Mount Shinomoedake volcanoof Japan erupted Wednesday throwing ash almost 5,000ft into the air, airlines cancelled a number of domestic flights

A volcano eruption in Japan

Mount Shinomoedake volcano in the southern kyushu region of Japan erupted Wednesday throwing ash almost 5,000ft into the air, leaving fields in nearby towns coated with ash and prompting limited voluntary evacuations overnight in the town of Takaharu.

Heavy clouds of smoke spewing from the Shinmoedake volcano on Mount Kirishima. Japan Meteorological Agency raised the volcanic alert to level 3 and residents have been banned from going within a mile of the volcano following its worst eruption since 1959.

Earlier today,airlines cancelled a number of domestic flights from the Miyazaki Prefecture because of the haze and the buildup of ash on train tracks forced Japan Rail to close several train lines in the region. Roads were also shut because of poor visibility.

Japan Meteorological Agency Volcanologist Sei Lijima said the eruption did not pose a threat to nearby cities as this activity won't lead to a large scale eruption.

By 3 p.m., heavy smoke could be seen billowing nearly 5,000 feet above the crater.

The volcano has been active before, erupting in 1959, 1979 and most recently in 2008.