Global Volcanism Program

Hakusan

Google Earth Placemark with Features

Cite Volcano Profile

Japan
Nankai Volcanic Arc
Composite | Stratovolcano
1659 CE

Country
Volcanic Region
Landform | Volc Type
Last Known Eruption

36.155°N
136.771°E
2,702 m
8,865 ft
283050

Latitude
Longitude
Summit
Elevation
Volcano
Number

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for Hakusan.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Hakusan.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Hakusan.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Synonyms

Haku-san

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Jigoku-no-oana
Zigoku-no-oana

Crater

Midoriga-ike

Crater

Domes

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Kengamine

Dome

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

283050

1659 CE

2,702 m / 8,865 ft

36.155°N
136.771°E

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Composite

Volcano Types
Stratovolcano
Lava dome(s)

Rock Types

Major
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Dacite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

474
807
63,965
5,959,200

Geological Summary

Hakusan is a complex andesitic-dacitic stratovolcano near the western coast of central Honshu. It was constructed over a high basement of sedimentary rocks in a region of very heavy snowfall that has contributed to erosional dissection. Holocene eruptions have consisted of phreatic or phreatomagmatic explosions from several summit craters. Partial collapse of the summit produced a debris avalanche down the E flank during the mid-Holocene. Eruptions were recorded over almost a thousand-year period until the 17th century.

This volcano is located within the Mount Hakusan, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve property.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Endo K, 1985. Peat deposits and volcanic ashes on Haku-san volcano. Hakusan Nature Conservation Center, Rpt of Sci Res on the Alpine Zone of Mt Hakusan, p 11-30 (in Japanese).

Higashino T, 1989. The Documented Record of the Historic Activity of Mt. Hakusan. Ishikawa Prefecture: Hakusan Nature Conservation Center, 8 p.

Japan Meteorological Agency, 2013. National Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes in Japan (fourth edition, English version). Japan Meteorological Agency.

Japan Meteorological Agency, 1996. National Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes in Japan (second edition). Tokyo: Japan Meteorological Agency, 502 p (in Japanese).

Kuno H, 1962. Japan, Taiwan and Marianas. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World and Solfatara Fields, Rome: IAVCEI, 11: 1-332.

Nakano S, Yamamoto T, Iwaya T, Itoh J, Takada A, 2001-. Quaternary Volcanoes of Japan. Geol Surv Japan, AIST, http://www.aist.go.jp/RIODB/strata/VOL_JP/.

Yamasaki M, Nakanishi N, Kaseno Y, 1964. Nuee ardente deposit of Hakusan volcano. Sci Rpt Kanazawa Univ, 9: 189-201.

Yamasaki M, Shimizu S, Moriya I, Togashi S, Endo K, Higashino T, 1988. Evolution of Hakusan volcano, Central Japan, during the last 10000 years and the volcanic disasters in future. Proc Kagoshima Internatl Conf Volc, p 445-447.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 20 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1659 Apr 21 - 1659 Aug 8 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

Midoriga-ike

1659 Apr 21 - 1659 Aug 8

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Midoriga-ike

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Audible Sounds
1659 Apr 21	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1658 Oct (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

1658 Oct (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	1658 Oct (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1640 Aug 2 (?) ] Discredited Eruption

1582 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

1582 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	1582	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1579 Sep 27 ± 1 days Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

Jigoku-no-oana

1579 Sep 27 ± 1 days - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Jigoku-no-oana

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Lahar or Mudflow
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage
1579 Sep 27 ± 1 days	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1554 May - 1556 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

SW of Midoriga-ike

1554 May - 1556

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 6 Events for Episode 1 at SW of Midoriga-ike

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Pyroclastic flow	weak or small
- - - -	- - - -	Fauna Kill	Aquatic.
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage
1554 May	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1548 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

1548 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
1548	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1547 Mar 4 - 1547 Oct (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

1547 Mar 4 - 1547 Oct (?)

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage
1547 Mar 4	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1239 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

1239 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Pyroclastic flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava dome
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
1239 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1177 May 18 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1177 May 18 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
1177 May 18	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1042 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

Midoriga-ike

1042 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 6 Events for Episode 1 at Midoriga-ike

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Blocks
- - - -	- - - -	Crater	Summit.
- - - -	- - - -	Lahar or Mudflow
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage
1042	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 0900 (?) ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

0900 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain

[ 0884 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 \| Eruption
0884 - Unknown				Evidence from Unknown

[ 0859 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

0859 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain

[ 0853 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Hm-14 tephra?

0853 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Hm-14 tephra?

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity	Uncertain
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

0706 Sep (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

0706 Sep (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli

0500 ± 100 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Hm-13 tephra

0500 ± 100 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Hm-13 tephra

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

0200 (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Hm-11,12 tephras

0200 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Hm-11,12 tephras

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

0200 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kengamine, Hm-10 tephra

0200 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 7 Events for Episode 1 at Kengamine, Hm-10 tephra

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava dome
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
0200 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

2550 BCE ± 150 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Hm-9 tephra

2550 BCE ± 150 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Hm-9 tephra

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash

3550 BCE ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Hm-8 tephra

3550 BCE ± 500 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Hm-8 tephra

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli

3900 BCE ± 200 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Hm-7 tephra

3900 BCE ± 200 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Hm-7 tephra

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash

5000 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Hm-5 tephra

5000 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Hm-5 tephra

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash

6550 BCE ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Hm-4 tephra

6550 BCE ± 50 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Hm-4 tephra

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash

7050 BCE ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Hm-3 tephra

7050 BCE ± 500 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Hm-3 tephra

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash

7550 BCE ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Hm-1 tephra

7550 BCE ± 50 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Hm-1 tephra

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Hakusan.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Hakusan.

Photo Gallery

Eruptions at Hakusan occur at multiple vents along a roughly N-S line; the volcano is viewed here from the W. Holocene eruptions have consisted of phreatic or phreatomagmatic explosions at several summit craters. Historical eruptions were recorded over almost a thousand-year period until the 17th century.

Photo by Ishikawa Prefecture, 1983 (courtesy Toshio Higashino, Haku-san Nature Conservation Center).

Hakusan is seen here from the W with the snow-covered peaks of Norikura and Ontakesan on the left and right horizons, respectively. It was constructed on a high basement of sedimentary rocks in a region of very heavy snowfall that has contributed to erosion. Eruptions were recorded over almost a thousand-year period until the 17th century.

Photo by Ishikawa Prefecture (courtesy Toshio Higashino, Haku-san Nature Conservation Center).

Kengamine (left) and Gozengamine (right) peaks are seen from Onanjimine, another of the summit peaks of Hakusan volcano. The Kengamine lava dome and the Shiramizutaki lava flow extending from its base originated during an explosive eruption about 2,300 years ago. A pond fills the Midorgaike crater in the left foreground, which formed during an explosive eruption in 1042 CE.

Photo by Toshio Higashino (Haku-san Nature Conservation Center).

Midorigaike, seen here from the SW, is one of several craters along the summit complex of Hakusan. A documented eruption in 1042 CE formed Midorigaike pond and buried a wooden hut near the summit. Descriptions suggest that the eruption consisted of phreatic explosions that ejected older volcanic rocks around the vent.

Photo by Toshio Higashino (Haku-san Nature Conservation Center).

This outcrop along the Oshirakawa river east of Hakusan volcano in Japan shows textures that are common at debris avalanche deposits. Large fractured clasts are carried in a finer matrix that shows variations in color. This results from the transport of small discrete segments of the volcano for long distances without being completely broken up and mixed together. This debris avalanche was produced by a volcanic landslide from the summit and E flank of Hakusan about 4,200 years ago.

Photo by S. Shimuzu (courtesy of Toshio Higashino, Haku-san Nature Conservation Center).

Hakusan, seen here from the WNW, contains multiple vents along a roughly N-S line. Holocene eruptions have consisted of phreatic or phreatomagmatic explosions from several summit craters. Partial collapse of the summit produced a debris avalanche down the E flank. Eruptions were recorded over almost a thousand-year period until the 17th century.

Photo by Ishikawa Prefecture, 1994 (courtesy Toshio Higashino, Haku-san Nature Conservation Center).

GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Hakusan in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

Volcanic Hazard Maps

The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter.

IRIS seismic stations/networks

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Hakusan. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations

Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Hakusan. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player.

DECADE Data

The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO₂ to the atmosphere, but installing CO₂ monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere.

Large Eruptions of Hakusan

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).