Severe blizzards with heavy snow and strong winds are forecast to hit much of Japan through Monday, January 12, 2026. These conditions will affect areas from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the southwest, especially along the Sea of Japan coast, with snow totals of upto 80 cm (31 inches) being forecast in mountainous regions.
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) forecasts heavy snowfall around January 11–12, 2026, as a strong cold surge moves over Honshu, with warning-level accumulations expected along the Sea of Japan side including Hokuriku and Tohoku. Regional observatories report the potential for five-day snowfall totals exceeding 160 percent of seasonal averages, a rare magnitude for this time of year. This follows the early-January snowstorm that immobilized about 3 000 vehicles over a 23 km (14 miles) stretch of the Sanyō Expressway in western Japan.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as M6.2 struck eastern Shimane Prefecture, Japan at 01:18 UTC (10:18 JST) on Tuesday, January 6, 2025, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), and was followed by multiple strong aftershocks. Roof damage, collapsed walls, and toppled gravestones are being reported in parts of the region. There is no tsunami threat from the quake.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit near the east coast of Honshu, Japan at 14:26 UTC on December 31, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 19.3 km (12 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 19 km (11.8 miles).
Record snow and winds struck Hokkaido, Japan, overnight December 14–15, 2025, and left tens of thousands without power.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as M6.7 hit off the coast of Honshu, Japan, at 02:44 UTC (11:44 JST) on December 12, 2025. USGS is reporting M6.7 at a depth of 20 km (12.4 miles).
At least 23 people have been reported injured due to the major M7.6 earthquake that struck Japan on December 8, 2025, prompting over 90 000 evacuations and alert for a potential mega quake.
A major earthquake registered by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and USGS as M7.6 struck off the east coast of Aomori Prefecture, Japan, at 14:15 UTC (23:15 JST) on December 8, 2025. Both agencies are reporting a depth of 50 km (31 miles). According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), hazardous tsunami waves are possible within 1 000 km (620 miles) of the epicenter.
Multiple explosive eruptions at Sakurajima’s Minamidake crater in Kagoshima, Japan, on November 16, 2025, sent ash to about 4 400 m (14 400 feet) above sea level, prompting ashfall forecasts and flight cancellations at Kagoshima Airport.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.8 hit off the east coast of Honshu, Japan at 08:03 UTC (17:03 local time) on November 9, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported it as M6.7 at a depth of 10 km, while the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported M6.8 at a depth of 5 km (3.1 miles).
