Travellers heading to or through Japan this weekend are being urged to check their itineraries after two tropical storms caused widespread travel disruption across parts of the country.
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More than 120 domestic flights have already been cancelled as severe tropical storm Mekkhala and tropical storm Higos move towards the Japanese archipelago, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and the threat of flooding and landslides.
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have suspended flights to and from Okinawa and Kagoshima, leaving hundreds of passengers scrambling to rearrange their travel plans. Authorities have warned that further cancellations and transport disruptions are possible as the weather systems continue to develop.
While Mekkhala has weakened from typhoon status to a severe tropical storm, it continues to produce wind gusts of up to 144 km/h. Forecasters expect it to track near the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku, where it could interact with tropical storm Higos over the weekend. Meteorologists say the two systems may experience the Fujiwhara effect, a rare phenomenon in which two nearby tropical cyclones begin to rotate around one another, making their paths more difficult to predict.
The severe weather has prompted evacuation advisories in parts of Kyoto, where officials are warning of possible landslides and rapidly rising river levels. Similar flood alerts remain in place across sections of western Japan as torrential rain continues.
The impact extends beyond tourism. Toyota temporarily suspended operations at one of its Kyushu plants due to flooded roads, while reports indicate that Nissan also halted some production lines as the storms approached.
The weather system has also affected neighbouring Taiwan, where heavy rainfall has forced evacuations, closed schools and disrupted rail services after Mekkhala swept across the island before heading towards Japan.
If you’re travelling to Japan over the coming days:
With heavy rain expected to continue through the weekend, travellers should remain flexible and stay informed as Japan manages the impact of the two approaching storm systems.
(Source: IOL)
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26 June 2026
26 June 2026
26 June 2026
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