Historical tsunamis · Aug 9, 1901, 6:33 PM UTC

1901 Off Northeast Coast Honshu tsunami

Japan

The tsunami of Aug 9, 1901, 6:33 PM UTC originated near Off Northeast Coast Honshu (Japan).

Key facts

Date: Aug 9, 1901, 6:33 PM UTC
Cause: Earthquake
Magnitude: M7.4
Depth: 33 km
Maximum documented water height: 0.25 m
Deaths: 18
Houses destroyed: 8
Damage: moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
Observation records: 2
Countries affected: 1

It was triggered by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake at a depth of 33 km.

The highest documented water height was 0.25 m (Ayukawa, Japan).

2 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.

The database records 18 deaths.

Houses destroyed: 8.

Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).

All tsunamis in Japan Record at NOAA/NCEI ↗

Map of observation sites

Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.

Tsunami arrival times

Documented arrival times from the NOAA/NCEI database, showing the earliest recorded location per country. Coverage is incomplete: a country without an entry was not necessarily spared.

0:00 hEarthquake (origin) · Aug 9, 1901, 6:33 PM UTC
0:25 hJapan · Ayukawa · 0.25 m

1 places with a documented arrival time

Observations by country

Country	Observation records	Maximum documented water height	Deaths	Earliest arrival
Japan	2	0.25 m Ayukawa	—	0:25 h

Highest documented water heights

2 / 2

Individual documented observations for this event. Heights come from different measurement types and sources; not every location has a measured height.

Location / station	Observed height	Distance from source	Country
Ayukawa · Miyagi	0.25 m	264 km	Japan
Nemuroko · Hokkaido	0.02 m	409 km	Japan

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Historical Tsunami Database. Confirmed events only. Deaths and damage are database estimates; older records are incomplete. Water heights come from different types of observation.