Tokyo Braced for a Typhoon That Decided to Go Around

Typhoon Surigae spent the weekend looking like a direct threat to Tokyo. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government warned residents that rail and air services could be disrupted by heavy rain and strong winds through October 1, and All Nippon Airways flagged possible delays, cancellations and diversions on domestic routes as the storm approached. By midweek, however, the forecast had shifted in travelers’ favor: the storm is now expected to pass south of Honshu and skirt the Izu Islands rather than make landfall over the Kanto region.

That does not mean the storm is weak. Surigae was still carrying sustained winds of roughly 165 kilometres per hour as of Wednesday, according to the Australian trade outlet Travel Monitor’s daily disruption roundup. Forecasters expect it to weaken to severe tropical storm strength and then transition into an extratropical low by October 3. Until then, the outlying Izu Islands, which rely on ferries and small aircraft, are the places most exposed to cancellations and rough conditions.

Airlines are hedging accordingly. WestJet issued a travel advisory for its Tokyo Narita flights covering September 30 through October 1, giving passengers some flexibility to change plans without the usual penalties. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have continued to offer rebooking flexibility as a precaution, which is typical for Japanese carriers when a typhoon is anywhere near the main islands.

For travelers with flights into Tokyo over the next 48 hours, the practical advice is simple: check flight status directly with the airline before leaving for the airport, and look for waiver terms if you would rather move your trip by a day or two. Anyone planning to visit the Izu Islands or other outlying areas should confirm ferry and local flight schedules, since those services tend to be the last to resume after a storm passes.

Sources: Travel Monitor, Open Jaw