Mount Asama

Mount Asama stands 2,568 meters tall on the border between Gunma and Nagano prefectures, featuring two separate craters within its volcanic structure. Andesite makes up the composition of this complex stratovolcano, which continues to show signs of geothermal activity beneath its slopes.

The Tenmei eruption of 1783 lasted three months and produced mudflows that buried the village of Kanbara entirely. This disaster claimed more than 1,600 lives along the Agatsuma River and reshaped the landscape of the entire region permanently.

Mount Asama appears as a significant location in Japan's first color film Carmen Comes Home and receives recognition in the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series.

The Japan Meteorological Agency runs monitoring stations around the volcano and uses a five-level alert system for potential hazards. Access to certain areas depends on the current alert level, which responds to volcanic activity.

Scientists from the University of Tokyo use muon imaging to create detailed maps of the internal structure. This technique employs cosmic radiation to see through rock without disturbing the volcanic system itself.

Location: Karuizawa

Location: Miyota

Location: Tsumagoi

Elevation above the sea: 2,568 m

Made from material: andesite

Part of: Top 100 Geological Sites in Japan, 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, 100 Famous Gunma Mountains

GPS coordinates: 36.40000,138.51667

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:01