The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Japan remind U.S. citizens in Japan that typhoon season has begun and will last through November 2020, though most tropical cyclones typically develop through October. Multiple typhoons typically strike Japan each year. Typhoons can strike any region of the country and can be extremely serious. U.S. citizens in Japan should carefully track typhoons that may impact their area and should follow all local government emergency guidance. In the past, U.S. citizens have been stranded and forced to delay travel (including return travel to the United States) due to infrastructure damage to airports, limited flight availability, suspension of public transportation, or closure of roads.
For information on typhoon warnings, please consult the Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu, the National Weather Service’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) Tokyo – Typhoon Center.
The Japanese government’s “J-Alert” emergency broadcasting system can provide early warning emergency alerts. This government-issued emergency information is available through mobile phone apps in English. See the Japan Tourism Organization’s Safety Tips app that “pushes” information alerts to users about disasters in multiple languages, including English. The NHK World TV app also provides Japanese government emergency alerts via “Push Notification” service in English. Both of these apps push “J-Alerts” in English to your cell phone. Additional information on Emergency Preparedness for Americans in Japan is available here on U.S. Embassy Tokyo’s website.
If you live in or are traveling to storm-prone areas, prepare by organizing a kit in a waterproof container that includes a supply of bottled water, non-perishable food items, medications, and vital documents. Emergency shelters often provide only very basic resources and may have limited medical and food supplies. U.S. citizens throughout Japan should pay careful attention to trusted local media and follow the instructions of local authorities in preparing for these storms.
If moving to a shelter, please ensure you continue to follow instructions regarding social distancing and other mitigation efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
For the most updated information, please follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
For further information about security in Japan:
- For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of either the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo or one of the U.S. Consulates in Japan.
- See the State Department’s travel website for Travel Advisories and Japan Country Specific Information.
- Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.