Pack your passports in waterproof bags. Water gets everywhere.
In the first days of June 2026, Typhoon Jangmi swept across Japan's Pacific Coast, making landfall near Wakayama and pressing northward toward Tokyo — a reminder that nature does not pause for schedules or borders. Singapore's embassy in Japan moved swiftly to reach its citizens scattered across the archipelago, urging preparation over panic: secure your documents, find your shelter, stay informed. At least 15 people had already been injured before the storm reached the capital, and the disruption to flights, trains, and ferries signalled how thoroughly a single storm can reorder the rhythms of modern life.
- Typhoon Jangmi made landfall near Wakayama at 4:30 a.m. on June 3, carrying winds and up to 200mm of rain toward Tokyo and the Kanto region — a storm too large to dismiss.
- Fifteen people were already injured in Kyushu and Amami before the typhoon reached the capital, with flooded roads, fallen trees, and damaged homes marking its trail northward.
- Singapore Airlines cancelled or rescheduled at least 14 flights, while shinkansen services halted and ferries suspended operations, stranding travellers and fracturing travel plans across the region.
- Singapore's embassy issued urgent, practical guidance — waterproof your passport, locate your nearest evacuation centre, stay indoors — translating meteorological threat into human action.
- Authorities directed citizens to monitor the Japan Meteorological Agency and NHK in real time, framing vigilance not as anxiety but as the most responsible form of preparation.
When Typhoon Jangmi began its approach toward Japan's Pacific Coast in early June, Singapore's embassy in Tokyo did not wait for the storm to speak for itself. On June 2, officials issued a public warning: the typhoon was tracking toward Shikoku, southern Kinki, and the Kanto-Koshin regions, and the risks — landslides, river overflow, flooding in low-lying areas — were serious. The window to prepare was short.
The embassy's advice was immediate and concrete. Singaporeans were told to identify evacuation centres near their homes while conditions still allowed it, to seal passports and valuables in waterproof bags, and to remain indoors once the storm arrived. The disruption to transport was already underway: Singapore Airlines had rescheduled at least 14 flights between Singapore and Japan for June 2 and 3, and rail and ferry services across Japan were being suspended.
By the early hours of June 3, Typhoon Jangmi had made landfall near Wakayama prefecture in western Japan. The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast up to 200 millimetres of rain across the Tokai and Kanto-Koshin regions within 24 hours, with Tokyo directly in the storm's path. The damage already tallied from Kyushu and the Amami islands — at least 15 injured, homes damaged, roads flooded, trees felled — offered a preview of what lay ahead for the capital.
The embassy provided emergency contact numbers and directed citizens to the meteorological agency's website and NHK for live updates. The underlying message was simple: the time to act was before the storm arrived, not after. Jangmi was not a weather event to observe from a window — it was one to prepare for, seriously and soon.
A typhoon was bearing down on Tokyo in early June, and the Singapore embassy in Japan wanted its citizens to know what was coming. On June 2, officials posted a warning on Facebook: Typhoon Jangmi was moving toward the Pacific Coast, and it would bring serious weather. The storm was expected to hit the Shikoku, southern Kinki, and Kanto-Koshin regions with strong winds and heavy rain. Japan's meteorological agency was already flagging the risks—landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, rivers overflowing in western Japan. The window was narrow: June 2 to June 3.
The practical advice came quickly. Singaporeans should locate evacuation centers near their homes now, while there was still daylight. They should pack their valuables—passports especially—into waterproof bags. The embassy knew what water does to documents. They should stay inside as much as possible once the storm arrived. Flights would be cancelled or delayed. The shinkansen would stop running. Ferries would not operate. Singapore Airlines had already rescheduled at least 14 flights between Singapore and Japan for June 2 and 3 alone.
By early morning on June 3, the storm was no longer theoretical. Typhoon Jangmi made landfall near Wakayama prefecture in western Japan at around 4:30 a.m. Singapore time. The Japan Meteorological Agency was forecasting up to 200 millimeters of rain in the Tokai and Kanto-Koshin regions over the next 24 hours—enough to trigger serious flooding. The Tohoku region would see up to 120 millimeters. The agency warned of heavy rain and the risk of rain-related disasters. Tokyo and the Kanto region were in the storm's path for June 3.
The damage was already accumulating. At least 15 people had been injured in Kyushu and the Amami regions after torrential rain and winds swept through. Homes were damaged. Roads were flooded. Trees had fallen across the landscape. Okinawa had taken the first blow—damaged structures, inundated streets, downed vegetation. Now the storm was moving north and east, toward the capital.
The embassy provided contact numbers for Singaporeans who needed help: the main line during business hours, a mobile number for after-hours emergencies. They directed people to monitor the Japan Meteorological Agency website and NHK, the national broadcaster, for real-time updates. The message was clear: this was not a weather event to ignore or wait out casually. Prepare now. Stay informed. Stay safe. The storm was coming.
Notable Quotes
Flights, shinkansen, ferries and other public transport services may be cancelled or severely delayed, so plan around it and stay indoors as much as possible.— Singapore embassy advisory, June 2
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why did the embassy focus so much on passports and waterproof bags? That seems oddly specific.
Because a damaged passport strands you. You can't leave the country, can't prove who you are to authorities, can't access consular help if you need it. In a typhoon, water gets everywhere—it doesn't discriminate. The embassy was thinking about the aftermath, not just the storm itself.
The numbers seem almost routine—15 injured, some flooding. Is this a big typhoon or a normal one for Japan?
Japan gets typhoons regularly, so the response is practiced. But 200 millimeters of rain in 24 hours is significant. That's not a drizzle. The fact that they're warning about landslides and river overflow means the meteorological agency saw something serious enough to warrant public alerts. Routine doesn't mean harmless.
Singapore Airlines cancelled 14 flights. That's a lot of disruption for one airline.
It is, but it's also just one airline. Multiply that across all carriers, and you're looking at hundreds of cancelled or delayed flights. The shinkansen stopping is the bigger story—that's the spine of Japan's transportation system. When that shuts down, the whole country feels it.
Why mention Okinawa separately? It got hit first, didn't it?
Yes. Okinawa took the initial impact—damaged homes, flooded roads, fallen trees. By the time the embassy was posting its warning on June 2, the storm had already shown what it could do. They weren't speculating. They were telling Singaporeans: this is what's coming your way.