Typhoon Dujuan disrupts travel across Japan as hundreds of flights cancelled

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and rail services suspended in Japan as Typhoon Dujuan brings heavy rain and strong winds to Tokyo and surrounding regions.

Nearly 500 flights at Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita airports had been cancelled as the storm approached, according to aviation tracker Flightradar24, while some bullet train services were also suspended.

Japanese authorities issued emergency warnings over the risk of flooding and landslides, including the highest Level 5 alert for Oshima and the Izu islands south of Tokyo. A Level 4 alert was issued in Tokyo's Meguro ward, while a Level 3 alert was in effect in central Tokyo.

The disruption comes during Japan’s five-day Silver Week holiday period, increasing the potential impact on domestic and international travel. Events have also been cancelled or postponed as a result of the storm.

For travel insurers and assistance providers, widespread transport disruption can generate enquiries about cancellation, delay, and additional travel expenses.

Dujuan was producing sustained winds of around 130km/h, with gusts reaching 194km/h. Forecasts indicated rainfall totals of up to 250mm around the Kanto region, creating a heightened risk of flooding and landslides.

Last month, record-breaking rainfall in Japan’s Chiba Prefecture provided a stark example of how extreme weather can disrupt a journey even when flights themselves continue to operate.