Typhoon Dujuan Raises Risk of Major Travel Disruptions Across Kanto

A large and strong Typhoon Dujuan (Typhoon No. 25) is forecast to pass close to Japan’s Kanto region from Monday, September 21, 2026, raising the risk of widespread transport disruptions across Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, and surrounding areas during the Silver Week holiday travel period.

What travelers should expect from September 20 to 22

Forecast guidance published in Japanese and English-language coverage indicates the worst conditions are expected from midday through late night on September 21, with violent winds, heavy rainfall, and rough seas affecting coastal and island areas first and then spreading into the wider Kanto-Koshin region. Published forecasts tied to Japan Meteorological Agency tracking describe a storm with central pressure around 970 hPa and maximum sustained winds near 35 m/s, with gusts that can reach about 50 m/s in exposed areas.

For travelers, the timing matters as much as intensity. Disruptions can begin before peak conditions, as operators preemptively reduce service or pause operations, and can continue well after the center passes because of track inspections, aircraft repositioning, and runway or roadway safety checks.

Sunday evening, September 20, is shaping up as the start of the disruption window for some coastal rail lines and roads. Monday, September 21, is the highest-risk day for cancellations and long delays. Tuesday, September 22, may bring uneven recovery, with some services resuming earlier than others depending on wind and rainfall trends overnight.

Air travel: Haneda and Narita facing cancellations, delays, and rebooking waves

Airline notices and published travel alerts show Tokyo’s two main gateways, Haneda and Narita, may see significant disruption on September 21. Japan Airlines’ international travel advisory lists Tokyo Haneda and Tokyo Narita as affected airports on September 21, with guidance that travelers may be able to change flights or request refunds if a flight is cancelled or significantly delayed.

All Nippon Airways has posted special ticket-handling information tied to Typhoon No. 25, indicating changes and refunds may be available without fees for eligible tickets even if a flight has not yet been cancelled. Low-cost carriers are also flagging concrete impacts: Jetstar Japan’s travel alert for Typhoon Dujuan (#25) warns that some Narita flights have already been cancelled, and it outlines a disruption period extending from early afternoon on September 21 into late on September 22.

More cancellations are likely to appear close to departure time. Spring Airlines Japan has publicly listed cancellations for specific Narita-area flights on September 21 due to Typhoon No. 25, illustrating how individual route decisions can come in waves rather than all at once.

Travelers connecting onward from Tokyo should plan for compounded disruption: even if an inbound flight operates, last-mile rail links and expressways may be restricted, and overnight hotel availability can tighten quickly during peak cancellation periods.

Rail: JR East warning of delays and possible suspensions across key Kanto lines

JR East’s Kanto-area service status page carries multiple typhoon-related notices across major commuter corridors and coastal routes. Several lines are flagged for possible delays or cancellations from the evening of September 20 through September 21, with especially high exposure in parts of Chiba Prefecture where wind and rain impacts can be more severe.

In Chiba, JR East notices indicate a higher likelihood of service being stopped on segments including the Sobu Main Line (between Sakura and Choshi), the Uchibo Line (Kimitsu to Awa-Kamogawa), the Sotobo Line (Honda to Awa-Kamogawa), the Kashima Line (Sawara to Kashima-Jingu), the Togane Line (Oami to Narutō), and sections of the Narita Line, with timing that can extend from around the evening of September 20 into all day September 21 depending on conditions.

Even in central Tokyo, travelers should anticipate ripple effects. Published coverage and JR East service advisories indicate that disruptions can spread widely across the metropolitan network, including lines used by visitors to reach airports and major hubs, particularly if wind thresholds are reached on above-ground sections or if inspections are required after heavy rainfall.

Those planning airport access by rail should also remember that “operating” does not always mean “on time.” Reduced frequency, short turns, and sudden destination changes are common during typhoon operations, and they can make transfers unreliable even when trains continue running.

Roads and buses: expressway closures possible and conditions can change fast

Road travel may become a weak link for both residents and visitors, especially for airport transfers and intercity trips. NEXCO East has published an alert warning that, due to Typhoon No. 25, expressways may be closed across a wide area from September 20 onward, and it urges drivers to avoid nonessential travel by car during the forecast impact period.

The notice lists potential closure timing on key corridors in and around the Tokyo Bay area and broader Kanto, including the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line and connected routes, with closure windows tied to wind and rainfall. That is particularly relevant for travelers moving between Tokyo and Chiba’s coastal areas, or those attempting to drive to Narita from the central metropolitan area.

For travelers relying on highway buses, the practical impact can resemble flight disruption: cancellations can occur with little notice, and detours can stretch travel times. If expressways are closed, buses may be suspended outright or rerouted onto local roads that may also be prone to flooding.

Visitors with rental cars should factor in that closures can be staged by section and direction, and reopening may lag because of debris clearance, high-wind restrictions on bridges, or safety checks in flood-prone zones.

Practical steps for travelers: rechecking plans and timing matters most

With the highest-impact period expected on Monday, September 21, travelers who have flexibility may want to shift long-distance travel earlier on September 20 or later on September 22, when conditions could be more favorable depending on how the system tracks and weakens. That is especially important for itineraries that require multiple connections, such as an international arrival at Narita followed by a rail transfer into Tokyo and onward to another prefecture.

For flights, the most effective strategy is to monitor the operating carrier’s latest updates and manage changes through official online channels where possible. Airline websites typically process rebooking and refunds faster than call centers during typhoon events, and published advisories already indicate unusually long waits can occur during peak disruption periods.

For rail, checking operator service-status pages shortly before departure is essential because planned suspensions and restart times can shift. Travelers staying in central Tokyo but planning day trips into Chiba, the Izu Islands, or coastal sightseeing areas should assume that services may pause even if the weather in the city center seems manageable.

Finally, travelers should prepare for the possibility of being stranded between systems: an arriving flight can be followed by a suspended airport rail link, or an open station can be followed by closed expressways. Building buffer time, keeping hotel plans flexible, and avoiding tight same-day connections across airports and long-distance services can reduce the risk of missed departures during the September 20 to 22 disruption window.