Aug 24, 2021

Staying Safe During Typhoons and Storms in Japan

Typhoon season in Japan runs from June to December, but most typhoon activity occurs between July and September. The southern parts of Japan, such as Okinawa or Kagoshima, are particularly affected by these storms. Still, residents of any part of Japan are likely to experience one or more during their time here.

A typhoon is the same as a hurricane or tropical cyclone.  All three are regionally specific names for a storm that falls in the highest classification of the storm based on wind speed.  Lower levels of storms include: Tropical Depression, Tropical Storms, etc. the preparation and safety tips remain the same for these lower-level storms.

A Typhoon is characterized by:

• High winds are powerful enough to damage or destroy buildings, trees, power, and telephone lines, and hurl debris at dangerous speeds.
• Storm surges, or temporary rises in sea levels, can flood coastal areas and damaged buildings near the shore
• Very heavy rainfall can cause flooding and mudslides

What to do if a Typhoon is Approaching

Typhoons are notoriously difficult to accurately predict where, when, and at what strength they will strike land.  They will often veer off-course, change or their speed, or intensify quite suddenly.  Many times Typhoons predicted to hit have missed completely, or vice versa, suddenly bearing down on the city it was expected to miss.

Watch NHK Television

• NHK (Channels 1 and 3) While not all announcements are in English, important notices are.

Listen to US Armed Forces Network (AFN) Radio

AFN Radio provides regular weather bulletins in English. You can listen to AFN on

• 89.1 FM  in Okinawa
• 1575 AM in Nagasaki and Hiroshima Regions
• 810 AM   in the Kanto Region

Make an Emergency Kit

• See this guide to creating your 3 Day emergency/disaster kit

What to do if a Typhoon Strikes your Area

Keep Safe from Heavy Rainfall

• Don’t leave the house unless necessary. Stay away from places that will likely be inundated by rising water or waves such as beaches and riverbanks.
• Keep advised of the situation by watching NHK. While not always in English, important notices are in English on NHK.
• Be prepared to evacuate by knowing where to go, and having a disaster kit prepared and on hand.
• Stay clear of rivers/streams and large drains. There is potential for any of them to overflow without warning.
• Avoid using a vehicle, especially in the dark, as it is difficult to see flooded areas, and it is often too late once you enter them. Kindly note that your insurance is, for the most part, unlikely to cover the loss of your vehicle due to flooding.
• If your parking spot is in a low-lying area, move your car to a local supermarket or car park on higher land. Higher ground is especially advisable if there is already 5- 10 cm of water around your vehicle.

Keep Safe from High Winds

•  Stay inside! Keep advised of the situation by watching NHK. While not always in English, important notices are in English on NHK (Channels 1 and 3).
• Secure or move inside outdoor items such as toys, grills, bicycles, furniture, plants, and anything movable on the balcony. Move potted plants and other heavy objects away from windows inside as well.
• If you have shutters on your windows and doors, pull them shut. Shutters can prevent your windows from being broken by flying items.
• Set your freezer to the coldest temperature setting to minimize spoilage in case of a power outage.
• Watch for leaks around windows and doors. If the wind is strong enough, water may be blown into your home even if the windows are closed. Have handy towels, rags, and mops
• If the storm becomes severe, move into a hallway or area where there is the least exposure to external glass windows.
• Draw curtains across the windows to prevent flying glass should windows crack.
• Remember that typhoons have “eyes” or areas in their center where the weather appears calm. If the eye passes over your area, it may seem that the storm has finished, with winds then picking up again as the remainder of the storm arrives.
• After the typhoon has passed, check for broken glass, fallen trees, and downed power lines, which may present safety hazards near children’s school bus stops, outdoor trash areas, around your car, etc.

Keep Safe from Storm Surge

• Don’t leave the house unless necessary. Stay away from places that will likely be inundated by rising water or waves such as beaches and riverbanks.
• Keep advised of the situation by watching NHK (Channels 1 and 3)
• Be prepared to evacuate by knowing where to go, and having a disaster kit prepared and on hand.

More Information

• Japan Meteorological Agency
• Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) (US Military Site)
• Weather Underground- Wunderground
• Family Disaster Preparation, Survival, and Response in Japan

Photo by Stephen Wheeler from Sumoto, Japan (2011 Typhoon 12 approaches Uploaded by Matthiasb) [CC BY 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons