Japan Earthquake Today — Live Map & Recent Quakes

Track Japan earthquake today in real time with live map data and latest tremors updated every 60s from USGS. Japan is one of the world's most seismically active nations, sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Quakes Today

1

Past 7 Days

18

Strongest (7d)

M6.0

M5+ Events

2

Live Japan Earthquake Map

Loading seismic map...

Earthquakes in Japan

18 events · Past 7 Days

  • M4.5

    288 km SSE of Muroto-misakicho, Japan

    510 km deep

    16h ago

  • M4.7

    78 km SSE of Yonakuni, Japan

    18 km deep

    1d ago

  • M4.3

    15 km NNE of Semboku, Japan

    120 km deep

    1d ago

  • M4.2

    118 km E of Miyako, Japan

    39 km deep

    1d ago

  • M6.0

    58 km SSE of Shima, Japan

    352 km deep

    1d ago

  • M4.6

    Izu Islands, Japan region

    10 km deep

    2d ago

  • M4.5

    223 km SE of Katsuura, Japan

    10 km deep

    2d ago

  • M4.4

    36 km E of Koseda, Japan

    35 km deep

    2d ago

  • M4.4

    37 km S of Nishinoomote, Japan

    49 km deep

    2d ago

  • M4.5

    68 km ENE of Kuji, Japan

    43 km deep

    3d ago

Seismic Hazard Profile

About Earthquake Activity in Japan

Japan is one of the most seismically active nations on Earth, situated at the complex junction where four major tectonic plates meet in the northwestern Pacific. The Japanese archipelago experiences roughly 1,500 felt earthquakes annually — accounting for approximately 18% to 20% of the world's most energetic seismic events. From the subsea megathrust zones offshore to intricate active fault systems crossing the mainland, seismic monitoring and public preparedness are among the most advanced globally.

Why does Japan experience earthquakes?

Japan's relentless seismic activity is driven by subduction tectonics. In eastern Japan, the oceanic Pacific Plate dives westward beneath the Okhotsk (North American) Plate along the Japan Trench at roughly 8 to 9 centimeters per year, generating catastrophic megathrust ruptures and massive tsunamis. Simultaneously, in southwestern Japan, the Philippine Sea Plate subducts beneath the Amur (Eurasian) Plate along the Nankai Trough and Sagami Trough, causing repeated M8-class earthquakes. On land, crustal deformation from these oceanic plates compresses the archipelago, fracturing the crust into hundreds of active intraplate faults like the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line and the Median Tectonic Line.

Key Facts About Japan Seismicity

Seismic Risk Level
ExtremeHazard Zone
Population Exposed

~125 million

Primary Seismology Agency

JMA

Japan Meteorological Agency

Major Faults & Trenches
  • Japan Trench (Subduction Zone)
  • Nankai Trough
  • Sagami Trough
  • Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line
Tectonic Setting

Pacific and Philippine Sea Plates subducting beneath Okhotsk and Eurasian Plates

Notable Historic Quakes
  • 2011 Tōhoku Megathrust & TsunamiM9.1
  • 1995 Great Hanshin (Kobe) EarthquakeM6.9
  • 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake (Tokyo)M7.9
FAQ · Japan

Frequently Asked Questions About Earthquakes in Japan

Expert answers to common questions about seismic risks, fault lines, and earthquake activity in Japan.

You can check all earthquakes detected across Japan in the last 24 hours on this page. Our live feed captures events from Hokkaido down through Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Okinawa, updating every 60 seconds with USGS and JMA-coordinated data.

Japan sits along the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' at the active intersection of four major tectonic plates: the Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian, and North American plates. Their continuous subduction and friction create frequent seismic tremors and volcanic activity.

The strongest recorded event in Japan's modern history was the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011 (magnitude 9.1 off the coast of Tohoku), which generated catastrophic tsunami waves and triggered extensive coastal defense upgrades.

Operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the EEW system detects fast P-waves near the epicenter and automatically broadcasts loud warning chimes and alerts to smartphones, television, and radio seconds before the heavier S-waves arrive.

Protect your head immediately under a table or with a bag, stay clear of glass windows, and do not rush outside where roof tiles or signs can fall. If you are near coastal areas and feel prolonged strong shaking, evacuate immediately to designated high ground or tsunami evacuation buildings.