Latest earthquakes near Otaru, Hokkaido today
Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in Otaru? If an earthquake is happening right now near Otaru (also known as 小樽), it will show up within minutes.
Recent Otaru Earthquake News
These are the latest articles published related to earthquakes occurring near Otaru. Check our Earthquake News section for a complete overview of articles written on earthquakes near Otaru and elsewhere.
May 15, 2026 08:22PM
Strong M6.7 Earthquake struck on Friday Evening in the North Pacific Ocean near Kamaishi (Japan).
May 5, 2026 08:54AM
Shallow M5.2 Earthquake struck on Tuesday Morning in the North Pacific Ocean 144km from Hachinohe (Japan).
Apr 27, 2026 05:23AM
Strong M6.1 Earthquake hit near Obihiro in Japan on Monday Night.
Apr 22, 2026 03:44AM
Shallow M5.5 AFTERSHOCK struck on Wednesday Night in the North Pacific Ocean 154km from Hachinohe (Japan).
Apr 20, 2026 04:52PM
On Monday Afternoon an Unusually powerful M7.4 Earthquake struck in the North Pacific Ocean near Miyako (Japan).
Mar 26, 2026 11:18PM
Shallow M6.5 Earthquake hit in the North Pacific Ocean 194km from Morioka (Japan) on Thursday Evening.
Otaru Earthquake Statistics
Average
A total of 991 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of Otaru, Hokkaido in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of 99 earthquakes per year, or 8 per month. On average an earthquake will hit near Otaru roughly every 3 days.
A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near Otaru in 2025. A total of 160 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of Otaru that year. The strongest had a 7.6 magnitude.
Magnitude Distribution
The table below visualizes the distribution of all earthquakes that occurred within 300km of Otaru in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 8 or above have occurred near Otaru during this time. Usually, higher magnitudes are less common than lower magnitudes. Small earthquakes with a magnitude below 4 on the Richter scale have been omitted from this overview.
| Magnitude | Earthquakes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Mag. 4 | 896 | 90.41% |
| Mag. 5 | 87 | 8.78% |
| Mag. 6 | 7 | 0.71% |
| Mag. 7 | 1 | 0.1% |
| Mag. 8 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 9 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
Strongest earthquakes near Otaru
The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near Otaru occurred on Dec 8, 2025 23:15 local time (Asia/Tokyo timezone). It had a magnitude of 7.6 and struck 262 kilometers (163 mi) south-southeast of Otaru, at a depth of 41 km. Discover more strong earthquakes near Otaru in the list below.
A longer time ago, a MAG-8.2 earthquake struck on Sep 26, 2003 04:50, 283 kilometers (176 mi) south-southeast of Otaru. It is the strongest earthquake near Otaru in the past 126 years (Our data goes back to January 1st, 1900).
In the table below you will find the strongest earthquakes that occurred near Otaru, Hokkaido in the past 10 years. You can use the tabs to find the heaviest historic earthquakes since the year 1900 or within a specific year or distance from Otaru.
Nearest earthquakes from Otaru
These are the earthquakes with their epicenter nearest to Otaru, Hokkaido. You can use the buttons to find nearby earthquakes for a specific year or with a specific magnitude.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions are commonly asked in relation to earthquakes occurring near Otaru.
When was the last earthquake in Otaru, Hokkaido?
A 4.1 magnitude earthquake hit near Otaru on the night of May 16, 2026 at 03:47 local time (Asia/Tokyo). The center of this earthquake was located 206km east of Otaru at a depth of 160km under land. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near Otaru, Hokkaido in the past hours.
What was the strongest earthquake near Otaru, Hokkaido?
A 8.2 magnitude earthquake hit near Otaru on the night of September 26, 2003 at 04:50 local time (Asia/Tokyo). The center of this earthquake was located 283km east-southeast of Otaru at a depth of 27km under water in the North Pacific Ocean. This is the strongest earthquake that occurred near Otaru since the year 1900.
How often do earthquakes occur near Otaru, Hokkaido?
In the past 10 years, 991 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from Otaru. This averages to 99 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 4 days.
