Historical tsunamis · Jun 16, 1964, 4:01 AM UTC
1964 NW. Honshu Island tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Jun 16, 1964, 4:01 AM UTC originated near NW. Honshu Island (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Jun 16, 1964, 4:01 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.6
- Depth
- 57 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 5.80 m
- Deaths
- 36
- Injuries
- 385
- Houses destroyed
- 3,557
- Damage
- US$ 800 million
- Observation records
- 157
- Countries affected
- 4
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake at a depth of 57 km.
The highest documented water height was 5.80 m (Shioya, Japan).
157 observation sites in 4 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Nakhodka (Russia) after 1:39 h.
The database records 36 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 3,557.
Damage is estimated at US$ 800 million.
Map of observation sites
157Each 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) · Jun 16, 1964, 4:01 AM UTC
- 0:14 hJapan · Kamoko · 1.51 m
- 1:39 hRussia · Nakhodka · 0.11 m
- 3:00 hSouth Korea · Ulsan · 0.20 m
43 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 144 | 5.80 m Shioya | — | 0:14 h |
 South Korea | 1 | 0.20 m Ulsan | — | 3:00 h |
 Russia | 11 | 0.11 m Nakhodka | — | 1:39 h |
| USA Territory | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 157Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shioya · Niigata | 5.80 m | 31 km | Japan |
| Kuwagawa · Niigata | 4.93 m | 21 km | Japan |
| Majima · Niigata | 3.90 m | 23 km | Japan |
| Fuya · Niigata | 3.60 m | 30 km | Japan |
| Ryotsuko · Niigata | 3.53 m | 78 km | Japan |
| Yoshiura · Niigata | 3.50 m | 21 km | Japan |
| Iwafuneko · Niigata | 3.38 m | 28 km | Japan |
| Nishifunami · Niigata | 3.20 m | 52 km | Japan |
| Nakahamagyoko · Niigata | 3.00 m | 32 km | Japan |
| Senami-Kaigan · Niigata | 3.00 m | 25 km | Japan |
| Wakigawa · Niigata | 3.00 m | 23 km | Japan |
| Minato · Iwate | 2.80 m | 418 km | Japan |
| Shonami, Iwafune · Niigata | 2.80 m | 28 km | Japan |
| Hayakawa · Niigata | 2.50 m | 20 km | Japan |
| Funakawa · Akita | 2.40 m | 174 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.