Typhoons in Japan : What you need to know

The annual number of tyhpoon cases in Japan is around 20. Out of these cases, about 2 or 3 will tranform into powerful typhoons which are called “Super Typhoons”. These are the ones you have to look out for.

Typhoons spawned in the Pacific Ocean make their way to places such as Okinawa, Wakayama/Mie (Kii Peninsula), Chiba Prefecture, and other coastal areas on the Pacific Ocean side. These locations are at high risk and may sustain heavy damage.

Hagibis caused extensive damage in 2019, with a central pressure of 915 hPa, maximum wind speeds of 55 m/s, and 942 mm of precipitation in a 24-hour period in the town of Hakone, famous for its hot springs. As a result, 94 people were reported dead or missing and 376 were injured.

Okinawa's typhoon season is between July to October. The peak month for typhoons is July, and during this period there are 1 to 2 typhoons expected to hit the island every month. During this season, Okinawa is crowded with tourists enjoying different marine activities, however, in the cae of the typhoon, these activities will be cancelled until further notice for safety reason. Hotels and restaurants are also affected by the typhoon and some may operate differently than usual. These typhoon are kind of an annual tradition and visitors should be alert for any incoming typhoons during these months.

If you find out a typhoon is on its way, the first thing to do is collect as much information as you can. Japan's TV weather broadcasts are highly informative. The first channel you should check out is NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai) which is the national broadcasting channel.

The information is provided in Japanese, but it will give you a good idea of how big the typhoon is. If the typhoon is dangerous, a QR code will be displayed at the bottom of the screen where foreigners can visit a website for helpful information. Go to NHK World or get the lastest information via the app.

If you want to gather information a little more easily, go to the Meteorological Agency website.

You can even collect information via Twitter.
Twitter @JapanSafeTravel

If an “evacuation advisory” is issued, follow the instructions promptly. The evacuation sites are mostly designated elementary schools. The evacuation sites provide food, shelter, and will keep you updated on any new developments.

Here are some key words you should know when dealing with environmental disasters.
・特別警報 Special Alarm ＞警報 Warning ＞ 注意報　Caution
・川の氾濫 : River flood
・避難してください : Please evacuate
・(鉄道の)計画運休 : (Railroads) Planned suspension

Japan's major airports (Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya) are located on the Pacific side making them easy targets for typhoons. In the case of a super typhoon, all flights may be canceled.


Check the official website of each airport
・Haneda Tokyo International Airport
・Narita Airport
※For more information, go to "Helpful Links" at the end of this article

If you already have plans to go on a flight, just remember that the traffic to the airport could be hellish. Going to the airport early than usual or checking for a vacant hotel room in advance might be a good way to go about it.

In the worst case scenario, planes may be grounded for up to two days. Consider bringing along some water, food, spare battery, etc.

"Japan Travel by Navitime" app offeres many useful information during disasters.

■Real-Time Train Status
If you are in the city, it is unlikely that the shop will close unless it is a super typhoon. However, trains are more susceptible to typhoons. If you want to get real-time information about train delays in Japan, check out the "Japan Travel by NAVITIME app".

yellow triangle represents that there is a delay etc.

■Typhoon Tracker
You can see the location of the typhoon by switching from the normal map.

■Track the weather visually
Likewise, you can also see the weather changes up to two hours ahead in a detailed area.

A public wireless LAN service (public Wi-Fi) is free to use for anybody in the affected areas. This is so that you can check safety notifications without relying on mobile phone networks in the event of a large-scale disaster such as an earthquake or flood. The SSID for the free WiFi is “00000JAPAN”.

To connect to the WiFi, all you need to do is select the network “00000JAPAN” (SSID) at your WiFi settings screen.

Avoid entering personal information (banking, shopping, etc) since this is a public network with little to none secutiry.

JNTO is not only just a site/app that provides comprehensive disaster prevention information, it also provides helpful safety tips. It may be just what you need for when you're in a pinch.

Main Airports
New Chitose Airport
Sendai International Airport
Narita International Airport
Tokyo International Airport (Haneda)
Chubu Centrair International Airport
Kansai International Airport
Fukuoka Airport

National Airlines and LCCs
Japan Airlines (JAL)
All Nippon Airways (ANA)
AIR DO
Jetstar Japan
Vanilla Air
Skymark
Peach

JR Trains
JR Hokkaido
JR East
JR Central
JR West
JR Shikoku
JR Kyushu

Major Urban Railways
Tobu Railway
Seibu Railway
Keisei Electric Railway
Keio Railway
Odakyu Electric Railway
Tokyu Corporation
Keikyu Corporation
Tokyo Metro
Sagami Railway
Nagoya Railroad
Kintetsu Railway
Nankai Electric Railway
Keihan Railway
Hankyu Railway
Hanshin Electric Railway
Nishitetsu Train

Tourist Information Center
Tourist information centers throughout Japan can offer practical information about airport facilities, flights, accommodation and transport. You can find a nearby TIC from the link below, or in the map feature of the Japan Travel by NAVITIME app.
https://tic.jnto.go.jp/