Locations of Active Volcanoes in Japan

courtesy of VRC-ERI, Univ. of Tokyo

A Great Link
(linking to many other useful and interesting web sites)

VOLCANO WWWs - Volcano Research Center, ERI, Univ. of Tokyo
[including Current Eruptions in Japan-click here]

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Some Recent Spectacular Eruptions

Eruption at Miyakejima in mid- to late-2000.

for more information regarding Miyakejima, click here

Eruption at Sakurajima on 8 January 2000.  Taken 3.5 km SW of the Minamidake (active crater) at 9 a.m. [from Tatsuro CHIBA's Volcanic Home Page]
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Close Encounters (by GEB during August, 2000)

Mount Aso (largest volcanic caldera on Earth), Kyushu

NOTE regarding the volcanic centers shown in the following Aso photos: these small cinder cones represent relatively minor, more recent activity in a volcano that produced the largest caldera (collapsed volcanic mountain) in the world!

Small cinder cone in center of Aso main caldera (note the massive wall of the main caldera in the background)

Another small cinder cone in center of the Aso main caldera

Nakadake, the most active volcanic center at Aso (above and below), again one of the relatively minor cones in the center of the main Aso caldera - note the bluish color of the small volcanic lake (due to content of ash and sulfur) and the sulfurous gases emanating from the volcanic pit.  The gases from this vent killed two tourists in 1997 [click here].

Alan, our son (looking a bit uncomfortable), and his friend, Tomohiro Nishiyama, at the edge of the Nakadake pit (note that Tomohiro's dad, Tadao Nishiyama, is holding Alan up on the fence he's sitting on!) - they were actually farther from the cliff than it appears!

One of the concrete "bunkers" at the Nakadake volcano for protection from hot ash in case of eruption.  There was a small eruption at this location a few days after G. Bebout visited it in August, 1992.

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Mount Unzen (also in Kyushu)

Fugen, the part of Unzen that erupted in 1991, resulting in the movement of hot ash down the slope to kill 44 people [for recent activity, click here].  A large ash flow control project (concrete flow control structures) is underway on the very steep slope to the right of the mountain from this perspective.  For brief description of geologic background and great aerial photo taken in 1992, click here.

Volcanic steam at Jigoku, "The Hells", Unzen Spa, a sulfurous, boiling hot spring.  In the 1600's (isolationist Edo period), some Christians were reportedly boiled alive here.

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last modified 10-20-00