Honestly, if you live in Kyushu, waking up to a light dusting of gray powder on your windshield isn't exactly a "call the relatives" moment. It’s kinda just Tuesday. But things feel a bit different right now. Specifically, the volcano eruption Japan today reports are centering on Sakurajima, and while this mountain is basically a chimney that never stops smoking, the recent spikes in activity have local meteorologists leaning in closer to their monitors.
On January 18, 2026, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is keeping a very firm Level 3 Alert on Sakurajima. That’s the "Do Not Approach" level. It’s not a full-scale evacuation order—which would be Level 4 or 5—but it means the crater is currently spitting out enough rock and ash to make the 2-kilometer radius around it a genuine "no-go" zone.
We aren't just talking about pretty smoke plumes here. There’s been a steady drumbeat of explosive events at the Minamidake crater. Just yesterday and into this morning, the volcano has been ejecting "incandescent material"—which is just a fancy way of saying glowing hot rocks—that are tumbling down the slopes.
What is actually happening with Sakurajima right now?
The big thing to understand about Sakurajima is that it’s located inside the Aira Caldera. It’s not just a mountain; it’s a vent for a massive underground magma reservoir. JMA experts, along with researchers from Kyoto University, have been tracking the "swelling" of the volcano. When the ground tilts or rises, it’s usually because magma is pushing its way up from the depths.
Right now, the ash plumes have been reaching heights of about 1,000 to 1,500 meters. That might sound like a lot, but for Sakurajima, that’s actually somewhat moderate. Back in late 2025, we saw plumes hitting 4,400 meters. However, the frequency of the "shaking" (volcanic tremors) is what has people checking the news every hour.
- Alert Level: 3 (Restriction on proximity).
- Active Vent: Minamidake summit crater.
- The Big Worry: Large volcanic blocks being thrown more than 1 km from the vent.
It’s easy to get complacent. You see the smoke every day from the Kagoshima waterfront, you take the ferry, and you go about your life. But the JMA isn't joking when they warn about ashfall. If you’re driving in Kagoshima or Miyazaki prefectures today, the roads are slick. Volcanic ash isn't like snow; it’s basically pulverized rock. It doesn't melt, it’s heavy, and when it gets wet, it turns into a slippery, conductive sludge that can short out power lines and turn windshields into opaque sheets of sandpaper.
The "Taisho" ghost and why locals are nervous
You can't talk about a volcano eruption in Japan without mentioning the 1914 Taisho eruption. It’s the benchmark for disaster in this region. Back then, the eruption was so massive it literally turned Sakurajima from an island into a peninsula by filling the strait with lava.
We just passed the 112th anniversary of that event on January 12th.
Whenever the volcano acts up around this time of year, there’s a bit of a psychological weight to it. Scientists have noted that the amount of magma currently stored under the Aira Caldera is roughly the same as it was just before that 1914 explosion. Does that mean a "Big One" is coming today? Not necessarily. But it means the "gun is loaded," so to speak.
Other peaks to watch: Suwanosejima and Aso
Sakurajima isn't the only one acting out. Down in the Ryukyu Islands, Suwanosejima is also at a Level 2. It’s been throwing ash about 1.2 km into the air quite regularly over the last week. Then there's Mount Aso in Kumamoto. Aso is a beast. Its caldera is so big you can fit entire towns inside it. While it's currently showing "unrest," it hasn't reached the same frantic pace as its southern neighbor. Still, the JMA is monitoring "volcanic gas" levels there, which can be just as deadly as lava if you’re caught in a low-lying area.
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How to stay safe if you're in the ash zone
If you are currently in southern Kyushu, "business as usual" requires a few tweaks. Honestly, the biggest danger for most people isn't the lava—it’s the air and the roads.
- Protect your lungs: If the ash is falling thick, wear a mask. N95 is best, but even a surgical mask helps. This stuff is jagged and nasty for your respiratory system.
- Save your electronics: Ash is abrasive. If it gets into your laptop or phone, it can wreck the internals. Keep windows closed.
- Driving rules: Turn on your headlights. Slow down. Do NOT use your windshield wipers if there’s a thick layer of dry ash; it will scratch the glass beyond repair. Use water to wash it off first.
- Check the JMA website: They have an "Ashfall Forecast" map that is updated every few hours. It shows exactly which way the wind is blowing the debris.
What comes next?
The situation with the volcano eruption Japan today is what scientists call "dynamic." It could settle down tomorrow, or it could escalate into a more significant "Plinian" eruption (the big, explosive kind). For now, the authorities are focusing on the 2-km exclusion zone. If you see people with umbrellas on a sunny day in Kagoshima, they aren't worried about the sun—they're dodging the "gray snow."
Keep your "emergency bag" packed. Most Japanese households already have one, but if yours is buried in the closet, now is the time to check the expiration dates on those water bottles. Stay tuned to local NHK broadcasts for the latest on wind direction and alert level changes.
To get the most accurate, real-time updates, you should bookmark the Japan Meteorological Agency’s Volcanic Warning page. You can also follow the Kagoshima City official accounts for specific evacuation route information if the alert level moves from 3 to 4. Check your local "Bousai" (disaster prevention) radio—it's that speaker system in many neighborhoods that plays music in the evening; it will be used for high-priority alerts if the situation changes.