996, Kyushu Island, Japan
- October 18, 1996, Kyushu Island, Japan
- September 4, 1996, Honshu Island, Japan
- October 19, 1995, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- October 18, 1995, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- January 16, 1995, Kobe, Japan
- December 28, 1994, Tohuku, Japan
- April 8, 1994, Hokkaido Island, Japan
- August 7, 1993, Japan
- July 12, 1993, Sea of Japan
- February 7, 1993, Honshu Island, Japan
- August 11, 1992, Honshu, Japan
- July 18, 1992, Honshu Island, Japan
- September 23, 1990, W. of Bonin Islands, Izu Is., Japan
- February 20, 1990, Japan
- November 1, 1989, Japan
- October 29, 1989, N. Honshu Island, Japan
- March 24, 1987, Honshu Island, Japan
- March 18, 1987, Kyushu Island, Japan
- February 6, 1987, E. Honshu Island, Japan
- September 18, 1984, Honshu Island, Japan
- August 6, 1984, Kyushu, Japan
- June 13, 1984, Tori Shima, Okinawa, Japan
- June 21, 1983, N. Honshu Island, Japan
- June 9, 1983, Noshiro, Japan
- May 26, 1983, Noshiro, Japan
- December 28, 1982, S. of Honshu Island, Japan
- July 23, 1982, Ibaraki, Japan
- March 21, 1982, Hokkaido Island, Japan
- January 18, 1981, E. Honshu Island, Japan
- June 29, 1980, Honshu Island, Japan
- March 31, 1979, Nagasaki, Japan
- February 20, 1979, Iwate, Japan
- June 12, 1978, Sanriku, Japan
- January 14, 1978, Tokaido, Japan
- May 8, 1974, Tokaido, Japan
- June 17, 1973, Hokkaido Island, Japan
- December 4, 1972, Chichi Jima, Japan
- September 6, 1972, Japan
- February 29, 1972, East off Hachijo Island, Japan
- August 2, 1971, Japan Trench
- July 25, 1970, Seikaido, Japan
- April 21, 1969, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- August 5, 1968, Seikaido-Nankaido, Japan
- June 12, 1968, Sanriku, Japan
- May 16, 1968, Off Coast of Honshu Island, Japan
- May 16, 1968, Off East Coast of Honshu Island, Japan
- April 1, 1968, Seikaido, Japan
- April 19, 1965, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
- December 10, 1964, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- June 16, 1964, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- May 7, 1964, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- May 7, 1964, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- May 21, 1962, Off Coast of Honshu Island, Japan
- April 23, 1962, SE. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- April 12, 1962, Sanriku, Japan
- November 15, 1961, SE. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- August 11, 1961, SE. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- July 18, 1961, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- February 26, 1961, Seikaido, Japan
- January 16, 1961, Kashima, Japan
- January 16, 1961, Kashima, Japan
- January 16, 1961, Kashima, Japan
- July 29, 1960, Sanriku, Japan
- March 23, 1960, Sanriku, Japan
- March 20, 1960, Sanriku, Japan
- October 26, 1959, Sanriku, Japan
- January 22, 1959, Sanriku, Japan
- August 12, 1956, Izu Peninsula, Japan
- March 5, 1956, NE. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- November 18, 1954, Miyagi, Japan
- November 25, 1953, Kashima, Japan
- March 25, 1953, Myojinsho Submarine Volcano, Japan
- March 11, 1953, Myojinsho Submarine Volcano, Japan
- September 26, 1952, Myojinsho Submarine Volcano, Japan
- September 24, 1952, Myojinsho Submarine Volcano, Japan
- September 23, 1952, Myojinsho Submarine Volcano, Japan
- September 17, 1952, Myojinsho Submarine Volcano, Japan
- September 16, 1952, Myojinsho Submarine Volcano, Japan
- March 9, 1952, SE. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- March 4, 1952, SE. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- April 17, 1948, Tokaido, Japan
- November 4, 1947, W. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- December 20, 1946, S Coast, Honshu, Japan
- February 10, 1945, Sanriku, Japan
- January 12, 1945, Tokaido, Japan
- December 7, 1944, Off Southeast Coast Kii Peninsula, Japan
- June 13, 1943, SE. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- November 18, 1941, Seikaido, Japan
- August 1, 1940, W. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- May 1, 1939, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- March 20, 1939, Seikaido, Japan
- November 30, 1938, Sanriku, Japan
- November 22, 1938, Sanriku, Japan
- November 16, 1938, Sanriku, Japan
- November 13, 1938, Sanriku, Japan
- November 9, 1938, Sanriku, Japan
- November 6, 1938, Off Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
- November 6, 1938, Off Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
- November 5, 1938, Sanriku, Japan
- November 5, 1938, Sanriku, Japan
- June 10, 1938, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- May 28, 1938, E. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- May 23, 1938, Japan Trench
- November 2, 1936, Sanriku, Japan
- October 18, 1935, Sanriku, Japan
- October 12, 1935, Sanriku, Japan
- July 19, 1935, Japan
- June 18, 1933, Sanriku, Japan
- March 2, 1933, Sanriku, Japan
- November 2, 1931, Seikaido, Japan
- March 9, 1931, Sanriku, Japan
- May 21, 1929, Hyuganada Sea, Japan
- May 30, 1928, Sapporo, Japan
- May 27, 1928, Sanriku, Japan
- August 18, 1927, Kashima, Japan
- August 5, 1927, Sanriku, Japan
- March 7, 1927, SW. Honshu Island, Japan
- September 2, 1923, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- September 1, 1923, Sagami Bay, Japan
- June 1, 1923, Kashima, Japan
- November 1, 1915, Sanriku, Japan
- June 19, 1915, Myojinsho Submarine Volcano, Japan
- January 12, 1914, Seikaido, Japan
- June 8, 1912, Sanriku, Japan
- June 15, 1911, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- August 14, 1909, Anegawa, Japan
- March 13, 1909, Off Boso Peninsula, Japan
- March 12, 1909, Off Boso Peninsula, Japan
- July 6, 1905, Off Fukushima, Japan
- August 9, 1901, Off Northeast Coast Honshu, Japan
- August 9, 1901, Off Northeast Coast Honshu, Japan
- August 9, 1901, Off Northeast Coast Honshu, Japan
- June 24, 1901, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- June 15, 1901, Iwate, Japan
- November 25, 1899, Seikaido, Japan
- November 24, 1899, Seikaido, Japan
- October 7, 1899, Tagonoura, Japan
- April 22, 1898, Honshu Island, Japan
- August 5, 1897, Sanriku, Japan
- February 19, 1897, Sanriku, Japan
- June 15, 1896, Sanriku, Japan
- January 9, 1896, Kashima, Japan
- May 25, 1895, W. Kyushu Island, Japan
- October 22, 1894, Yamagata, Japan
- March 22, 1894, SE. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- June 13, 1893, Nemuro, Japan
- December 9, 1892, SW. Honshu Island, Japan
- November 15, 1884, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
- October 25, 1881, Hokkaido Island, Japan
- November 1880, Toyama Pref., Japan
- October 26, 1876, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- March 14, 1872, SW. Honshu Island, Japan
- 1872, Bonin Islands [chichijima Island], Japan
- March 1, 1865, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- September 20, 1863, NW. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- October 20, 1861, Off Miyagi, Japan
- September 1858, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- July 13, 1857, Tokaido, Japan
- September 1856, Tokyo Bay, Japan
- August 23, 1856, SE. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- December 3, 1855, Nankaido, Japan
- November 11, 1855, Tokaido, Japan
- November 7, 1855, Enshunada, Japan
- December 24, 1854, Nankaido, Japan
- December 23, 1854, Enshunada Sea, Japan
- October 3, 1853, Okinawa Island, Japan
- July 20, 1850, Sanriku, Japan
- August 27, 1847, Sanriku, Japan
- March 1846, Sanriku, Japan
- September 1845, Nagasaki, Japan
- March 8, 1844, Iamachi, Japan
- April 25, 1843, SE. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- May 1, 1839, SE. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- September 5, 1836, Sanriku, Japan
- August 19, 1835, Miyagi, Japan
- July 20, 1835, Sanriku, Japan
- February 9, 1834, W. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- December 7, 1833, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- December 18, 1828, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- May 26, 1828, Amakusa Sea, Japan
- January 1826, Chichi Jima, Japan
- December 20, 1816, W. Izu Penin., Japan
- September 25, 1810, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- December 4, 1808, Tokaido, Japan
- August 8, 1808, E. Awa, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan
- July 10, 1804, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- December 9, 1802, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- June 29, 1799, SW. Honshu Island, Japan
- November 21, 1797, SW. Kyushu Island, Japan
- February 17, 1793, Sanriku, Japan
- February 8, 1793, W. off Aomori, Japan
- August 29, 1792, Tokaido, Japan
- June 13, 1792, W. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- May 21, 1792, Shimabara Bay, Kyushu Island, Japan
- September 13, 1791, Oasaka Bay, Japan
- May 13, 1791, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- 1789, Sanriku, Japan
- August 22, 1782, Odawara, Sagami Bay, Japan
- April 11, 1781, SW. Kyushu Island, Japan
- October 31, 1780, SW. Kyushu Island, Japan
- September 9, 1780, SW. Kyushu Island, Japan
- July 1778, Higo, Japan
- October 1775, Awa, Boso, Japan
- April 24, 1771, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- August 29, 1769, SW. Kyushu Island, Japan
- July 22, 1768, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- March 8, 1766, Sanriku, Japan
- March 15, 1763, Sanriku, Hachionhe, Japan
- March 11, 1763, N. Sanriku, Japan
- January 29, 1763, Sanriku, Japan
- October 31, 1762, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- July 24, 1751, Miyagi, Japan
- May 20, 1751, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- March 1747, Izu Peninsula, Hachijo Island, Japan
- August 29, 1741, W. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- December 4, 1732, Kujukuri Beach, Japan
- 1732, Hachijo Island, Japan
- October 7, 1731, Sanriku, Japan
- November 10, 1730, Kashima, Japan
- April 1, 1726, Katsuyama, Japan
- September 24, 1722, Ise Bay, Japan
- October 5, 1718, Tokaido, Japan
- 1716, Oshima Island, Japan
- December 29, 1715, Seikaido, Japan
- December 20, 1711, Seionaikai, Japan
- February 13, 1708, Tokaido, Japan
- October 28, 1707, Enshunada, Japan
- October 28, 1707, Nankaido, Japan
- January 1704, Suruga, Japan
- 1704, Taiji, Kii, Japan
- December 30, 1703, Off SW Boso Peninsula, Japan
- April 16, 1700, Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
- April 1, 1700, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
- September 8, 1699, Enshunada, Japan
- March 1699, SW. Kyushu Island, Japan
- December 22, 1698, Seikaido-Nankaido, Japan
- November 25, 1696, Ishinomaki, Japan
- July 25, 1696, Fukushima, Japan
- 1689, Sanriku, Japan
- July 26, 1687, S. Japan
- September 28, 1680, Totomi-Nada, Japan
- August 29, 1680, Enshunada, Japan
- November 4, 1677, Off SE. Boso Peninsula, Japan
- April 13, 1677, Sanriku, Japan
- November 1676, Hitachi, Japan
- February 27, 1671, Nankaido, Japan
- December 17, 1670, Boso, Japan
- September 1670, Seionaikai, Japan
- 1667, Miyakojima, Japan
- May 31, 1666, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
- 1664, Torishima, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
- October 30, 1662, Hiuganada, Japan
- October 20, 1662, Sanriku, Japan
- December 1657, Choshi, Japan
- December 13, 1650, Echizen (Fukui), Japan
- July 30, 1649, Tokaido, Japan
- June 9, 1646, Sanriku, Japan
- October 18, 1644, Honjo, Akita, Japan
- September 4, 1642, Boso, Japan
- July 31, 1640, SE. Hokkaido Island, Japan
- March 1, 1633, Sagami Bay, Japan
- May 1, 1619, Yatsushiro, Japan
- December 6, 1616, Sanriku, Japan
- September 9, 1616, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
- November 26, 1614, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
- December 2, 1611, Sanriku, Japan
- January 23, 1606, Chichijima-Tokaido, Japan
- February 3, 1605, Enshunada, Japan
- February 3, 1605, Nankaido, Japan
- 1603, Kumanonada, Japan
- February 8, 1602, Boso, Japan
- September 10, 1597, Beppu Bay, Japan
- September 4, 1596, Beppu Bay, Kyushu, Japan
- March 21, 1589, Suruga, Japan
- January 18, 1586, Ise Bay, Japan
- June 11, 1585, Off Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
- May 20, 1571, Takada, Japan
- July 25, 1562, W. Kyushu Island, Japan
- February 7, 1545, Izu Peninsula, Japan
- October 1521, Nankaido, Japan
- April 4, 1520, Kii, Kumananonada, Japan
- October 1512, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan
- October 10, 1510, Enshunada Sea, Japan
- September 21, 1510, Osaka Bay, Japan
- July 10, 1500, Tokaido, Japan
- September 20, 1498, Nankaido, Japan
- September 20, 1498, Enshunada Sea, Japan
- July 9, 1498, Enshunada, Japan
- September 12, 1495, Kamakura, Sagami Bay, Tokaido, Japan
- September 19, 1448, Sado, Japan
- November 7, 1433, Off Izu-Oshima, Japan
- September 6, 1420, Ibaraki, Japan
- January 21, 1408, Kumanonada, Japan
- October 16, 1406, Shizuoka, Japan
- December 1403, Kumanonada, Japan
- August 3, 1361, Nankaido, Japan
- November 22, 1360, Kumanonada, Japan
- October 31, 1341, Jusanko, Tsugaru Aomori Prefecture, Japan
- August 15, 1331, Off Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
- May 27, 1293, Kamakura, Sagami Bay, Japan
- October 9, 1257, Sagami Bay, Japan
- October 9, 1257, Off Sanriku, Japan
- May 22, 1241, Kamakura, Sagami Bay, Japan
- February 22, 1099, Nankaido, Japan
- December 17, 1096, Enshunada, Japan
- September 13, 1092, Teradomari, Niigara Prefecture, Japan
- June 10, 1088, Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
- May 13, 1088, Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
- June 16, 1026, Off Masuda, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
- 922, Kumanonada, Japan
- August 26, 887, Nankaido, Japan
- August 2, 887, Niigata, Japan
- July 13, 869, Sanriku, Japan
- July 10, 863, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- June 855, Nankaido, Japan
- November 27, 850, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- August 818, Tokaido, Japan
- September 18, 799, Kashima, Japan
- July 20, 766, N. Kagoshima Bay, Japan
- July 765, Kyushu Island, Japan
- June 9, 745, Osaka Bay, Japan
- June 30, 744, SW. Kyushu Island, Japan
- August 2, 704, Kumanonada, Japan
- May 12, 701, Sea of Japan
- November 29, 684, Nankaido, Japan
By country
- Albania13
- Algeria16
- Antarctica8
- Antigua and Barbuda2
- Argentina6
- Atlantic Ocean4
- Australia59
- Azerbaijan5
- Baltic Sea1
- Bangladesh6
- Barbados3
- Brazil13
- Bulgaria4
- Cameroon2
- Canada36
- Chile169
- China44
- Colombia8
- Congo2
- Cook Islands4
- Costa Rica19
- Croatia18
- Cuba7
- Cyprus6
- Dead Sea1
- Denmark1
- Dominica1
- Dominican Republic6
- East China Sea2
- Ecuador9
- Egypt5
- El Salvador8
- Eritrea1
- Fiji9
- Finland1
- France15
- French Polynesia5
- Georgia2
- Germany2
- Ghana3
- Greece189
- Greenland9
- Grenada2
- Guadeloupe8
- Guatemala9
- Haiti13
- Honduras7
- Iceland10
- India21
- Indonesia269
- Iran6
- Ireland1
- Irish Sea1
- Israel9
- Italy162
- Jamaica11
- Japan385
- Jordan2
- Kenya1
- Kermadec Islands4
- Korea1
- Lebanon6
- Marshall Islands1
- Martinique12
- Mexico84
- Micronesia6
- Montenegro4
- Montserrat5
- Morocco4
- Myanmar3
- Nauru1
- Nepal1
- Netherlands6
- New Caledonia25
- New Zealand92
- Nicaragua8
- North Korea3
- North Sea1
- Northwest Pacific Ocean2
- Norway33
- Pacific Ocean1
- Pakistan4
- Panama10
- Papua New Guinea82
- Peru77
- Philippines113
- Poland2
- Portugal43
- Romania3
- Russia112
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines2
- Samoa16
- Scotland1
- Senegal1
- Solomon Islands48
- South Africa4
- South Korea14
- Spain19
- Sri Lanka2
- Sudan1
- Sweden3
- Switzerland4
- Syria8
- Taiwan29
- Togo3
- Tonga23
- Trinidad and Tobago4
- Tunisia2
- Turkey77
- Turkmenistan3
- UK Territories5
- Ukraine12
- United Kingdom52
- United States288
- Uruguay4
- US Territories27
- Vanuatu53
- Venezuela28
- Vietnam6
- Wallis and Futuna1
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.