Travelers Risk Being Stranded... Japan on High Alert Amid Worst-Ever Typhoon Scenario

Up to 28 Typhoons Could Affect Japan, with 14 Making Landfall
Nearly Five Times the Annual Average
Concerns Over Possible Transportation Disruptions

There are projections that Japan could face the worst typhoon season on record this year, putting the entire tourism and transportation industries on high alert.

On June 10th, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported, citing the Japanese private weather company Weathernews, that up to 28 typhoons could affect Japan this year, with as many as 14 potentially making landfall in the country.

On June 3rd, a man is looking at the flight information display board at the international terminal of Tokyo Haneda Airport in Japan. On this day, tropical storm "Jangmi" caused flight cancellations and significant delays. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

This figure is significantly higher than the average. Typically, about 25 typhoons form each year in the northwest Pacific, and fewer than three usually make landfall in mainland Japan. The year with the highest number of typhoons in Japan was 1994, with 33 typhoons. The record for the most landfalling typhoons was set in 2004, with 10 typhoons hitting Japan.

If these long-term forecasts become reality, Japan could repeatedly experience extreme weather events from summer through early autumn.

In fact, when Typhoon Jangmi made landfall in early June, flight cancellations and rail disruptions occurred, causing turmoil in the transportation and tourism sectors. Jangmi made landfall in southern Wakayama Prefecture early in the morning on June 3rd. Recovery efforts are still ongoing in some parts of central Japan.

On the 3rd, due to heavy rains caused by the strong tropical storm Rose, citizens in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, were commuting to work with umbrellas. Photo by AFP News Agency

At the time of Jangmi's landfall, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued the highest-level, Level 5, emergency flood warnings for some rivers in Wakayama Prefecture, urging residents to evacuate to higher ground. In eight eastern prefectures, including Tokyo and Kanagawa, Level 4 warnings were issued for large-scale floods and landslides.

As a result, 524 domestic flights were canceled, and Shinkansen, regular railways, and subway operations were either suspended or delayed. In Owase City, Mie Prefecture, 52.6 centimeters of rain fell in 24 hours by 9 a.m. on June 3rd, marking the highest rainfall so far this month.

Weathernews explained that, as of now, six typhoons have already formed this year, which is above average. Japan’s typhoon season typically runs from early June to early October.

Hironori Fudeyasu, Professor of Meteorology at Yokohama National University, stated, "As of June, six typhoons have already formed, which is twice the monthly average of three."

He noted that typhoons striking Japan are becoming more frequent and intense, predicting, "This year, the El Niño phenomenon will occur and will significantly affect typhoons." There are already analyses suggesting that the El Niño currently developing in the Pacific could become the most powerful ever observed.

Professor Fudeyasu explained that changes in weather patterns over the Indian Ocean and the strengthening of westerly winds are creating conditions favorable for typhoons to form off the east coast of the Philippines and in the South China Sea. In the past, many typhoons moved toward the Asian continent, but this year, there is a higher likelihood of them heading north toward Japan.

On the 3rd in Tokyo, Japan, floodgates of the Tamagawa River were opened to release water as water levels rose due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Jangmi. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

However, Professor Fudeyasu assessed that Japan is prepared to respond to typhoons, citing the government’s recent introduction of new warning and evacuation systems. He said, "Ten years ago, I would have said that Japan was not ready, but now the situation has changed. People make plans for what to do when a major typhoon occurs, and railway companies are pre-announcing service suspension plans so travelers can prepare in advance."

Nevertheless, there are concerns in the travel industry that preparations for the worst-case typhoon scenarios are still insufficient. Ashley Harvey, a travel marketing analyst with over 15 years of experience in Japan's tourism industry, said, "In the past, you could buy Shinkansen tickets on the day of travel, there were fewer tourists than now, and there were still hotel rooms available."

Harvey pointed out, "But now, too many tourists are concentrated in relatively small areas, so if a major typhoon hits, the entire system could come to a sudden halt."

She also argued that Japan’s tourism industry needs to adapt to the possibility of typhoons becoming more frequent and severe due to global warming. Harvey said, "If train services are suspended, tourists can't move to their next destinations. With all reservations fully booked, they won’t be able to stay longer at their current accommodations either. This problem will spread across the entire tourism sector, including guides and restaurant reservations, making the situation even worse."

The worst typhoon ever to hit Japan is considered to be Typhoon Vera, which struck in September 1959. At that time, maximum wind speeds reached 305 kilometers per hour. The typhoon hit Shionomisaki in Wakayama Prefecture, destroyed coastal defense facilities, severed railways, and sank ships. More than 5,000 people were killed or went missing due to this typhoon.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.