TOKYO - Autumn leaves are in full bloom in Tochigi and Nikko, with red and yellow trees surrounding pure white running water.
At Ryuzu Falls in Oku-Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, the autumn leaves and azaleas are at their peak. According to Nikko Tourism Association, the leaves are changing color about a week later than usual due to the continued warm temperatures, and the best time to see them is expected to last until this Sunday.
Visit: Nikko Official Guide
Typhoon No. 25 was closing in on the Kanto region on September 21 while maintaining strong intensity, with the large storm estimated at 2 p.m. to be passing through the southern Izu Islands between Hachijojima and Miyakejima and moving northeast at 25 kilometers per hour, raising the risk of record rainfall and disaster-level winds across Kanto and the Izu Islands as leisure and commercial facilities temporarily closed in preparation for worsening conditions.
Transport disruption across eastern Japan intensified through the afternoon of September 21 as large and strong Typhoon No. 25 approached Kanto, with at least 275 ANA and Japan Airlines flights canceled, more than 100 cancellations at Narita Airport, conventional rail services suspended across parts of Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures, and extensive expressway closures affecting routes around Tokyo and the Boso Peninsula.
People aged 65 and older accounted for a record 29.6% of Japan's population in 2026, the highest proportion among major countries worldwide, while the number of elderly people in employment also reached an all-time high as Japan marked Respect for the Aged Day on September 21.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako watched Japan defeat Kazakhstan in a women’s basketball preliminary-round game at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya.
A drone filming the illuminated Nagoya City Hall headquarters crashed into a building across the road shortly before 9 p.m. on September 17, with police investigating whether the flight may have violated Japan's Civil Aeronautics Act.
Peach Aviation began scheduled flights between Narita Airport and South Korea's Incheon International Airport on September 20, marking the low-cost carrier's first new international route from Narita in seven years.
Japan's Silver Week began on September 19 with five consecutive days off for the first time in 11 years, drawing crowds to food and festival events across the country despite rainy weather in the Kanto region as Typhoon No. 25 approached.
Volcanic smoke continues to rise from Mount Tokachi (Tokachidake), an active volcano in Daisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido, one week after its eruption alert level was raised to Level 3, restricting entry to the mountain and prompting a series of cancellations at nearby hot spring inns just before the peak autumn foliage season.
The Kyushu Shinkansen will resume operations along its entire route on September 18 after suffering extensive track and other damage in the Kumamoto earthquake, raising hopes that the long-awaited restoration will help revive tourism in disaster-hit areas ahead of the Silver Week holiday period.
A black bear has been spotted near one of the most popular hiking trails on Mount Takao in western Tokyo, prompting authorities to urge visitors to take precautions ahead of the five-day Silver Week holiday and the approaching autumn foliage season.
Prolonged rain is disrupting tourism ahead of Japan's Silver Week holidays, forcing Nagatoro's popular river cruises to remain suspended for an 11th consecutive day while increased water flow at Fukuroda Falls in Ibaraki Prefecture is drawing more visitors.
A new top-tier "Supreme Class" offering fully private compartments above the level of Green Car service will debut on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen on October 1, with passengers able to experience the new seating at a demonstration booth at Shin-Osaka Station.
Tokyo Disney Resort will launch its annual Disney Halloween event on September 16, with a special parade previewed ahead of the opening and visitors allowed to enjoy the parks in costume during the event period.
