Are there wildfires in Japan right now?

NASA's FIRMS satellites detected 81 active fire hotspots in Japan over the last 3 days. The map on this page shows their exact locations, updated hourly.

How does NASA detect wildfires?

NASA's VIIRS and MODIS instruments aboard the Suomi NPP, NOAA-20 and Terra/Aqua satellites detect thermal anomalies (heat signatures) from orbit. Each detection is a "hotspot" — a pixel where the sensor measured fire-level heat. Data is published within about 3 hours of the satellite overpass through the FIRMS system.

What does fire intensity (FRP) mean?

FRP (Fire Radiative Power, in megawatts) measures how much energy a fire is releasing. Higher FRP means a more intense fire. On this map, brighter red dots are higher-intensity detections.

Wildfires in Japan Today

Name: Active Wildfires in Japan
Creator: NASA
Published: 2024-01-01
License: https://www.nasa.gov/open/
Keywords: wildfires, fires japan, NASA FIRMS, active fire map, VIIRS

Live active-fire map for Japan from NASA FIRMS satellite data. Where fires are burning right now — updated hourly. Typical fire season: spring.

Active hotspots

High intensity

Time window

VIIRS

NASA sensor

LowMedHigh

Conditions at Remote area

14 km/h from the NNE — carrying smoke towards the SSW.

22°C · 87% humidity

Air quality Fair

PM2.5 2.9 µg/m³ this hour · EU AQI 22 · US AQI 35

Air quality is acceptable for almost everyone.

Wind direction only — not a smoke dispersion forecast. Air quality is modelled, not a street-level measurement. Weather from MET Norway; air quality from Open-Meteo (Copernicus CAMS). Both CC BY 4.0.

11 active fires in Japan

Neighbouring detections grouped into single incidents, largest first.

1
Remote area
9 detectionslast seen 2026-09-19 17:58 UTC34.460, 133.431
40 MW
2
Remote area
8 detections~2.4 km acrosslast seen 2026-09-19 16:18 UTC35.029, 136.874
29 MW
3
Remote area
4 detectionslast seen 2026-09-19 03:55 UTC34.490, 133.713
19 MW
4
Remote area
2 detectionslast seen 2026-09-18 04:17 UTC42.823, 140.519
16 MW
5
Remote area
5 detections~2.3 km acrosslast seen 2026-09-18 04:19 UTC44.749, 129.679
13 MW
6
Remote area
3 detectionslast seen 2026-09-17 04:36 UTC42.996, 140.596
12 MW
7
Remote area
6 detections~3.5 km acrosslast seen 2026-09-17 16:52 UTC42.339, 140.994
10 MW
8
Remote area
3 detections~5.5 km acrosslast seen 2026-09-18 16:35 UTC45.088, 130.572
7 MW
9
Remote area
3 detectionslast seen 2026-09-18 04:17 UTC41.818, 140.632
7 MW
10
Remote area
3 detectionslast seen 2026-09-18 18:13 UTC44.537, 132.755
2 MW

Plus 25 smaller heat detections — often agricultural burning rather than wildfire.

About this wildfire map

This map uses NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), which publishes active-fire detections from the VIIRS and MODIS instruments aboard NASA and NOAA satellites. Each dot is a thermal “hotspot” where the sensor measured fire-level heat, usually within 3 hours of the satellite passing overhead. It shows where fires are actively burning — not fire perimeters or evacuation zones. For safety and evacuation information, always follow your local emergency services.

Wildfires in other countries

Greece Spain Portugal Italy France Turkey Croatia Cyprus Albania North Macedonia Bulgaria Montenegro Germany United Kingdom United States Canada Mexico Brazil Argentina Chile