Volcanoes & Earthquakes
Japan is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire — at the boundary of four tectonic plates. The result: 111 active volcanoes (10% of all active volcanoes worldwide) and about 1,500 earthquakes per year that can be felt.
This sounds threatening, but it is everyday life for the Japanese. The infrastructure is designed for it: Buildings are constructed to be earthquake-proof (Tokyo Skytree sways during quakes but does not break), early warning systems send alerts to mobile phones seconds before a quake, and every Japanese person knows the evacuation routes.
Famous Volcanoes
- Mount Fuji (3,776 m): Japan's highest mountain and sacred symbol. Last eruption: 1707. Considered "dormant, not extinct."
- Mount Aso (1,592 m): Largest caldera in Japan (25 km), one of the most active volcanoes. Located in Kumamoto, Kyushu.
- Sakurajima: Active volcano in Kagoshima Bay, regularly spewing ash — the residents live with it.
The volcanic activity has a major advantage: Onsen. Japan's thousands of hot springs owe their existence to volcanism — hot water, rich in minerals, therapeutic.
💡 Tipp
In the event of an earthquake in Japan: Do not panic. Get under a table or protect your head, stay away from windows. After the quake: Pay attention to tsunami warnings (if you are on the coast). The "Safety Tips" app (Japan Tourism Agency) sends earthquake warnings in English.
