Is It Safe To Travel To Japan After Typhoon Dujuan?

A powerful typhoon that drenched the Tokyo region and triggered hundreds of flight cancellations at Haneda and Narita airports has left many prospective visitors asking whether Japan remains a safe destination in the early autumn travel period.

Deadly storm hits at peak typhoon season

The latest disruption comes as Typhoon Dujuan swept across parts of Japan in the lead-up to the Silver Week holidays, bringing intense rain and strong winds to the Izu Islands and Kanto region, including the wider Tokyo area. Published coverage from Japanese media indicates that evacuation advisories and flooding concerns were issued in several municipalities as the storm passed through on September 21.

Air travel bore much of the immediate impact. Domestic carriers Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways cancelled well over 250 domestic and international services linked to Tokyo’s two main airports across September 21 and 22, according to multiple news and aviation reports. Additional cancellations by low cost operators such as Jetstar Japan pushed the total number of affected flights from Haneda and Narita alone above 300 on some tallies as Typhoon Dujuan coincided with a separate system tracked by the Japan Meteorological Agency as Typhoon No. 25.

At Haneda and Narita, passengers reported long queues, rebooking difficulties and overnight stays as airlines worked to reposition aircraft and restart schedules once winds began to ease. Regional airports serving the Izu chain and parts of central and eastern Honshu also saw delays and cancellations while heavy rain bands passed over. Rail operators curtailed some express and limited express services, especially on lines exposed to landslide and flooding risks.

The storm struck during what climatological data identifies as the most active month in Japan’s typhoon calendar. Analysis published this month by the research outlet Nippon.com notes that September historically produces more damaging landfalling systems than any other month, as warm ocean waters combine with seasonal rain fronts to amplify rainfall and flooding potential.

Current government travel advisories for Japan

Despite the recent destruction and loss of life from typhoon related flooding in some prefectures this season, major Western governments have not shifted their broad security assessments for Japan. The United States currently lists Japan at Level 1 on its four tier advisory scale, meaning travellers are advised to exercise normal precautions. The advisory, updated in May 2025 and still in force, highlights Japan’s overall low crime rate and robust infrastructure but notes the country’s exposure to earthquakes, typhoons and other natural hazards.

The United Kingdom’s foreign travel advice, updated as recently as August 28 and checked again on September 23, 2026, likewise does not warn against travel to any part of Japan on security grounds. Instead, it emphasises seasonal weather risks, specifying that tropical cyclones are possible between June and December, with a peak between July and September. The guidance draws attention to the potential for heavy rain, flooding and landslides and urges travellers to monitor local bulletins and transport information.

Canada’s travel advisory, refreshed on September 14, 2026, categorises Japan as a destination where visitors should take normal security precautions. Its section on natural disasters stresses that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and may disrupt itineraries through flight cancellations, rail suspensions and temporary road closures, particularly during typhoon season.

Across these advisories, a common message emerges: Japan is broadly considered safe to visit from a security perspective, including in and around Tokyo, Osaka and other major urban centres, but travel plans may be significantly affected by short notice disruptions whenever a strong typhoon tracks near the archipelago.

What recent typhoons mean for air and rail travel

The most visible consequence of Typhoon Dujuan and the separate Typhoon No. 25 system has been transport disruption. Recent airline statements and Japanese media coverage indicate that JAL and ANA together cancelled close to 200 services in a single day as winds intensified around the capital region, with Jetstar Japan and other carriers scrubbing dozens more flights primarily on short haul domestic routes.

These cancellations followed a similar pattern seen earlier in the summer when a different tropical system, designated Typhoon No. 15, forced ANA to cancel more than 50 services and JAL several flights around the busy Obon holiday period. Aviation analysts note that Japanese carriers generally err on the side of caution, suspending operations whenever crosswinds or turbulence thresholds are likely to be exceeded at key airports.

Railways also respond aggressively to typhoon forecasts. High speed shinkansen routes can be slowed or suspended in sections when forecasts indicate extreme rainfall or high winds, while many private and regional rail lines halt services altogether near vulnerable river valleys and slopes. This approach aims to prevent derailments and reduce the risk to passengers in landslide prone corridors.

For travellers, the practical effect is that the primary risk in the wake of a storm such as Dujuan is not personal safety at the destination but the possibility of becoming stranded for 24 to 48 hours while airlines and railways restore normal operations. Flexible tickets, adequate travel insurance that covers weather related delays, and an extra buffer day at either end of an itinerary can significantly reduce the stress when a typhoon forms.

On the ground: infrastructure and safety systems

Japan’s long experience with typhoons and earthquakes has resulted in extensive investment in disaster mitigation and public warning systems. Urban areas such as Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka rely on sophisticated drainage, sea walls and river control projects, which can reduce but not completely eliminate flooding when a major storm stalls overhead.

Publicly available guidance from the Japan National Tourism Organization recommends that visitors download a multilingual emergency alert application, often referred to as the Safety Tips app, to receive real time notifications about typhoons, heavy rain warnings, evacuation notices and earthquakes. Local governments supplement these alerts with loudspeaker announcements, digital signage and television bulletins when a severe event is imminent.

Hotels in major cities commonly provide printed instructions in English and other languages explaining evacuation routes and safe waiting areas. During recent storms, many properties in the Tokyo area encouraged guests to remain indoors during the period of strongest winds and to avoid riverside promenades, coastal viewpoints and low lying underpasses until authorities lifted advisories.

Outside the largest metropolitan areas, particularly along rural coastlines and in mountainous regions of Kyushu, Shikoku and central Honshu, road washouts and landslides remain a greater concern. Provincial travel advisories highlight that smaller guesthouses and ryokan in these areas may be more exposed to sudden flooding or mudflows, and travellers are advised to familiarise themselves with local evacuation points and to heed any instructions from municipal offices.

Practical advice for travellers considering a Japan trip now

For visitors weighing an imminent trip, the consensus from government advisories and tourism organisations is that travel to Japan remains viable, provided that travellers are prepared to adapt plans if another typhoon forms. Prospective visitors are encouraged to check airline notices closely in the 48 hours before departure, especially for flights into Haneda and Narita, which act as hubs for much of Japan’s domestic network and are often among the first airports to adjust schedules when strong winds are forecast.

Booking hotels with flexible cancellation policies and keeping at least one unscheduled day in the itinerary can help absorb any delays. Travellers who plan to visit coastal resorts, islands or rural mountain areas in late September and early October may wish to schedule those segments later in the trip, leaving the first few days in large cities where alternative indoor activities and robust transport links are available if weather turns bad.

Travel insurance documents should be checked carefully before purchase to confirm that they cover weather related cancellations and additional accommodation costs. Some policies exclude named storms once they are officially forecast, so buying coverage well before departure is often advisable.

Ultimately, the data underpinning current advisories frames Japan as a low crime, high infrastructure country facing a seasonal spike in weather related disruption rather than a broad safety crisis. For most visitors, the key to a successful trip in the weeks after Typhoon Dujuan will lie in close monitoring of forecasts, flexible planning and readiness to pause or shift plans if another powerful storm approaches the archipelago.