Ongoing
2026 Boso Peninsula Typhoon Damage
Heavy rain from a typhoon has disrupted train service on several railway sections on the Boso Peninsula, as shown on the map below.
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2026 Kumamoto Earthquake
In the afternoon of July 28, 2026, a strong earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture, with its epicenter south of Kumamoto City. The earthquake caused localized but significant damage, with multiple fatalities, infrastructure disruptions and damage to buildings in the hardest hit areas.
Transportation
With the resumption of service along the entire Kyushu Shinkansen on September 18, the transportation situation for travelers has largely returned to normal. The main remaining disruption affects local train services between Uki and Higo Tanoura. The section between Uki and Yatsushiro is scheduled to reopen on October 10 and the section between Yatsushiro and Higo Tanoura around mid October.
Separately from the recent earthquake, the JR Hisatsu Line between Yatsushiro and Yoshimatsu has remained closed since it was damaged by flooding in 2020 and is unlikely to reopen for several more years.
Tourism
Kumamoto City escaped major damage and is functioning close to normally. Most tourist attractions, including Kumamoto Castle and Suizenji Garden have reopened. The Aso and Kurokawa Onsen areas also escaped significant damage, and most tourist attractions and lodgings are operating normally.
2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake
In the afternoon of January 1, 2024, a strong earthquake caused widespread damage and the loss of many lives on the Noto Peninsula and surroundings.
The northern part of the Noto Peninsula was most affected. Particularly badly hit were the city of Suzu and the city of Wajima, where the earthquake did not only topple many buildings, but also caused a large fire, which destroyed a considerable part of the city center, including the site of the famous local morning market.
The intensity of the earthquake in the nearby cities of Kanazawa, Takaoka, Toyama and Niigata was also strong, but it caused no widespread damage.
Transportation
Service along many train lines in the region resumed within a couple of days of the earthquake, except on the peninsula itself, where the disruptions lasted longer. The last affected railway, the Noto Railway, resumed service three months after the quake.
Tourism
Due to a shortage of manpower, the reconstruction process of the tourism infrastructure on the peninsula has been very slow, especially in the northern part. But also in Wakura Onsen further down the peninsula, over half of the lodgings remain closed due to repair works or reconstruction. Outside the Noto Peninsula, tourism was barely affected. In Kanazawa, most tourist attractions reopened within four days.
Volcano Closures
No-entry zones are currently maintained at the following prominent volcanoes:
- Sakurajima (Level 3 - do not approach the volcano)
Do not climb the mountain. Does not affect transportation and tourism. - Tokachidake (Level 3 - do not approach the volcano)
No-entry zone 3 km from crater. Closure of hiking trails. - Aso (Level 2 - do not approach the crater)
No-entry zone 1 km from crater. Closure of road and hiking trails. - Mount Shinmoedake (Kirishima) (Level 2 - do not approach the crater)
No-entry zone 2 km from crater. Closure of hiking trails. - Meakandake (Level 2 - do not approach the crater)
No-entry zone around the summit. Closure of hiking trails.