Updated September 29, 2026 (JST), using the official sources linked below. Individual bulletins have their own dates; weather, evacuation instructions, and transport conditions may change at any time.
Latest update — September 29: Typhoon No. 26 is moving away from Okinawa, with rough weather possible around the Izu Islands on September 30–October 1. Tokachidake remains at Level 3. The Etsumihoku Line is scheduled to reopen throughout on October 5. See the regional details and live official notices below.
This page covers current natural hazards and related transport disruption. For crime, scams, and everyday personal safety, use our Japan safety guide for foreign travelers.
The Short Answer: Is Japan Safe to Travel Right Now?
Japan remains open to travelers, with the U.S. Department of State advising Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions and Australia advising normal safety precautions overall. Australia applies a higher advisory level to restricted areas near Fukushima Dai-ichi. For the places you plan to visit, follow local evacuation instructions, volcanic restrictions, and transport notices even when country-level advice is unchanged.
For this update, the main issues are the approaching typhoon, restricted mountain areas in Hokkaido and Kumamoto, and disrupted local rail routes. Check the current notices for your destination and each connection before departure.
Current Japan Travel Safety Snapshot
| Area or issue | Information checked through September 29 | What it means for your trip |
|---|---|---|
| Weather and island travel | Typhoon No. 26 had moved northeast of Okinawa by early September 29. Forecasts issued September 28 indicated potentially hazardous weather around the Izu Islands on September 30–October 1; the track and local effects may change. | Check JMA’s latest track and warnings, then check your specific flight, ferry and onward transport. Do not use this dated table as a live forecast. |
| Tokachidake, Hokkaido | JMA’s September 28 bulletin maintains Level 3, with large-rock hazard within approximately 3 kilometers of the crater and local access restrictions. | Do not enter closed trails or roads. Separate evacuation guidance applies to some mountain accommodation; see below. |
| Kumamoto earthquake area | The Kyushu Shinkansen is open across its full route, with a modified timetable. Uto–Yatsushiro local trains remain suspended; reopening is planned for October 10. | Check your onward local connection as well as the Shinkansen. An operating train does not establish that nearby damaged areas are safe. |
| Mount Aso, Kumamoto | Volcanic Alert Level 2; entry is prohibited within approximately 1 kilometer of Nakadake No. 1 Crater. | The wider Aso area and crater access are different questions. Crater viewing remains unavailable. |
| Etsumihoku Line, Fukui | Reduced trains and replacement transport continue until the planned full-line reopening on October 5, subject to the operator’s final announcement. | Before October 5, plan the journey in separate sections and check the municipal bus for Kuzuryuko. On or after October 5, verify that normal rail service actually resumed; some October maintenance days still have planned cancellations. |
Regional Details Travelers Should Know
Weather: Typhoon No. 26 and Your Route
By early September 29, Typhoon No. 26 (Surigae) was moving away from Okinawa toward the northeast. The September 28 forecast indicated rough weather around the Izu Islands on September 30–October 1. If your itinerary includes an island flight or ferry, check JMA’s latest tropical cyclone information for the track and local warnings before departure.
For coastal, mountain, or long-distance travel, check JMA’s weather warnings and the operator for your specific service. A calmer forecast does not automatically mean that ferry services, roads, or access to your accommodation have resumed.
Heat risk also varies by place and date. Check the Ministry of the Environment’s Heat Stroke Alerts before long outdoor activities, carry water, take cool indoor breaks, and move outdoor sightseeing to cooler hours where possible. General disaster preparation is covered in Natural Disasters in Japan.
Tokachidake: Mountain Restrictions and Accommodation Guidance
JMA’s September 28 bulletin keeps Tokachidake at Volcanic Alert Level 3, meaning mountain-entry restrictions. It warns of an eruption affecting the area within approximately 3 kilometers of the 62-2 Crater, including large volcanic rocks; ash and smaller rocks can travel farther downwind. Follow the local closures rather than using the alert level to judge an individual trail yourself.
The local tourism association’s facility notice (Japanese) and Kamifurano Town’s evacuation guidance (Japanese) distinguish accommodation and hot-spring operations from evacuation instructions. Earlier notices listed Hakuginso and Fukiage Open-Air Bath as closed, while Ryounkaku and Kamihoroso were listed as operating subject to local evacuation guidance. Verify each facility’s current status and the town’s current instruction before traveling or staying. If you or a companion needs help evacuating, follow the applicable instruction even if a property advertises that it is open.
Hiking from the Tokachidake Onsen and Fukiage trailheads toward the Daisetsuzan range is prohibited. Through driving from Biei Shirogane Onsen to Tokachidake Onsen is blocked at the Fukiage junction. The municipal bus skips Hakuginso and the Fukiage area stops; check the town’s road and bus notice (Japanese). The mountain restrictions do not mean that all of Furano, Biei, or Hokkaido is closed. Check your exact destination and access route.
Kumamoto: Shinkansen Open, Local Rail Still Disrupted
JMA’s September 24 assessment says earthquake activity in Kumamoto remains above normal, although stronger shaking has become less likely. A separate M4.5 earthquake on September 26 reached a maximum intensity of 4. Follow local restrictions around damaged places; this assessment is not an all-clear.
The Kyushu Shinkansen reopened throughout on September 18, but its timetable remains modified. On the Kagoshima Main Line, Uto–Yatsushiro trains are suspended until the planned October 10 reopening, with replacement arrangements ending October 9. For bus changes, ticket conditions, and the separate Hisatsu Orange Railway, see our current Kyushu travel update and JR Kyushu’s current service notice (Japanese).
Mount Aso: Access to the Mountain Is Not Access to the Crater
Mount Aso remains at Volcanic Alert Level 2. The area within approximately 1 kilometer of Nakadake No. 1 Crater is off-limits because of volcanic hazards; this restriction does not cover the wider Aso area. Check local crater-access information for any visit near the crater.
Fukui: Etsumihoku Line Plans Full Reopening October 5
The Etsumihoku Line, also called the Kuzuryu Line, is a local railway in Fukui Prefecture. Rain damage interrupts the through rail journey to Kuzuryuko. Ono City’s September 25 update (Japanese) sets a planned full-line reopening from the first trains on October 5. Until then, reduced trains operate between Fukui and Miyama, JR replacement buses operate between Miyama and Echizen-Ono, and trains remain suspended beyond Echizen-Ono without JR replacement buses to Kuzuryuko.
Through October 4, the city points travelers to its Izumi–Ono municipal bus (Japanese) for the onward section. Its timetable varies by day, and schoolchildren have boarding priority. For trips on or after October 5, check that the reopening has actually taken place and use the current Etsumihoku timetable. Planned maintenance-related cancellations are also listed for October 20–23. This disruption concerns a local line, not all railways in Hokuriku.
Should You Change or Cancel Your Japan Trip?
| Your situation | Next step |
|---|---|
| An evacuation instruction, restricted zone, or official closure applies to your destination. | Change the affected part of your itinerary and follow local instructions. Do not attempt an unofficial detour around a barrier. |
| A train, flight, ferry, or road you need is disrupted. | Check operator-approved alternatives, connection times, and refund or change conditions before replacing the booking. |
| Weather could affect your travel dates. | Recheck the forecast the evening before and before departure. Keep flexibility for exposed, coastal, or mountain activities. |
| A reported event is outside your destination and route. | Check its geographic scope and your own local conditions. Decide based on your itinerary rather than the national headline alone. |
Your decision may also depend on mobility, traveling companions, flexibility, and risk tolerance. Ask your accommodation about arrival access, but use the responsible authority for evacuation and safety instructions.
Official Information
Use these sources to check your route. Japanese notices may contain local details missing from the English pages.
- Japan National Tourism Organization: Safe Travel Information
- U.S. Department of State: Japan Travel Advisory; Australian Government: Japan Travel Advice
- JMA: Weather Warnings and Advisories; Tropical Cyclone Information
- JMA: Volcanic Warnings; Tokachidake activity (Japanese); Mount Aso activity (Japanese)
- Kamifurano Town: Tokachidake Evacuation Guidance (Japanese); tourism facilities and access (Japanese)
- JMA: Kumamoto Earthquake Portal; dated safety assessments (Japanese)
- JR Kyushu: Traveler Information; earthquake service updates (Japanese)
- Aso Volcano: Current Crater Restrictions (Japanese; restriction summary in English)
- JR West: Traveler Information and Train-Status Links; JR West travel information (Japanese); Ono City’s rail and replacement-bus plan (Japanese)
- Ministry of the Environment: Heat Stroke Alerts
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it safe to travel to Japan right now?
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Country-level advice calls for normal precautions overall, but closures and warnings vary by destination. Check the regional conditions here and the latest notices for your own route.
- Can I visit Tokachidake right now?
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Do not hike from closed trailheads or enter the restricted mountain area. Some mountain accommodation is closed, and the town gives evacuation guidance for people needing assistance at Ryounkaku and Kamihoroso. Follow the local instruction that applies to your group before making a mountain stay.
- Is the Kumamoto earthquake affecting all of Japan?
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No. The earthquake-related disruptions discussed here are regional. For the latest train, road, and destination details, use the dedicated Kyushu update.
- Can I visit Mount Aso right now?
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Parts of the wider Aso area are accessible, but the crater exclusion zone remains off-limits. Confirm the current road and access restrictions before heading toward Nakadake.
- How should I plan around Typhoon No. 26?
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Check JMA’s latest forecast and warnings, then confirm your specific flight, ferry, or other service. The September 28 forecast indicated rough weather around the Izu Islands on September 30–October 1.
- Which guide covers crime, scams, and general safety?
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Use Is Japan Safe for Foreign Travelers? for everyday personal safety. Use Natural Disasters in Japan for preparation and what to do during an emergency. This article focuses on current natural hazards and related travel disruption.
