Disasters · Typhoon

If a typhoon approaches during your Japan trip

First check whether evacuation guidance has been issued for your accommodation's area. If you are in a dangerous place, evacuate before the wind and rain strengthen. If roads are already flooded or violent wind and rain make it hard to go outside, do not push yourself to head for the airport or a distant shelter. Move to a safer spot where you are, and follow your accommodation staff and on-site broadcasts. Check separately whether your booked flights and trains are running.

Official sources checked: 2026-10-12

If the wind and rain are strong right now

Stop sightseeing and stay away from the coast and swollen rivers. Inside buildings, stay away from glass windows.
If an evacuation order has been issued for your area, evacuate from dangerous places immediately. People who need more time to evacuate, and those who assist them, must start moving at Level 3 if they are in a dangerous place.
If roads are flooded or moving is dangerous because of violent wind and rain, do not try to reach a distant shelter. If possible, move somewhere safer than where you are now, such as an upper floor of a sturdy building away from rivers and slopes.
Even if the wind and rain suddenly calm, do not go outside. Strong winds can return from the opposite direction after the typhoon's eye passes.

Official sources: Fukuoka City · What to do when a typhoon approaches (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Weather information and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Who should evacuate at Level 3 and what to do (in Korean) ↗ · JNTO · What to do when a Level 4 evacuation order is issued (in Korean) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Typhoon winds and the eye (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

How to read Japanese signs and notices

When you see the Japanese below on signs or phone alerts, check what it means. Do not look at the numbers alone — read what danger is being announced and which area or section it covers.

計画運休

Meaning This is a notice that train operations will be suspended in advance ahead of a typhoon or similar.

What to do Find your travel date and line in the notice, plus the suspended sections and times. Secure accommodation first and change your travel plans.

This does not mean all trains run before the suspension or resume the next day. Check separately whether you can take other trains or buses.

Official sources: JR West · Planned suspension (in Japanese) ↗
Checked: 2026-10-12

高齢者等避難

Meaning This means people who need more time to evacuate should evacuate first.

What to do Older adults, people with disabilities, infants, and those who assist them should evacuate from Level 3 if they are in dangerous places in the target area.

This is a Level 3 notice. Others should also prepare to evacuate and leave early if needed. It applies regardless of age to anyone who needs more time to move.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · Weather information and evacuation alert levels (in Japanese) ↗
Checked: 2026-10-12

避難指示

Meaning This means everyone in dangerous places must evacuate.

What to do If your location is a dangerous place in the target area, evacuate immediately. If roads are already flooded or moving is dangerous, do not try to reach a distant shelter.

This is a Level 4 notice. It applies to the areas named in the notice, so read the place names together.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · Weather information and evacuation alert levels (in Japanese) ↗
Checked: 2026-10-12

緊急安全確保

Meaning This means a disaster has already happened or is imminent, and you must protect yourself right now.

What to do Move immediately to somewhere safer than where you are, within what is possible. If going outside is more dangerous, do not try to head for a distant shelter.

This is Level 5. You must not delay evacuating until now. Upper floors and sturdy buildings are not always safe either.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · Weather information and evacuation alert levels (in Japanese) ↗
Checked: 2026-10-12

レベル４危険警報

Meaning This is a Level 4 hazard warning issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

What to do Check the hazard map around your accommodation and the area's evacuation guidance. If you are in a dangerous place, evacuate early without waiting only for the municipality's order.

The flood risk the JMA announces and the municipality's evacuation orders have different roles. Not all warnings, including storm warnings (暴風警報), correspond to this five-level scale.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · Weather information and evacuation alert levels (in Japanese) ↗
Checked: 2026-10-12

Should I cancel my trip if a typhoon is forecast?

First check when the wind and rain will strengthen in your area, whether you can stay at your accommodation, and whether your round-trip transport is available. A typhoon forecast alone does not tell you whether to cancel your whole Japan trip or whether it is safe to continue.

If you planned to visit the beach or move to another city when the wind and rain strengthen, it is better to cut or postpone those plans. If transport cuts could keep you from reaching your accommodation, contact your accommodation and booking providers before departure. Ask whether you can change dates or cancel, and whether there are fees.

If you are already in Japan, ask your accommodation staff where to get evacuation guidance and where to go inside the building. Charge your phone and backup battery, and prepare water and food before going outside becomes difficult.

Check the JMA forecast for your accommodation and the areas you will move through. First confirm when the forecast was issued, and do not apply a previously saved track image to today's plans as-is.
Look up the local hazard map by your accommodation's address. Check for flooding risk, landslide risk near slopes, and storm-surge risk during typhoons. Decide on an evacuation site and the route there before the wind and rain strengthen.
Check whether your flight is departing by entering your booking date and flight number on the airline's website or app. For trains, check whether your line and section are running on the railway company's website. Also look for planned suspension notices stopping operations in advance ahead of the typhoon.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · How to read the typhoon track map (in Japanese) ↗ · Fukuoka City · What to do when a typhoon approaches (in Japanese) ↗ · JMA Miyako-jima Local Meteorological Observatory · Points of caution when preparing for a typhoon (in Japanese) ↗ · JR West · Planned suspension stopping trains in advance (in Japanese) ↗ · JAL · How to change or refund international flights with schedule changes or cancellations (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

What should I look at in the typhoon track map?

Read the white dotted circles together with your accommodation area's forecast. The white dotted circle is the expected range the typhoon's center may enter — not the typhoon's size or the area of rain.

The typhoon does not necessarily follow the drawn line exactly. When reading the map, distinguish when the forecast was issued from when the typhoon is expected to arrive. Tracks can change, so re-check the latest forecast.

There are rain clouds outside the typhoon too. Humid air from the typhoon can further develop rain clouds along nearby fronts. A front is the boundary where different air masses meet. So heavy rain can fall far from the typhoon's center. Do not feel safe just because your accommodation is outside the track line.

The JMA tells you how dangerous the rain and wind will become. City and ward offices tell you who in which area should evacuate and when. Do not look only at the JMA forecast — also check the evacuation guidance for your accommodation's area.

JMA diagram of the typhoon's eye, eyewall, and inner and outer rain bands — In the diagram, 眼 is the typhoon's eye, 眼の壁 is the eyewall around it, and 内側降雨帯 and 外側降雨帯 are the inner and outer rain bands. Rain clouds continue outside the center. This is not a map showing the current typhoon's position or size.
Credit: Japan Meteorological Agency, "台風に伴う雨の特性" · PDL1.0 · Used unchanged · Terms of use
Sources and terms checked: 2026-10-12

When should I evacuate from my accommodation?

If you are in a dangerous place, evacuate before the wind and rain strengthen. When a Level 4 evacuation order is issued, everyone in dangerous places must evacuate. Do not wait until Level 5.

Check whether your accommodation is in the area named in the evacuation guidance. If it is in a low-lying flood-prone place or near a slope, ask staff where and how to evacuate. A tall building does not mean you can simply stay put.

If roads are already flooded or moving is dangerous because of strong winds, do not cross them to reach a shelter. Move to somewhere less dangerous among the places you can reach now, such as an upper floor of a sturdy building away from rivers and slopes. Protecting yourself indoors like this is what to do once going outside has become difficult — not a reason to wait until it does.

A shelter being marked on the map does not mean it is open now. Check city and ward notices for whether it is a place that can protect you from the current danger, like flooding or storm surge, and whether it is currently open. You can also ask your accommodation staff or on-site evacuation staff.

Level 3 · People who should evacuate early / 高齢者等避難

Older adults, people with disabilities, infants, and others who need more time to evacuate — and those who assist them — should evacuate early if they are in a dangerous place. Others should also cut non-urgent outings and prepare to evacuate.

Level 4 · Everyone in dangerous places evacuates / 避難指示

Everyone in dangerous places in the target area must evacuate immediately. If the JMA has already issued Level 4-equivalent information, do not just wait for the city or ward's order. Look at the danger where you are and your evacuation route, and move early.

Level 5 · Protect yourself right now / 緊急安全確保

This is a life-threatening stage where a disaster has already happened or may happen soon. It may be hard to evacuate far, so move immediately to somewhere less dangerous among the places you can reach now.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · Weather information and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Who should evacuate at Level 3 and what to do (in Korean) ↗ · JNTO · What to do when a Level 4 evacuation order is issued (in Korean) ↗ · Fukuoka City · What to do when a typhoon approaches (in Japanese) ↗ · JMA Miyako-jima Local Meteorological Observatory · Points of caution when preparing for a typhoon (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Where should I avoid when wind and rain are strong?

Stop non-urgent outings. Inside buildings, stay away from glass windows; outside, avoid the coast, swollen rivers, and slopes. If roads are not flooded and crossing is not dangerous, take shelter in a nearby sturdy building.

If you are in your accommodation or a shop

Stay away from glass windows and move where staff direct you. Do not go out to secure balcony items or to film outside. If there is a flooding risk or an evacuation order has been issued, you must not simply stay inside the building.

If you are in an underground shopping area or subway station

Move early if there is a flooding risk or staff direct you to evacuate. Follow staff guidance and move before water enters to ground level or another flood-safe place. Do not go underground to escape the wind and rain. Once water starts flowing down the stairs, it can become hard to climb up.

If you are at the beach, a river, or on a mountain road

Do not go close to watch high waves or swollen water. Avoid mountain slopes and cliffs too. High waves can continue along the coast even after the typhoon passes.

Do not go outside just because the wind and rain weaken briefly or the sky clears. Inside the typhoon's eye the wind can weaken, but after the eye passes, strong winds can return from the opposite direction.

Official sources: Fukuoka City · What to do when a typhoon approaches (in Japanese) ↗ · Osaka City · Points of caution underground during heavy rain (in Japanese) ↗ · JMA Miyako-jima Local Meteorological Observatory · Points of caution when preparing for a typhoon (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Typhoon winds and the eye (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Weather information and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Who do I ask if flights or trains have stopped?

For flights, ask the airline and where you bought your ticket; for trains, ask the railway company or station staff. Even if your flight departs, the trains or buses to the airport may be stopped.

If you are already at a station or the airport, follow announcements, displays, and staff guidance. When asking, give your booking number, flight or train name, and where you are staying.

If a planned suspension has been announced, first ask whether you can keep staying at your accommodation. It is better to postpone plans to the next city until the railway company's guidance changes. Check separately whether you can take other transport, and whether trains will run the next day.

Check whether your booked flight is departing

Look it up by booking date and flight number on the airline's website or app. Check whether the departure time changed or a cancellation was decided. If you need to change or cancel your booking, ask whether different change and refund rules than usual apply to this flight. If you bought through a travel agency, contact them too.

Check when trains stop running

If a planned suspension (計画運休) notice has been issued to stop operations in advance, check the dates, lines, suspended sections, and scheduled start times. It is a notice issued in advance when major typhoon disruption is expected. Avoid sightseeing until that time and returning on the last train.

Check whether you can reach the airport

Check on each operator's website whether the trains and buses from your accommodation to the airport are running. Just because trains stopped does not mean you can immediately catch a taxi or travel safely by road. If moving is dangerous, first tell the airline and where you bought your ticket about your situation.

Official sources: JR West · Planned suspension stopping trains in advance (in Japanese) ↗ · JAL · How to change or refund international flights with schedule changes or cancellations (in Japanese) ↗ · Fukuoka City · What to do when a typhoon approaches (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Can I resume traveling right after the typhoon passes?

Do not set out right away even if it is calm outside. First check the area's weather information and evacuation guidance, then confirm you can stay at your accommodation and that your flights, trains, and buses are running before deciding your next plans.

If you need to change or cancel bookings, contact your accommodation and booking providers. Ask separately whether you can cancel for free, whether seats are available on other flights, and whether extra accommodation costs can be covered. A typhoon does not guarantee everything. Keep your changed booking records and guidance messages. To use travel insurance, ask your insurer what documents you need and how to claim.

First check how the area's evacuation guidance has changed. Even after the typhoon's center moves away, danger can remain from high waves or rain. Do not go sightseeing at the coast, rivers, or slopes.
Ask your accommodation staff whether you can keep staying, whether water and electricity are available, and whether coming and going is a problem. If you cannot stay at your accommodation, ask local staff to direct you to a shelter or somewhere to stay.
Re-check whether your booked flights and the trains and buses to the airport are running. Trains do not resume just because the rain stopped. Do not head to the station based only on a notice saying when service is expected to resume — move according to actual operation guidance.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · Why it rains far from the typhoon's center (in Japanese) ↗ · JMA Miyako-jima Local Meteorological Observatory · Points of caution when preparing for a typhoon (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Weather information and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗ · JR West · Planned suspension stopping trains in advance (in Japanese) ↗ · JAL · How to change or refund international flights with schedule changes or cancellations (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Traveler support line and emergency contacts (in English) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Who do I call if I am hurt or need help?

If you urgently need an ambulance or firefighters, call 119 in Japan. If the disaster has caused travel difficulties and you would like to consult in English, you can call the JNTO traveler support line.

The JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline is 050-3816-2787 within Japan and +81-50-3816-2787 from abroad. It takes inquiries about accidents, illness, and disasters every day, 24 hours, in Korean, English, and Chinese. If emergency dispatch is needed, call 119 first instead.

When the call connects, say your accommodation's name and address, where you are, and what help you need. You can find how to locate a shelter and ask staff for water, medicine, or interpretation in the shelter guide below. Supplies and interpretation are not always available.

Official sources: JNTO · Traveler support line and emergency contacts (in English) ↗ · JNTO · What to do when a Level 4 evacuation order is issued (in Korean) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Related guides

FAQ

Is it fine if my accommodation is off the typhoon's track?

Do not feel safe just because you are outside the track line. The circle on the forecast map is the expected range the typhoon's center may enter — not the area of rain. Heavy rain can fall far from the center. Check your accommodation area's weather information together with the city or ward's evacuation guidance.

Can I go outside if the wind suddenly dies down?

Do not go outside just because it calms briefly. Inside the typhoon's eye the wind can weaken and the sky can clear, but after the eye passes, strong winds can return from the opposite direction. Move according to the latest weather information and evacuation guidance for your area.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · Typhoon winds and the eye (in Japanese) ↗ · Japan Meteorological Agency · Weather information and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Can I stay at my accommodation until an evacuation order is issued?

If you are in a dangerous place, do not just wait for an evacuation order. If the JMA has issued Level 3 or 4-equivalent information, look at the danger where you are and your evacuation route, and move early. Older adults, people with disabilities, infants, and others who need more time to evacuate — and those who assist them — should evacuate from Level 3 if they are in a dangerous place.

Official sources: Japan Meteorological Agency · Weather information and when to evacuate (in Japanese) ↗ · JNTO · Who should evacuate at Level 3 and what to do (in Korean) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Can I go to an underground shopping area or subway station to escape the wind and rain?

Do not shelter in underground spaces at risk of flooding. If water pours down the stairs, it can become hard to climb back up. If you are already underground, evacuate early before water enters, following staff guidance.

Official sources: Osaka City · Points of caution underground during heavy rain (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Can I head to the airport if my flight is departing?

Also check whether the trains or buses to the airport are running and whether the route is dangerous. Even if your flight departs, transport to the airport may be stopped. If moving is dangerous or transport is cut, do not push yourself to leave — tell the airline and where you bought your ticket about your situation and ask how to change your booking.

Can I cancel flights and accommodation for free with just a typhoon forecast?

You cannot cancel every booking for free. Ask the airline whether different change and refund rules than usual apply to your booked flight, and ask where you bought your ticket about the procedure too. Accommodation has different booking terms, so contact them separately. If a cancellation has been decided, ask the airline and the seller how to change or refund that flight.

Official sources: JAL · How to change or refund international flights with schedule changes or cancellations (in Japanese) ↗
Sources checked: 2026-10-12

Official sources for this guide

Check the notices for your area for current warnings and access restrictions. For whether trains and flights are running, see the transport operators' latest notices.