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The Embassy in Tokyo alerts U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Japan that on August 15 the Japan Meteorological Agency raised the warning to Level 4 for volcanic activity at Sakurajima Mountain in Kagoshima Prefecture on Kyushu. Sakurajima is a popular tourist destination located across the bay from downtown Kagoshima City. A Level 4 warning means that persons in affected areas should prepare to evacuate due to an elevated possibility of a large-scale eruption of Sakurajima. The Agency has indicated that such an eruption could be imminent.
Kagoshima Prefecture officials have advised residents of Arimura-cho, Furusato-cho and Shioyagamoto districts of Kagoshima City to evacuate. At this time, no road closures have been announced. Visitors to the Kagoshima area are advised to exercise caution and to avoid Mount Sakurajima, as well as the Arimura-cho, Furusato-cho and Shioyagamoto districts of Kagoshima City, and to heed all local warnings and road and trail closures. The Embassy will continue to monitor the situation around the volcano, and will issue further messages if the security situation worsens. Visitors to the Kagoshima area should monitor local conditions by consulting media sources and the following websites:
Additional information on emergency preparedness may be found on the "Natural Disasters" page of the Bureau of Consular Affairs. We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Japan enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates and makes it easier for the U.S. Embassy or the nearest U.S. Consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don't have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Regularly monitor the State Department's website, where you can find current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for Japan. For additional information, refer to our Travelers Checklist. For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of either the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo or one of the U.S. Consulates in Japan.
