A severe typhoon will disrupt flight and train services in Japan

Hundreds of flights and some bullet train services will be suspended as Typhoon Ampil heads towards Japan’s main island on Friday, impacting travel plans during the country’s annual summer holiday.

Japan Airlines Co. canceled 28 international flights to the US, Australia and other locations, disrupting travel for about 5,000 passengers. All Nippon Airways Co. abandoned plans for 20 scheduled flights to Europe and North America, affecting about 4,000 people.

Disturbances caused by tropical storms at this time of year have become an annual occurrence in Japan and other countries in the region. They are also more severe, prompting factories to halt production and companies telling employees to stay home. The latest typhoon, classified as a severe tropical storm, will approach around noon on Friday, according to forecasters.

Domestic air travel will affect about 95,000 passengers, the two airlines said in separate announcements. ANA canceled 281 domestic flights, affecting about 60,600 passengers who were due to fly to areas such as Osaka, Fukuoka and Okinawa. JAL terminated 191 domestic flights, disrupting plans for about 34,000 passengers.

The Japan Meteorological Agency urged residents to be aware of high waves, landslides, low-lying floods and rising or overflowing rivers in eastern Japan, telling people to pay close attention to information to be provided by local authorities.

Marker train services between Tokyo and Nagoya will be suspended throughout the day on Friday as the typhoon brings heavy rain and strong winds, according to Central Japan Railway Co. Operations between Shin-Osaka and Nagoya will also be reduced.

East Japan Railway Co., which operates bullet trains to Aomori, Akita and Kanazawa, also said there may be disruptions on some routes in the Kanto region around Tokyo.

East Nippon Expressway Co., which manages expressways in the Kanto and Hokkaido regions, warned that some roads may be closed from Friday to Saturday and asked travelers to reconsider their plans.

Photo: A passenger aircraft taxis at night on a runway at Kansai International Airport in the city of Izumisano, Osaka, Japan. Photo credit: Buddhika Weerasinghe/Bloomberg

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