Travel

Japan weather officials warn of mudslides, downpours in Kyushu

Jul 04 (NHK) - Japanese weather officials are warning that southwestern Japan's Kyushu region could be hit by mudslides and torrential downpours.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says a land ministry rain gauge in Kagoshima City recorded heavy precipitation of 41 millimeters in the hour until 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

Rain clouds have developed in southern Kyushu, due to the effects of a stationary active front in the area.

The risks of mudslides are very high in the prefecture, and warnings have been issued in some areas.

A front stretching from a low pressure system advancing near the Sea of Japan is expected to bring lightning and downpours of at least 50 millimeters an hour until Wednesday in Kyushu.

The precipitation in the 24 hours until noon on Wednesday could reach up to 200 millimeters in southern and northern Kyushu. In the 24 hours until noon on Thursday, between 100 and 150 millimeters are expected in southern Kyushu, and between 50 to 100 millimeters are expected in northern Kyushu.

Kyushu has seen record precipitation of around 500 to 600 millimeters in many areas, due to the intermittent rains that have fallen since last Thursday. The risks of mudslides could suddenly heighten with even a small amount of rain in areas where the ground is already loose.

The agency is calling on people to watch out for mudslides, floods in low-lying areas, overflowing rivers, lightning and wind gusts.

Officials are calling on people to prepare ahead of time before the rain becomes heavy again. People are advised to check hazard maps in their communities, stay updated about any risks and confirm the locations of evacuation areas.

Source: ANNnewsCH

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Early Rainy Season Chill Brings Heavy Rain Across Japan

After days of near-summer heat through May 20th, rain believed to mark the start of Japan's rainy season front swept across the country on May 21st, bringing sharp temperature drops, strong winds, and warnings for potentially heavy downpours.

How to Plan a Trip with a Best Friend Without Losing the Connection

More people are skipping the couple's getaway in favor of booking a flight with their closest friend. It's a shift that says something about how priorities have changed.

Cormorant Fishing Marks Arrival of Early Summer in Southern Japan

Traditional ukai cormorant fishing, a seasonal custom signaling the arrival of early summer, began on May 20th along the Chikugo River in Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture, following the opening of ayu sweetfish fishing on the river that flows through southern Fukuoka.

Historic Walk Through Miyama’s Thatched-Roof Village

Surrounded by mountains in Kyoto Prefecture, Miyama’s Kitamura district preserves one of Japan’s most iconic rural landscapes, where rows of traditional thatched-roof houses have been maintained for generations through strong community cooperation and deeply rooted village traditions.