Mt. Fuji Area Quake: What Visitors Should Know（森さやか） - エキスパート

（提供:イメージマート）A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo, at around 10:30 pm on Friday. Authorities said that there is no threat of tsunami.

The strongest tremmer reached Lower 6 (Shindo 6-) around the Lake Kawaguchiko area near Mt. Fuji, while central Tokyo experienced Shindo 4 shaking. These areas are among Japan’s most visited destinations for international travelers.

If you are new to Japan, you may notice two different numbers reported after an earthquake.

Magnitude measures the amount of energy released by the earthquake. Shindo, Japan's seismic intensity scale, measures how strongly the ground shook at a particular location.

Authorities are checking for damage across the affected region.

Earthquakes of this size are often followed by aftershocks.

JMA says that in about 10–20% of major earthquakes, another quake of a similar size follows. It is urging people to stay alert for earthquakes of a similar scale for at least a week.

According to Dr. Takuya Nishimura of Kyoto University's Disaster Prevention Research Institute, the area around the epicenter is known as an "earthquake nest", a region where earthquakes repeatedly occur. Similar quakes were recorded there in 2012, 2021, and 2024.

Since Mt. Fuji is nearby, rumors of an eruption quickly spread on social media.

HOWEVER, experts say there is no sign that is happening. JMA has detected no unusual activity at Mt. Fuji, and the epicenter was about 30 kilometers (19 miles) away, too far to have a direct impact. They also say this was a tectonic earthquake caused by ocean plates, not volcanic activity beneath Mt. Fuji.

The earthquake isn't the only concern. Two tropical storms, Mekkhala and Higos, are forecast to move over or near Japan through Saturday, bringing heavy rain to quake-affected areas.

Some places have already received significant rainfall. This raises concerns about landslides on weakened slopes, falling rocks, and floods in low-lying areas. If you are staying in the affected area tonight:

For many visitors, this may have been their first real earthquake. It can be an unsettling experience, but Japan is well prepared for earthquakes.

Stay calm, follow official updates, and be prepared for possible aftershocks.