Storms Mekkhala and Higos Disrupt Travel in Japan: What Tourists Should Check

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Marta Skylar
Aviation News Editor
28.07.2026 00:45

Storms Mekkhala and Higos Disrupt Travel in Japan: What Tourists Should Check

Lead. At the end of June, Japan once again found itself in a zone of difficult weather: the remnants of Typhoon Mekkhala and Tropical Storm Higos brought heavy rains, risk of flooding, and transport disruptions. For tourists, the main conclusion is simple: Japan is not closed for travel, but routes through Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Okinawa, Kyushu, and domestic flights need to be planned with more time, and travel decisions should be made based on current notifications from airports, airlines, and meteorological services.

The situation is particularly important now because the weather risk coincided with the weekend and the active summer season. Even if an international flight is operating on schedule, problems may arise on the domestic leg: during a transfer from an international flight to a local one, moving between Tokyo airports, traveling by high-speed train, or transferring to a hotel. In such conditions, a traveler should think not only about the status of their flight but also about the entire travel chain.

What Happened in Japan

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the Mekkhala system changed strength throughout the week and by June 25 was no longer a classic typhoon, but a weaker tropical system. However, for tourists, this does not mean an automatic end to the risk. Even after weakening, such systems are capable of bringing intense precipitation, gusty winds, dangerous waves, and local flooding, especially when they interact with a seasonal rain front.

Associated Press reported that heavy rains on Friday caused flooding in parts of western Japan, and Mekkhala moved northeast near the Amami region. Another tropical system, Higos, was nearby, and both systems, according to the agency citing Japanese meteorologists, were expected to approach the Tokyo area on Saturday, intensifying the rain. Reports mentioned flooding in Nara and Hiroshima, rising water levels in rivers in the Kyoto area, as well as disruptions to some trains and flights.

Channel NewsAsia, citing Japanese sources, reported that at least four people were injured, over a million residents received evacuation recommendations, and Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways canceled a total of about 120 flights to and from southern regions, including Okinawa and Kagoshima. For the tourism market, this is not just meteorological news: it is about real changes in the availability of domestic flights, transfers, and short connections.

Which Airports and Routes Should Be Checked First

The most attention should be paid to airports frequently used by international tourists: Tokyo Haneda (HND), Tokyo Narita (NRT), Kansai near Osaka (KIX), Naha in Okinawa (OKA), and Chubu Centrair in Nagoya (NGO). They serve different types of routes: international arrivals, domestic transfers, regional flights to the islands, and travel between major cities.

Haneda Airport published a notice on June 25 stating that due to the influence of Mekkhala, some flights to and from Haneda were delayed or canceled, and some shops might change their operating hours. Japan Airlines, in a morning update on June 27, warned that flights to or from Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita, and Nanki-Shirahama may experience delays, cancellations, or changes due to typhoon weather. The airline also noted that during expected weather disruptions, passengers may have the opportunity to change their ticket or request a refund even before the final cancellation of a specific flight.

For passengers, this means that checking news headlines is not enough. Before leaving for the airport, open the online board for your specific flight, the airline's page, and the airport's notifications. For convenience, you can separately check the Haneda online board, Narita online board, Kansai online board, and Naha online board. If the flight is part of a complex itinerary, especially with separate tickets, the status of each segment must be checked individually.

Why the Risk Is Not Limited to Flights

In Japan, tourists often combine planes, high-speed trains, city lines, buses, taxis, and walking transfers between stations. Heavy rain may not cancel an international flight, but it can disrupt the road to or from the airport. Associated Press reported flooding and disruptions to some railway operations in the western part of the country. This is especially important for those with a strict schedule: a cruise, a fixed-start tour, a paid excursion slot, a domestic flight to Okinawa, or a return home with a short connection.

The most vulnerable routes are those where the entire trip depends on a single bottleneck. For example, a morning departure from Kyoto to Kansai before an international flight, a transfer from Narita to Haneda on the day of arrival, a domestic flight from Tokyo to the islands, or a night transfer after a late arrival. In normal weather, such plans may work, but during storms, they become fragile.

If the trip is already paid for, it is worth checking the rules for rescheduling hotels and transport. In Tokyo, it is advisable to have a backup accommodation option near Haneda Airport or Narita Airport if the connection becomes too risky. For Osaka and western Japan, it is useful to evaluate options near Kansai Airport, especially if the flight departs early in the morning or arrival shifts to the night.

What to Do If a Flight Is Delayed or Canceled

The first step is not to go to the airport simply out of habit. If the airline explicitly asks to check the status before leaving, this should be done several times: before packing, before heading to the airport, and during the transfer. EVA Air warned passengers on June 24 that flights to and from Japan could be affected by Mekkhala and Higos and advised checking the flight status before traveling to the airport. Similar logic applies to other carriers.

The second step is to save documents and evidence of the disruption. This includes booking confirmations, airline notifications, screenshots of flight status, hotel receipts, or forced transport costs. For international tickets, compensation and rebooking conditions depend on the airline, route, jurisdiction, and cause of the disruption. Weather usually falls under circumstances beyond the carrier's control, but this does not cancel the obligation to inform the passenger and offer options according to the fare and carrier rules.

The third step is not to rush into buying a new expensive ticket until it is clear what the airline is offering. Japan Airlines noted that during expected weather influence, special ticket processing may be possible: changes or refunds even before a final decision on a specific flight. However, conditions may differ for domestic, international, code-share, and agency bookings. If the ticket was purchased through an intermediary, check both the airline's website and the agent's account simultaneously.

How to Rebuild Your Japan Itinerary for the Coming Days

The smartest strategy is to reduce the number of critical connections. If you arrive in Tokyo and planned to fly further on the same day, consider a night in the city or near the airport. If you have an early departure from Kansai, it is better to arrive in the airport area the day before rather than relying on a morning transfer during heavy rain. If you plan a domestic flight to or from Okinawa, monitor notifications from Naha and the carrier, as island routes are particularly sensitive to wind and waves.

For ground logistics, it is worth keeping several options on hand. In Tokyo, check transfers and taxis from Haneda and Narita, but do not assume that a car will always be faster than a train: during heavy rain, roads can also become congested. In Osaka and the Kansai region, compare transfers from KIX with the rail route in advance. For Okinawa, where tourists often rent cars, it makes sense to check the terms of car rental at Naha Airport, but the decision to drive along the coast should only be made considering current weather warnings.

A special tip is to review bookings with strict penalties. If a hotel, excursion, or train ticket does not allow changes, write to the service provider before the event starts, not after a no-show. During periods of natural disruptions, many companies consider requests more flexibly, but there is no automatic right to a free change unless provided for in the terms.

What This Means for the Tourism Market

For Japan, this situation is a reminder that record demand for travel must be accompanied by resilient planning. Tourists are increasingly building saturated itineraries: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Okinawa, theme parks, regional cities, and gastronomic tours in 7-10 days. This model works well in stable weather, but during storms, even one disruption can shift the entire program.

For airlines and hotels, rapid information becomes key. When Haneda, JAL, EVA Air, and other market participants publish separate notices, it helps passengers avoid wasting unnecessary time in queues and make decisions before leaving for the airport. For travel agents and independent travelers, the lesson is the same: in typhoon season, a Japan itinerary is better sold and bought with real buffers, rather than as a perfectly compressed chain of connections.

Short Checklist Before the Trip

  • Check the status of each flight on the airline's website and the airport's online board.
  • Leave more time for travel between the city, station, and airport.
  • Do not plan an important domestic connection immediately after an international arrival.
  • Check the terms for changing tickets, hotels, excursions, and car rentals before the service begins.
  • Save booking confirmations, cancellation notices, and receipts for forced expenses.
  • Monitor the Japan Meteorological Agency, notifications from local authorities, airports, and carriers.

Conclusion

Mekkhala and Higos do not mean that trips to Japan should be canceled en masse. But they have already created enough real disruptions for tourists to review their itineraries for the coming days. The safest tactic is not to rely on the old schedule, check flights immediately before departure, have a backup accommodation plan near a key airport, and not build an itinerary as if delays do not exist.

Weather systems change quickly, so this article does not replace official warnings. For final decisions before departure, use current data from the Japan Meteorological Agency, notifications from Haneda Airport, Japan Airlines, your carrier, rail operator, and local services. They have the most up-to-date information on specific flights, track conditions, roads, and safety recommendations.

Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency, Haneda Airport, Japan Airlines, EVA Air, Associated Press, Channel NewsAsia.