The Foreign Office has warned of “significant disruption” as a powerful typhoon struck southern Japan.
Three people are reported to have been killed and dozens injured as Typhoon Shanshan struck the southern island of Kyushu.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a rare “special warning” for the most violent storms, warning of landslides, flooding and large-scale damage. High winds of up to 157mph have been reported on the island.
As much as 600mm of rain over 24 hours has been forecast in some areas of Kyushu, home to 12.5 million people.
Some 255,00 houses are now without power, the island’s utility operator said.
Hundreds of flights to and from southern Japan have been cancelled. Some high-speed train services have also been suspended.
Japan Airlines cancelled 265 flights today (Thursday), while All Nippon Airways is suspending 173. Most of the affected services cover the Kyushu and Shikoku regions in western Japan.
Other airlines, such as Jetstar Japan, Skymark Airlines and Solaseed Air, have announced cancellations of some flights on Thursday.
Airlines are calling on people to check their websites for the latest flight information.
Local governments issued evacuation advisories earlier in the week to 810,000 people in the central Shizuoka prefecture on Japan’s main island of Honshu.
A further 56,000 were told to leave their home in Kagoshima on Kyushu, the fire and disaster management agency said.
The storm to approach Japan’s central and eastern regions, including the capital Tokyo, around the weekend.
The Foreign Office said in updated travel advice: “Typhoon Shanshan is expected to cause significant disruption, including to travel across Okinawa, Kyushu, Shikoku and Kansai regions from 27 August to 2 September.
“Check your plans before you travel and follow the advice of local authorities.”