Strong Typhoon Raises High Surf Risk for Pacific Areas of Japan This Weekend

Apr 16, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - A large and powerful Typhoon No. 4, internationally named Sinlaku, was located near the Mariana Islands and moving north-northeast as of the latest update. The storm is expected to gradually shift its course eastward and pass southeast of the Ogasawara Islands around April 18, before making its closest approach around April 19.

Satellite imagery showed a clearly defined eye at the center of the storm, indicating that it remains strong. The typhoon was positioned roughly 900 kilometers south-southeast of the islands.

The system is forecast to continue moving northeast, drawing nearest to the Ogasawara Islands through April 19. It has developed into a large typhoon, with a storm-wind area exceeding 1,000 kilometers in diameter. While the islands may only narrowly fall within the storm's wind field, hazardous marine conditions are already developing.

Authorities are urging caution as waves around the Ogasawara Islands, including Chichijima and Hahajima, are expected to become very high. Conditions near the coast could turn dangerous, and people are advised to stay away from the sea.

The effects will also be felt far from the storm center. Coastal areas along the Pacific side of western and eastern Japan are expected to see waves of 2 to 3 meters or higher for the time being.

Marine leisure activities along the Pacific coast and in the Nansei island chain are likely to face dangerous conditions until the typhoon moves away and seas gradually subside after April 20.

Source: ウェザーニュース

Okinawa Braces for Powerful Typhoon No. 30

Typhoon No. 30 (Champer) was rapidly intensifying east of the Philippines at 3 a.m. on October 21, developing into a large and extremely violent storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 meters per second and gusts reaching 85 meters per second, as forecasters warned of severe weather across Okinawa later this week and potentially heavy rainfall in western Japan early next week.

H3 Rocket Successfully Launches Mars Moon Probe

Japan's H3 rocket successfully launched the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on the morning of October 20th, placing the probe into its planned orbit in the first stage of a mission to collect samples from one of Mars' moons and return them to Earth.

Japan Introduces Personalized Motorcycle License Plates

Motorcycle owners across Japan can now choose their preferred license plate numbers under a new system introduced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on October 19th, with popular numbers allocated by lottery and applications costing between 2,500 and 3,000 yen.

Nearly 30% of Large Japanese Companies Report Data Leaks

Nearly one in three large companies in Japan have experienced a data leak or a suspected breach, according to a survey released by Teikoku Databank on October 19th, highlighting growing concerns over corporate information security as unauthorized access incidents continue to affect businesses across the country.

Yokohama Elects New Mayor After Power Harassment Controversy

Atsumi Harasawa, a 59-year-old lawyer making her first bid for mayor, won Yokohama's mayoral election on October 18, defeating former Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka, whose resignation over allegations of workplace bullying prompted the vote.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Autumn Colors Sweep Across Tateyama in Japan's Northern Alps

The Northern Alps in central Japan have entered the height of their autumn colors, with the alpine landscape around Tateyama's Murodo Plateau in Toyama Prefecture offering spectacular views of red and yellow vegetation, rugged mountain ridges and the rare Japanese rock ptarmigan, a protected bird species whose survival depends on the delicate balance of the mountain ecosystem.

Hokkaido Hits Minus 4.3 Degrees as Autumn Chill Spreads Across Japan

Temperatures fell to their lowest levels of the season across much of Japan on the morning of October 18, with Rikubetsu in Hokkaido recording minus 4.3 degrees Celsius, the country's lowest temperature so far this autumn, before sunshine brought warmer conditions during the day and some areas experienced unseasonably hot weather.

Kyoto's 10,000 Yen Tourist Tax: Where Is the Money Going?

Kyoto City expects revenue from its accommodation tax to more than double to approximately 13.2 billion yen this fiscal year following a substantial increase in the maximum nightly levy to 10,000 yen, as the city seeks to address overtourism and ease the pressure that millions of visitors place on residents and public infrastructure.

Two-Ton Shrines Collide at Himeji's Nada Fighting Festival

The Nada Fighting Festival, known for its spectacular collisions between massive portable shrines weighing around two tons, drew large crowds to Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, on October 15, as participants repeatedly slammed the heavy structures into one another in a traditional ritual believed to please the gods.

Super El Niño Could Bring Japan a Warm Winter After Summer of Typhoons

The El Niño phenomenon developing in the Pacific Ocean has reached its strongest level since records began in 1949, with sea surface temperatures off Peru rising 4 degrees Celsius above normal in September, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced on October 9, raising concerns about extreme weather worldwide and the prospect of an unusually warm winter in Japan.

Disney Imagination Sets Sail for Japan in 2029

Japan's first Disney cruise ship will be named "Disney Imagination," with Oriental Land and its partners planning to launch the service in spring 2029, offering a new Disney-themed travel experience departing from Tokyo.

Osaka's Glico Sign Reaches End of Life

Osaka's iconic Glico sign in Dotonbori will undergo a major renewal next spring after more than a decade of operation, with its current LED display set to be switched off for the final time on November 30.

Typhoon No. 29 Moves Away From Japan but High Waves Remain a Threat

Typhoon No. 29 was moving northward over waters east of Japan at strong intensity as of 10 p.m. on October 12th, with forecasts indicating that the storm will continue moving away from the country and transition into an extratropical cyclone on October 13th, although high waves generated by the typhoon could pose a growing threat along the Pacific coast of northern Japan.

< 2 3 4 5 >