IBARAKI - Prolonged heavy rain linked to the autumn rain front and other weather systems has transformed tourist destinations across Japan, swelling waterfalls, damaging flower fields and disrupting travel as record rainfall continues in several regions.
At Fukuroda Falls in Daigo, Ibaraki Prefecture, footage taken on the morning of September 7 showed the normally scenic waterfall carrying dramatically more water than usual, with the flow turned brown by sediment.
The falls, regarded as one of Japan's three most famous waterfalls, normally draw visitors for their changing seasonal scenery, but persistent rain has sharply altered their appearance.
One visitor said recent rain had made the falls far more powerful than expected. "I was surprised by how much water there was. It looked like about 1.5 times what I imagined, so I feel like I came at a good time."
Naoki Fujita, manager of the Fukuroda Falls viewing facility, said the rain has also reduced visitor numbers. He said stronger water flow can make the falls more dramatic, but excessive volume creates another problem because spray can become so heavy that the waterfall itself is difficult to see.
Heavy rain has persisted particularly across Kanto and Tohoku under the influence of the stationary autumn rain front.
In Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, 12-hour rainfall reached 193 millimeters, setting a September record.
In Niijima, part of the Izu Islands in Tokyo, cumulative rainfall from September 2 through the morning of September 8 reached 783.5 millimeters, more than twice the area's average rainfall for an entire month.
Oshima recorded 581.5 millimeters of rain over 24 hours on September 7, the highest September total since observations began, leaving widespread damage and disrupting tourism.
One visitor said severe weather worsened after arriving on the island two days earlier, forcing ferry cancellations that left the traveler unable to leave. The visitor spent much of the stay inside a hotel and had to evacuate to Oshima High School on the first day because the accommodation was located in a landslide warning zone.
Conditions later improved enough to appear suitable for diving, but warnings remained in place. Two groups booked to dive on September 8 were unable to enter the water even after the sea had calmed.
Heavy rain also damaged tourist attractions in Chiba Prefecture.
At Tokyo German Village in Sodegaura, part of a broad hillside covered with flowers was washed away after extremely heavy rain on September 7.
Some of about 40,000 marigolds that were approaching peak bloom were swept away.
Hirota Yamano of Tokyo German Village said flowers grow well on slopes, but rainwater also runs down them easily. He said it was particularly difficult to see young marigolds that had yet to reach their best condition knocked over by the rain.
Newly sprouted cosmos were also partially buried after soil and debris flowed into the flower beds.
Yamano said removing the soil would risk tearing out the young plants as well, leaving staff with little choice but to hope the flowers emerge successfully.
The autumn rain front and the remnants of Typhoon No. 24, which weakened into a tropical depression, brought heavy rain across a wide area again on September 8.
In Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, torrential rain flooded roads around 3:30 p.m., with passing vehicles sending waves of water across inundated streets.
A Level 4 heavy rain danger warning was issued for Nagoya and surrounding areas, while the Tokaido Shinkansen suspended operations on some sections because of the weather.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said a linear rainband formed over western Aichi Prefecture and the Mino region of Gifu Prefecture during the afternoon of September 8.
In Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, intersections were flooded, with water thrown up by vehicles reaching as high as nearby parking lot fences.
Neighboring Yokkaichi recorded 79.5 millimeters of rain in one hour, while water surged from manholes like fountains.
Heavy rain also began falling in central Tokyo around 3 p.m.
The weather agency issued advance forecasts warning of possible linear rainbands in Kanto-Koshin, Shikoku and other areas, prompting heightened vigilance.
Experts warned that danger can persist even after heavy rain stops.
Footage from Akame 48 Waterfalls in Nabari, Mie Prefecture, taken in June 2026 showed a normally accessible walking path submerged by swollen water following the passage of a typhoon. Muddy torrents were still flowing after the storm itself had moved away.
Nobuyuki Tsuchiya of the Riverfront Research Center said rainwater can remain underground after a major storm and continue draining into rivers, meaning elevated water levels can persist for two to three days.
When the soil is already saturated, additional rainfall is less likely to soak into the ground and instead runs directly into rivers, he said. This means sudden rises in water levels can remain a risk for about a week even after relatively small amounts of additional rain.
Tsuchiya said recent rainfall should therefore be taken into account even when skies have cleared, and advised people visiting mountains or ravines to carry lightweight life jackets and helmets to protect themselves.
A linear rainband was also possible in Kanto from the night of September 8 into September 9, with authorities urging continued vigilance against flooding, landslides and sudden rises in rivers.
Source: Fuji TV News [Official]
