The Asian country of Japan experiences roughly 20 tornadoes per year. In 2006, a tornado struck Saroma, Hokkaido, killing nine people, becoming the country's deadliest tornado. A powerful tornado in 2025, spawned by Tropical Storm Peipah, killed one person.
Climatology
Data about tornadoes in Japan is collected by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), who use a modified version of the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale) known as the Japanese Enhanced Fujita Scale (sometimes abbreviation JEF-Scale).
The country experiences 20.5 tornadoes per year, on average. The most active month is September, and the least active is March. About 46% of Japanese tornadoes are associated with an extratropical cyclone, while a further 20% are associated with tropical cyclones. Waterspouts are somewhat common off the coast of Japan, some of which may come ashore and become weak tornadoes. However, under the right atmospheric conditions, supercell thunderstorms can form and produce stronger tornadoes in the country.
Events Pre-2000 EventDateAreaTornadoesCasualtiesNotesSourcesMiyazaki tornado26 September 1881Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan≥116 fatalitiesDeadliest Japanese tornado; destroyed Miyazaki Elementary SchoolYodobashi Town tornado23 September 1903Yodobashi Town, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan≥110 fatalities, 14 injuriesStruck an elementary school in Toyotoma CountyToyohashi City tornado28 November 1941Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan≥112 fatalities, 177 injuries347 houses completely destroyed or heavily damagedTomiye City tornado10 November 1957Tomiye City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan≥16 fatalities, 8 injuriesAzuma village tornado2 July 1962Aruma village, Chiba Prefecture, Japan≥12 fatalitiesHamamatsu tornado26 August 1962Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan≥1168 houses severely damaged1964 Tokyo tornado24 May 1964Southwestern Tokyo, Japan–480 houses damagedOoami-Shirasato town tornado28 October 1967Ooami-Shirasato town, Chiba Prefecture, Japan -2 fatalities, 2 injuriesSashima town tornado23 August 1969Sashima town, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan≥12 fatalities, 107 injuries1978 Tokyo tornado28 February 1978Japan≥136 injuriesLongest path length Japanese tornado at 41.2 km (25.6 mi) Damaged 289 homes and derailed a trainHachirohgata village tornado11 January 1987Hachirohgata village, Akita Prefecture, Japan≥1NoneLongest duration Japanese tornado at 41 minutesMobara tornado11 December 1990Mobara, Chiba Prefecture, JapanViolent tornado damaged 1000 homes, 82 completely destroyed. Officially rated as F3 but rated as F4 by Fujita-based from one home that was lofted from its foundation and some contextualsToyohashi City tornadoes24 September 1999Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan4F3 tornado
2000s EventDateAreaTornadoesCasualtiesNotesSourcesNobeoka, Miyazaki tornado18 September 2006Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture (Kyūshū), Japan–3 fatalities, 100 injuries2nd deadliest tornado in recent Japanese history2006 Saroma tornado7 November 2006Saroma, Hokkaidō, Japan9 fatalities, 26 injuriesF3 tornado. Deadliest tornado in recent Japanese historyTsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture tornado6 May 2012Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan -1 fatality, 52 injuriesJapan's worst tornado since November 2006; 890 houses were damaged. Rated F3.Sanba (Karen)18 September 2012JapanSaitama Prefecture tornado2 September 2013Saitama Prefecture, Japan -F2 tornadoTropical Storm Toraji4 September 2013Japan3Strongest reported tornado at F1 intensity.Typhoon Man-yi15–16 September 2013Japan10Ten F0 and F1 tornadoes touched down, damaging over 900 homes.Typhoon Hagibis12 October 2019Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture11 fatality, 5 injuries
2020 In 2020, 11 tornadoes were confirmed across Japan. No injuries or fatalities occurred as a result of any tornado that year. In July, a nearly stagnant baiu front brought record-breaking amounts of precipitation to Southern and Central Japan. The warm, moist air brought by this system created a highly unstable atmosphere, allowing the formation of cumulonimbus clouds that spawned four tornadoes throughout the month. + Confirmed tornadoes in 2020JEFU JEF0 JEF1 JEF2 JEF3 JEF4 JEF5 2 6 3 0 0 0 0 January 8 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2020 January 8JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF1Southern TanoKōchi06:10A tornado damaged roof trusses and peeled roofing materials from a warehouse.
June 16 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2020 June 16JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEFUEastern Rokkasho (1st tornado)Aomori10:30Sheet metal roofing from a warehouse broke off, damaging a fishing boat. The damage caused by this tornado was insufficient to provide an estimate of its intensity. JEF0Eastern Rokkasho (2nd tornado)Aomori10:30A tornado was confirmed. No information was given regarding damages.
July 8 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2020 July 8JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF0Utsunomiya to HagaTochigi10:40This tornado caused minor roof damage to several structures as well as damage to a stone wall and two vehicles.
July 25 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2020 July 25JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF1Northern MisatoSaitama18:30Minor damage was done to 108 houses, including peeling roof tiles, partially destroying fences, and overturning sheds. Signs were collapsed, greenhouses were damaged, and trees were blown down as well. A local power outage is believed to have occurred as a result of the tornado.
July 26 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2020 July 26JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF0Northeastern KushimotoWakayama15:40A tornado peeled some roofing materials off several houses and damaged some crops and trees.
July 28 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2020 July 28JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF0YaotsuGifu18:35A tornado caused minor damage to the roofs of homes and carports. A greenhouse had its vinyl covers scattered and trees were uprooted as well.
September 20 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2020 September 20JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF0Southeastern RebunHokkaido16:20A waterspout made landfall, lightly damaging roofs.
September 30 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2020 September 30JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEFUŌzuKumamoto17:10A rotating funnel cloud was spotted, which was classified as a tornado by the JMA. No damage was recorded.
October 22 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2020 October 22JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF0ShintomiMiyazaki08:30A tornado peeled roof tiles from the roofs of homes and partially collapsed a greenhouse structure.
November 20 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2020 November 20JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF1Southwestern InamiWakayama10:00Several greenhouses and crops were damaged by this tornado, and a carport had some roof tiles blown off.
2021 in 2021, 12 tornadoes were confirmed across Japan causing 4 injuries and no fatalities. + Confirmed tornadoes in 2021JEFU JEF0 JEF1 JEF2 JEF3 JEF4 JEF5 0 6 5 1 0 0 0 March 13 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2021 March 13JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF1MutsuzawaChiba03:00A tornado caused damage in Mutsuzawa.
May 1 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2021 May 1JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF2KikugawaShizuoka06:30A tornado caused damage in Kikugawa injuring 3 people.
June 14 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2021 June 14JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF0YokoteAkita04:15A tornado caused damage in Yokote.
July 21 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2021 July 21JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF0ShintomiMiyazaki18:12A tornado caused damage in Shintomi.
August 9 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2021 August 9JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF1ToyokawaAichi06:40A tornado caused damage in Toyokawa.
August 17 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2021 August 17JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF1YaotsuGifu03:30A tornado caused damage in Yaotsu.
September 18 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2021 September 18JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF1MihamaAichi00:04A tornado caused damage in Mihama injuring 1 person.
November 4 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2021 November 4JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF0Kan'onjiKagawa11:40A tornado caused damage in Kan'onji.
November 9 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2021 November 9JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF0FuttsuChiba13:50A tornado caused damage in Futtsu.
November 10 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2021 November 10JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF0HiradoNagasaki07:05A tornado caused damage in Hirado. JEF0NasushiobaraTochigi12:50A tornado caused damage in Nasushiobara.
November 30 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2021 November 30JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF1Higashi HikiNagasaki14:10A tornado caused damage in Higashi Hiki
2024
January 24 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2024 January 24JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF1TsugaruAomori11:40This tornado tracked through urban areas, damaging the roofs and exterior walls of wooden buildings and a temple. Additionally, light damage was done to a garage, a warehouse, and a greenhouse.
March 5 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2024 March 5JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF0IeOkinawa11:05A waterspout made landfall on Iejima Island, where it broke windows and tree branches.
June 18 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2024 June 18JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF1TanoKōchi06:30This brief tornado uprooted trees and damaged some structures; exterior wall siding and roof tiles were damaged and one roof truss was heavily damaged.
August 28 event
+ List of confirmed tornadoes – 2024 August 28JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF2Sadowara (Northern Miyazaki)Miyazaki13:53A strong tornado impacted northern parts of Miyazaki City, where it overturned vehicles, bent road signs, and damaged the roof of a factory. JEF1Oriuzako to Aoshima (Southern Miyazaki)Miyazaki22:40?
2025 In 2025, there were seven confirmed tornadoes in Japan. + 2025 Tornado StrengthsJEFU JEF0 JEF1 JEF2 JEF3 JEF4 JEF5 0 4 4 1 1 0 0
January 29 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2025 January 29JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF0SakaiFukui07:38A waterspout made landfall, knocking the roof tiles off of some buildings and collapsing a shed.
July 14 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2025 July 14JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF1OmaezakiShizuoka18:23A tornado tore sheet metal roofs from residential buildings. JEF1ShizuokaShizuoka19:30This tornado rolled a light vehicle over in the Suruga ward. JEF0GifuGifu21:40Roof tiles were torn off of residential building by this tornado.
August 10 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – 2025 August 10JEF#LocationPrefectureTime (JST)Path lengthMax. widthWind speeds JEF0Kōra to TagaShiga15:39This tornado damaged steel pipes in greenhouses and knocked roof tiles off a house.
September 5 event