Historical tsunamis · May 7, 1964, 7:58 AM UTC
1964 NW. Honshu Island tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of May 7, 1964, 7:58 AM UTC originated near NW. Honshu Island (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- May 7, 1964, 7:58 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.9
- Depth
- 30 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.60 m
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 34
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake at a depth of 30 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.60 m (Kita'ura, Japan).
34 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
34Each 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) · May 7, 1964, 7:58 AM UTC
- 0:14 hJapan · Iwasaki · 0.16 m
16 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 34 | 1.30 m Hachiryu | — | 0:14 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 34Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hachiryu · Akita Classified as doubtful | 1.30 m | 86 km | Japan |
| Hachimori · Akita Classified as doubtful | 1.20 m | 88 km | Japan |
| Kita'ura · Akita | 0.60 m | 76 km | Japan |
| Fukaura · Aomori | 0.45 m | 88 km | Japan |
| Monzen · Akita | 0.30 m | 80 km | Japan |
| Matsumae · Hokkaido | 0.28 m | 155 km | Japan |
| Noshiroko · Akita | 0.25 m | 86 km | Japan |
| Iwafuneko · Niigata | 0.24 m | 238 km | Japan |
| Fukushima · Miyazaki | 0.20 m | 173 km | Japan |
| Oshoro · Hokkaido | 0.20 m | 358 km | Japan |
| Ryotsuko · Niigata | 0.20 m | 251 km | Japan |
| Iwasaki · Aomori | 0.16 m | 84 km | Japan |
| Esashi · Hokkaido | 0.15 m | 198 km | Japan |
| Hakodate · Hokkaido | 0.13 m | 214 km | Japan |
| Niigatako (Nishi) · Niigata | 0.12 m | 263 km | Japan |
More tsunamis
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.