Typhoon season in Japan runs from June to December, but most typhoon activity occurs between July and September.

Southern parts of Japan, such as Okinawa or Kagoshima are particularly affected by these storms, but residents of any part of Japan are likely to experience one or more during their time here.

A typhoon is the same as a hurricane or tropical cyclone.  All three are regionally specific names for a storm that falls in the highest classification of the storm based on wind speed.  Lower levels of storms include: Tropical Depression, Tropical Storms, et the preparation and safety tips remain the same for these lower level storms.

A Typhoon is characterized by:

• High winds powerful enough to damage or destroy buildings, trees, power and telephone lines, and hurl debris at dangerous speeds.
• Storm surges, or temporary rises in sea levels, which can flood coastal areas and damage buildings near the shore
• Very heavy rainfall  that can cause flooding and mudslides

What to do if a Typhoon is Approaching

Typhoons are notoriously difficult to accurately predict where, when and at what strength they will strike land.  They will often veer off-course, change or their speed, or intensify quite suddenly.  Many times Typhoons that were predicted to hit have missed entirely, or vice versa, suddenly bearing down on the city it was expected to miss.

• NHK - while not always in English, important notices are in English.

AFN Radio provides regular weather bulletins in English. You can listen to AFN on

• 89.1 FM  in Okinawa
• 1575 AM in Nagasaki and Hiroshima Regions
• 810 AM   in the Kanto Region

• See this guide to creating your 3 Day emergency/disaster kit

What to do if a Typhoon Strikes

• If possible, stay at home and keep advised of the situation by watching NHK. While not always in English, important notices are in English on NHK.
• Be prepared to evacuate by knowing where to go, and having a disaster kit prepared and on hand.
• Stay clear of rivers/streams and large drains. There is potential for any of them to overflow without warning.
• Avoid using a vehicle, especially in the dark, as it is difficult to see flooded areas and it is often too late once you enter them. Kindly note that your insurance is, for the most part, unlikely to cover the loss of your vehicle due to flooding.
• If your parking spot is in a low lying area, move your car to a local supermarket or other such car parks that are on higher land. This would be advisable especially if there is already 5- 10 cm of water that you need to wade through around your vehicle.

•  Stay inside! Keep advised of the situation by watching NHK. While not always in English, important notices are in English on NHK.
• Secure or move inside outdoor items such as toys, grills, bicycles, furniture, plants and anything movable on the balcony. Move potted plants and other heavy objects away from windows inside as well.
• If you have shutters on your windows and doors, pull them shut. Shutters can prevent your windows from being broken by flying items.
• Set your freezer to the coldest temperature setting to minimize spoilage if the power is cut off
• Watch for leaks around windows and doors. If the wind is strong enough, water may be blown into your home even if the windows are closed. Have handy towels, rags, and mops
• If the storm becomes severe, move into a hallway or area where there is the least exposure to external glass windows.
• Draw curtains across the windows to prevent against flying glass should windows crack.
• A window on the side of the house away from the approaching storm should be opened a few inches. This will compensate for the differences between indoor and outdoor air pressure.
• Remember that typhoons have “eyes”, areas in their center where the weather appears calm. If the eye passes over your area, it may seem that the storm has finished, with winds then picking up again as the remainder of the storm arrives
• After the typhoon is gone, check for broken glass, fallen trees and downed power lines which may present safety hazards near children’s school bus stops, outdoor trash areas, around your car, etc.

• Keep advised of the situation by watching NHK (Channels 1 and 3)
• Be prepared to evacuate by knowing where to go, and having a disaster kit prepared and on hand.

• Japan Meteorological Agency
• Weather Underground- Wunderground
• Weathernews (Japanese site, but good graphics)

• Dial 119 for fire or medical services
• Dial 110 for police

119 in Japan is a direct-dial free emergency number that connects the caller to fire and emergency medical services from any phone. Unlike emergency number services in many other countries, the 119 system in Japan only connects to fire or ambulance services.   Read our short guide on calling 119 […]