Japan braces for super typhoon Champi as Okinawa flights and festival cancelled

Japan is preparing for Typhoon Champi, the country’s 30th named storm of 2026, as the powerful system moves across the Pacific towards Okinawa, prompting warnings of strong winds, heavy rain and dangerous sea conditions.

The approaching typhoon has disrupted travel plans, with Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) announcing flight cancellations affecting southern Japan. Organisers have also cancelled the 50th Okinawa Industrial Festival, which had been scheduled to run from Friday to Sunday and was expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors.

According to The Japan Times, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) forecast on Wednesday, 21 October, that Champi would approach the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture between Friday and Saturday before potentially moving towards western Japan. Parts of Kyushu could also be affected from the weekend onwards.

The forecast prompted authorities to urge residents and travellers to follow official weather updates as the storm approaches.

Champi reaches super typhoon strength

As of Wednesday, Champi was moving north-westwards at about 25 kilometres per hour from a position east of the Philippines, according to the JMA forecast reported by The Japan Times.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of around 216kph, placing it among the most powerful tropical cyclones in the region. Weathernews, citing JMA observations on 21 October, reported a central atmospheric pressure of 900 hectopascals and maximum sustained winds of approximately 215kph.

Champi is the international name assigned to the storm under the western North Pacific and South China Sea tropical cyclone naming system. In Japan, it is also identified as Typhoon No. 30.

The JMA monitors tropical cyclones using forecasts of their location, intensity, movement and potential effects. Its official typhoon information service provides updated track forecasts and warnings as a storm approaches land.

Okinawa faces strong winds, heavy rain and rough seas

Okinawa Prefecture is among the areas expected to face the greatest risk from Champi, particularly the Sakishima Islands in the prefecture’s south-western island chain.

The JMA forecast cited by The Japan Times on 21 October indicated that the storm could approach the Sakishima Islands between Friday and Saturday, with its centre potentially passing about 160 kilometres from Okinawa.

Forecasters warned of heavy rainfall, strong winds, rough seas and high tides. Such conditions can disrupt transport, affect coastal activities and make travel between Okinawa’s islands hazardous.

The official Okinawa tourism information website issued a typhoon advisory on 22 October, warning that some flights and ferry services serving the prefecture could be delayed or cancelled.

It advised visitors to avoid the sea during the storm, cancel beach leisure activities and water sports, and check the latest information from transport operators.

The advisory also directed travellers to Japan’s official weather and disaster-prevention information services for updates on warnings and local conditions.

Airlines cancel flights to southern Japan

The approaching typhoon has already disrupted air travel, with Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways publishing cancellation notices for flights serving Okinawa and nearby islands.

JAL said on 21 October that numerous domestic flights would be cancelled because of Champi. The affected destinations included Naha, Miyako, Ishigaki, Yonaguni, Tarama, Tokunoshima, Okinoerabu and Yoron.

The airline listed cancellations affecting several airports on 22 and 23 October, with additional cancellations scheduled for some destinations on 24 October. It said flight operations would be reviewed in line with the latest weather information.

ANA also warned passengers that flights serving Okinawa, Miyako and Ishigaki could be affected. Its notice said some flights to and from Miyako and Ishigaki would be cancelled from the afternoon of 22 October, while all flights to and from the two airports were cancelled for 23 October under the published schedule.

ANA advised passengers to check their flight status frequently because changes could be made as the typhoon’s path developed. Eligible passengers could also change their bookings or request refunds without handling fees under the airline’s disruption arrangements.

The airlines said passengers should consult their official websites for the latest information before travelling to the airport.

Okinawa Industrial Festival cancelled

The storm has also led to the cancellation of a major public event in Okinawa.

The 50th Okinawa Industrial Festival, scheduled for 23–25 October at Onoyama Park and the Okinawa Prefectural Budokan in Naha, was cancelled because of Typhoon Champi.

The Naha City government announced the cancellation on 20 October on its official website. The event was intended to showcase Okinawan industries and locally produced goods, with indoor and outdoor exhibitions planned across the three days.

The 50th edition was expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, according to The Japan Times.

The cancellation removes a major event from Okinawa’s calendar as the prefecture prepares for potentially severe weather. The city government’s notice confirmed that all scheduled festival activities had been called off.

Japan records its 30th typhoon of the year

Champi is the 30th typhoon recorded in the western North Pacific in 2026, a total that has not been reached this early in the year since 2013, according to Japanese weather service Weathernews.

The JMA’s tropical cyclone naming system uses names contributed by countries and territories in the region through the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee. Names are assigned in a predetermined sequence as storms develop.

Weathernews reported that Champi formed on 15 October and intensified as it moved across the Pacific towards the Philippines and the waters east of Taiwan and the Sakishima Islands.

The number of storms recorded in a year does not by itself determine the level of damage they cause. Their impacts depend on factors including intensity, movement, rainfall, wind strength and whether they approach populated areas.

Japan’s authorities continue to monitor Champi’s movement and issue updates through the JMA and local meteorological offices.

Authorities urge residents and visitors to monitor updates

Okinawa’s tourism authorities have urged residents and visitors to follow official weather announcements and check transport services before travelling.

Flights and ferry routes are particularly vulnerable to disruption when strong winds and high waves affect the islands. Bus and monorail services may also be suspended, while road conditions can deteriorate during heavy rain.

Travellers planning to visit Okinawa or move between its islands over the coming days have been advised to confirm arrangements directly with airlines and transport operators.

The JMA’s official typhoon information portal provides updates on the storm’s position, strength, speed and projected path. Authorities have advised the public to continue monitoring these notices as Champi approaches the region.