Japan weather: Heavy rainstorms cause flooding in Kanto and warnings for Kinki

Severe localized rainstorms, often referred to as ‘guerrilla rainstorms,’ have caused significant disruption across parts of Japan. In the Kanto region, heavy rainfall on August 22 led to intense downpours, with areas in Tokyo and Saitama receiving over 120mm of rain in a single hour. This triggered ‘record-breaking short-term heavy rain’ alerts. In Tokyo, rising water levels in the Zenpukuji and Kanda Rivers prompted Level 4 flood danger warnings, and a road collapse was reported in Chiyoda Ward.

Unstable weather conditions are expected to persist. In the Kinki region, meteorological offices have issued early warnings for August 24, noting that heavy rain warnings may be issued for Osaka, Hyogo, and southern Kyoto prefectures from afternoon to night. Residents in these areas are advised to prepare for sudden, intense thunderstorms and potential flooding.