News On Japan

Rainy Season Begins in Northern Kyushu

Jun 17, 2024 (NHK) - People in western Japan are bracing for heavy rain. The rainy season has started in northern Kyushu, and other parts of the country are facing heavy precipitation that is raising the risk of disaster.

The Meteorological Agency said on Monday that the start of the rainy season in the area comes 13 days later than usual.

Heavy rain was pounding southern Kyushu and Okinawa Prefecture. Rainy and cloudy weather is expected to continue mainly in Kyushu.

A front off Japan's Pacific coast is likely to bring thunderstorms to much of the country through Tuesday.

Bands of rainclouds may form in southern Kyushu from Monday night to Tuesday. People in Shikoku could also be facing downpours on Tuesday morning. Officials warn this could sharply raise the risk of disaster.

During the 24-hour period until noon on Tuesday, up to 300 millimeters of rain is forecast for southern Kyushu and Shikoku. The Meteorological Agency is urging caution against landslides, flooding and lightning.

People are advised to stay up to date with the latest information, including on possible evacuations.

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

A fire broke out at Sairinji temple in Saga city on the morning of August 18, engulfing the building in flames and prompting the dispatch of 10 fire engines and two ambulances, with no injuries reported so far.

Severe disruption continued across Chiba Prefecture after the holiday period, with rail closures forcing some commuters into three-hour journeys while more than 2,700 vehicles remained immobilized by flooding caused by last week's torrential rain.

Train stations, airports and expressways were crowded on August 16 as travelers returned from vacations and hometown visits on the final day of the Obon holiday.

A 12-year-old British girl who disappeared while visiting Japan with her family was found safe in Yokohama on Saturday night, about 59 hours after leaving their private lodging in Tokyo, with police saying there was no indication that she had been involved in a crime.

More than 1,200 vehicles are believed to have been left stranded on roads across Chiba Prefecture after torrential rain caused widespread flooding, with authorities confirming eight deaths and investigating a drainage pump failure at an underpass where a man died.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Travel NEWS

Nagoya's municipal subway will introduce a contactless credit card payment service at all 87 stations from September 3, allowing passengers to pass through ticket gates simply by tapping a compatible card.

Kyoto's traditional Gozan Okuribi bonfire ceremony was held on the night of August 16, lighting the skies above the ancient capital as residents marked the end of the Obon season by sending off the spirits of their ancestors.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways are preparing to coordinate schedules on some domestic routes as the longtime rivals seek ways to maintain air services.

The Miyazu Lantern Floating and Fireworks Festival, a traditional summer event said to have a history of more than 400 years, illuminated the waterfront in Miyazu, Kyoto Prefecture, as lanterns carrying prayers drifted across the sea and fireworks lit the night sky.

Donguri Village, an interactive tourist attraction in Saga city that has welcomed visitors for nearly four decades, is expected to close as early as autumn 2027 because of aging facilities and a decline in visitor numbers.

Bear sightings are increasing across Japan as the animals become more active during their summer breeding season, with encounters reported near major tourist destinations, campsites and fishing areas, including an attack that left a man injured in Gunma Prefecture.

The return rush at Kansai International Airport peaked on August 14 as travelers who spent the Obon holiday overseas arrived back in Japan, with 39,300 international passengers expected to land at the airport during the day.

Osaka police have arrested or referred 38 men and women in their 20s to 40s over suspected dangerous group driving and other offenses on Hanna Road, a mountain route linking Daito in Osaka Prefecture with Nara, as illegal street racing continues to disturb residents despite years of enforcement.