When is typhoon season in Japan?
Typhoons come near Japan mainly from July to October, most often in August and September.On average, about 11.7 typhoons a year pass within 300 km of a Japanese weather station and 3 make landfall on Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku or Kyushu. Okinawa sees more of them than the main islands.
Typhoons by month (average per year)
| Month | Near Japan | Near Okinawa | Near main islands | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | — | — | — | — |
| February | — | — | — | — |
| March | — | — | — | — |
| April | 0.2 | — | — | — |
| May | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 | — |
| June | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| July | 2.1 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.6 |
| August ★ | 3.3 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 0.9 |
| September ★ | 3.3 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.0 |
| October | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 |
| November | 0.5 | 0.3 | — | — |
| December | 0.1 | — | — | — |
| Year | 11.7 | 7.7 | 5.8 | 3 |
"Near" = the typhoon's center came within 300 km of a weather station in that area. "Landfall" = the center reached the coast of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku or Kyushu (Okinawa is counted as "near", not landfall). 1991–2020 averages; monthly figures may not add up to the year total because of rounding. ★ = the two busiest months. Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (processed by Japan Bloom Calendar).
What it means for a trip
- Even in the busiest months, about 1.6 to 1.9 typhoons a month come near the main islands and about 2.2 near Okinawa. Many trips are not affected, but when one does come, trains and flights can be canceled for a day or two.
- Okinawa is the most exposed, from July to October. Keep a spare day in your plan.
- Spring (March to May) and winter rarely see typhoons near Japan. The rainy season in June is a separate thing — see the rainy season.
- Official typhoon information and warnings come from the Japan Meteorological Agency. This site shows past averages only.