(KAGOSHIMA, JAPAN) A powerful series of eruptions at the Sakurajima volcano early Sunday forced airlines to cancel around 30 flights at Kagoshima Airport, triggering wider travel problems across Japan and leaving foreign visitors, international students, and migrant workers scrambling to rearrange plans. The blasts, which began just before 1 a.m. on November 16, 2025, sent an ash plume soaring up to 4,400 meters (14,400 feet), darkening the sky over the city of Kagoshima and grounding aircraft across southern Kyushu.
Eruption timeline and ash forecast
Japan’s Meteorological Agency said the first major eruption struck the Minamidake crater at 12:57 a.m., followed by further activity around 2:30 a.m. and again at 8:50 a.m. Thick gray clouds poured out of the crater and drifted northeast, prompting ashfall forecasts for Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Miyazaki prefectures.
“Volcanic ash drifted northeast and residents were warned of potential disruptions throughout Sunday,” the agency said in a statement posted on its website.
Impact on air travel
The heaviest blow to travel came at Kagoshima Airport, the main gateway for many foreign tourists visiting Kyushu and for overseas workers employed in agriculture and shipbuilding in the region. Local officials and airport data confirmed about 30 flights were cancelled, with more delayed, after airport staff reported ash on runways and poor visibility near the terminal.
Videos shared by passengers showed aircraft parked under a gray haze while ground crews swept ash from equipment.
Broader effects at other airports
- Tokyo’s Haneda Airport: 7 cancellations and 86 delays
- New Chitose Airport (Hokkaido): 6 cancellations and 41 delays
Some travelers inbound from overseas landed in Tokyo only to learn that their final domestic flight south had been scrapped, forcing last‑minute changes to hotel bookings and, for those on tight visas, to their immigration schedules.
Flight disruption summary (by airport)
| Airport | Cancellations | Delays |
|---|---|---|
| Kagoshima Airport | ~30 | More delayed |
| Tokyo Haneda | 7 | 86 |
| New Chitose (Hokkaido) | 6 | 41 |
Effects on foreign residents, students, and workers
Immigration lawyers warned the timing could hit people with strict appointment dates or status deadlines. Examples and concerns include:
- A Filipino care worker due to start a new job in Kagoshima could arrive late if unable to rebook quickly, putting pressure on employers and city offices that handle Residence Card updates.
- International students traveling to language schools and universities in southern Kyushu faced uncertainty, since orientations and ward office visits are often fixed to specific days soon after arrival.
- Kyushu hosts thousands of foreign workers under technical trainee and specified skilled worker programs, many traveling through Kagoshima Airport or nearby hubs; abrupt cancellations can make it hard to contact supervisors, rebook tickets, and keep track of immigration status limits.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, weather‑related shutdowns such as volcanic ash can create chain reactions for people on short‑term visas if they miss scheduled residence registration, work start dates, or health insurance sign‑ups. While Japanese immigration rules allow some flexibility when travelers are stuck due to natural events, the stress for newcomers who do not speak Japanese well can be intense.
On-the-ground conditions in Kagoshima
On the ground around Sakurajima, daily life slowed as ash began to settle. Residents reported fine particles covering cars, balconies, and streets.
Local authorities urged people to:
– Wear masks and avoid breathing in dust
– Stay away from ash-covered areas where possible
Ferry services between Kagoshima and Sakurajima were delayed, cutting off a regular route used by tourists, local commuters, and foreign workers employed at small factories and farms on the island. Some sightseeing tours were cancelled outright as operators warned of poor visibility and slippery walking paths.
Safety, damage, and official alerts
Despite dramatic images of the ash plume towering over the bay, officials stressed that no injuries or structural damage had been reported.
“There were no reports of injuries or structural damage. However, large volcanic rocks were thrown as far as the volcano’s fifth station,” local authorities said, underlining the force of the eruption even as they reassured residents and visitors that there was no immediate threat to homes.
The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed that no pyroclastic flows—fast‑moving deadly clouds of gas and ash—were detected during this event.
The official alert for Sakurajima remained at Level 3 on a five‑point scale, which:
– Restricts access around the crater
– Warns people not to approach the volcano
This alert level is familiar to long‑term residents, including foreign nationals who have settled in Kagoshima with Japanese spouses or on long‑term work visas. Sunday’s blasts were among the strongest in recent years, with the last ash cloud above 4,000 meters recorded in October 2024.
Practical advice for those affected
Lawyers and officials recommend keeping documentation to prove delays were outside your control. Important items to retain:
- Boarding passes
- Airline notices and emails
- Hotel receipts
This documentation can help when explaining late arrivals to employers, schools, or immigration officers during future visa renewals. There is no special volcano‑related visa rule in Japan, but officials often take a practical view when travelers present clear proof of travel problems.
Economic and community impacts
Tourism officials in Kagoshima voiced concern about the short‑term shock to the local economy. The region has worked to attract more overseas visitors, including cruise passengers and independent travelers drawn by hot springs, nature trails, and close‑up views of the volcano itself.
- Many small guesthouses and tour operators hired more foreign staff after the pandemic to help with English and other languages.
- A wave of cancellations, even over a few days, can hurt these employers and may affect hiring plans for future seasons.
Japanese authorities continued cleanup and monitoring work through Monday, clearing ash from roads and public spaces while airlines checked engines and equipment for damage.
The Japan Meteorological Agency, which publishes regular bulletins on its official website, said further ash emissions remain possible, though there was no sign of a larger explosive event. Local governments urged residents and visitors to follow updates carefully and respect access restrictions around the mountain.
Community response and recovery
For now, people already in southern Kyushu—Japanese and foreign alike—are adjusting to the new layer of ash. Parents walked children to school under gray skies, some wearing masks and goggles. Foreign residents shared tips on social media in English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese on how to clean balconies and protect air conditioners.
At Kagoshima Airport, staff worked through the day to clear the runway, hoping to restore normal traffic and allow stranded travelers, including many with onward international connections, to continue their journeys.
Japan’s long experience with active volcanoes means most responses—from ash forecasts to flight decisions—follow clear procedures. Yet each fresh eruption tests how well those systems serve everyone, including newcomers who may not yet know local customs or emergency terms.
As Sakurajima settles back into its usual rumbling pattern, the people caught in this round of ash and delays—tourists, students, and migrant workers—are left to rebuild plans that were thrown off course by a mountain only a few kilometers from the city center.
This Article in a Nutshell
Sakurajima erupted early on November 16, 2025, producing an ash plume up to 4,400 meters and prompting about 30 cancellations at Kagoshima Airport. Additional cancellations and delays affected Haneda and New Chitose airports, disrupting tourists, students, and foreign workers. Authorities reported no injuries or structural damage and kept the volcano at Alert Level 3. Local officials urged mask use, avoided ash-covered areas, and continued cleanup and monitoring while advising travelers to retain documentation of travel disruptions.
