Iwate earthquake and Shindo history
岩手県
Earthquakes for which stations associated with Iwate reported an actual Shindo observation.
Latest observation: Nov 6, 2026, 07:39 PM JSTLatest earthquake observed in Iwate
Highest Shindo observed in IwateSource region: Off the east Coast of KantoM6.1
Since Jan 10, 2015, stations associated with Iwate have reported a local reading for 2,759 earthquakes. Shindo 1 was most common, while the highest local level, Shindo 5+, was recorded 5 times.
Recent observed earthquakes
Earthquakes for which stations associated with Iwate reported an actual Shindo observation.
M6.1 · 10 km · 513 km
M4.3 · 80 km · 196 km
M4.1 · 50 km · 145 km
M6.1 · 350 km · 755 km
M4.0 · 20 km · 140 km
M4.1 · 40 km · 114 km
Stations and strongest local observations
The map combines stations assigned to this place with earthquakes that produced its strongest local readings.
Observation history
This history counts earthquakes observed at stations in the place, not earthquakes whose epicentre lies inside its boundary. Counts can change as stations are updated and older or corrected observations are added.
Observed events by year
Choose a year to update the event history and local Shindo distribution.
Shindo observed in this place
The highest reading from stations in this place, not the maximum Shindo of the whole event.
Recent observed earthquakes
10 observed earthquakes
- 震度5−Jun 28, 2026, 05:21 JSTOff the Coast of Iwate PrefectureShindo in this place: 5− · Event maximum Shindo: 5−M6.140 km
- 震度5−Apr 20, 2026, 16:53 JSTOff the Coast of SanrikuShindo in this place: 5− · Event maximum Shindo: 5+M7.510 km
- 震度5−Apr 2, 2024, 04:24 JSTNorthern Coast of Iwate PrefectureShindo in this place: 5− · Event maximum Shindo: 5−M6.180 km
- 震度5−Oct 6, 2021, 02:46 JSTOff the Coast of Iwate PrefectureShindo in this place: 5− · Event maximum Shindo: 5+M6.050 km
- 震度5−May 1, 2021, 10:27 JSTOff the Coast of Miyagi PrefectureShindo in this place: 5− · Event maximum Shindo: 5+M6.660 km
- 震度5−Mar 20, 2021, 18:09 JSTOff the Coast of Miyagi PrefectureShindo in this place: 5− · Event maximum Shindo: 5+M7.260 km
- 震度5−Feb 13, 2021, 23:08 JSTOff the Coast of Fukushima PrefectureShindo in this place: 5− · Event maximum Shindo: 6+M7.160 km
- 震度5−Dec 21, 2020, 02:23 JSTOff the east Coast of Aomori PrefectureShindo in this place: 5− · Event maximum Shindo: 5−M6.310 km
Regional context
A change in the number of observations cannot by itself predict a larger earthquake.
Where the shaking usually comes from
Source regions of earthquakes observed here, ordered by the number of reports.
Recent observations in long-term context
A change in the number of observations cannot by itself predict a larger earthquake.
Earthquake scenarios affecting this place
Official J-SHIS models ranked for their potential impact on this prefecture.
#1 means the model ranks highest in the J-SHIS result for this place under the same settings. It is not a ranking of which earthquake will happen next.
Magnitude on a card describes the size of the whole earthquake model, not the Shindo expected here. Local shaking also depends on distance, depth and ground conditions.
Modelled magnitude: M6.9
Read about this model #2Subduction-zone earthquakeHuge interplate earthquakes in Aomori-ken-toho-Oki and Northern Iwate-ken-Oki青森県東方沖及び岩手県沖北部のプレート間巨大地震Modelled magnitude: M7.9–8.8
Read about this model #3Subduction-zone earthquakeHuge interplate earthquakes in Miyagi-ken-toho-Oki宮城県沖のプレート間巨大地震Modelled magnitude: M7.9–8.6
Read about this model #4Major active faultOritsume fault折爪断層Modelled magnitude: M7.0
Read about this model #5Major active faultShizukuishi-bonchi-seien fault zone雫石盆地西縁断層帯Modelled magnitude: M6.4
Read about this model #6Other active faultAsahiyama flexure zone旭山撓曲帯Modelled magnitude: M7.1
Read about this model #7Major active faultYokote-bonchi-toen fault zone (Southern segment)横手盆地東縁断層帯南部Modelled magnitude: M6.8
Read about this model #8Major active faultHanawa-higashi fault zone花輪東断層帯Modelled magnitude: M6.5
Read about this model #9Major active faultMahiru-sanchi-toen fault zone/Southern segment真昼山地東縁断層帯南部Modelled magnitude: M6.4
Read about this model #10Major active faultKitakami-teichi-seien fault zone北上低地西縁断層帯Modelled magnitude: M7.2
Read about this model #11Subduction-zone earthquakeMega earthquakes along the Japan Trench (Great East Japan Earthquake 2011 type)日本海溝沿いの超巨大地震(東北地方太平洋沖型)Modelled magnitude: M8.6–9.0
Read about this model #12Major active faultYokote-bonchi-toen fault zone (Northern segment)横手盆地東縁断層帯北部Modelled magnitude: M6.7
Read about this model #13Major active faultMahiru-sanchi-toen fault zone/Northern segment真昼山地東縁断層帯北部Modelled magnitude: M6.6
Read about this modelJ-SHIS 2020 model, 30-year period and Shindo 6-lower threshold. This is not a prediction of a particular earthquake. Source: J-SHIS (NIED); processed for presentation by JISHINDESU.
Municipalities in this prefecture
Municipalities with an observation history, ordered alphabetically. Counts depend on station coverage and the available data period; they are not a risk ranking.
523 Observed eventsShindo 5+
→833 Observed eventsShindo 5+
→700 Observed eventsShindo 5+
→514 Observed eventsShindo 5−
→284 Observed eventsShindo 5+
→1,696 Observed eventsShindo 5+
→207 Observed eventsShindo 4
→332 Observed eventsShindo 5−
→1,165 Observed eventsShindo 5−
→388 Observed eventsShindo 5−
→629 Observed eventsShindo 5+
→712 Observed eventsShindo 5−
→703 Observed eventsShindo 5−
→440 Observed eventsShindo 4
→440 Observed eventsShindo 5−
→1,057 Observed eventsShindo 5−
→1,107 Observed eventsShindo 5+
→502 Observed eventsShindo 5+
→305 Observed eventsShindo 4
→352 Observed eventsShindo 5+
→1,136 Observed eventsShindo 5−
→456 Observed eventsShindo 5+
→212 Observed eventsShindo 4
→663 Observed eventsShindo 4
→291 Observed eventsShindo 5−
→289 Observed eventsShindo 4
→1,293 Observed eventsShindo 5−
→298 Observed eventsShindo 5−
→321 Observed eventsShindo 4
→822 Observed eventsShindo 5−
→548 Observed eventsShindo 5+
→693 Observed eventsShindo 4
→Understand local Shindo in context
Guides to this place’s history, seismic intensity and notification tools.
Shindo is Japan’s earthquake intensity scale. See what shaking each level means, from 0 to 7, and why a local Shindo reading is different from magnitude.
Read guide →10 min readHow to use the JISHINDESU interactive mapA guide to the redesigned map panel: adding and switching places, ten years of history, filters, local Shindo readings, sharing and notifications.
Read guide →6 min readAre earthquakes becoming more frequent in Japan?How to compare earthquake counts fairly—and why a few active days do not prove a lasting increase.
Read guide →4 min readAway from home? Monitor earthquakes in your Japanese townUse home as the reference point and receive notifications without an account when a station within the selected radius reports your chosen Shindo level.
Read guide →