What happens in Okinawa when a storm warning is issued?+
The island effectively stops. The Yui Rail monorail publishes its criteria: it runs with caution above a wind speed of 15 m/s and stops above 25 m/s. The buses stop on the same basis, and shopping centres, attractions, restaurants, offices and schools close along with them. Unlike a wet day elsewhere in Japan, there is no version of the day where the shops stay open, and hotel restaurants sometimes close too.
Can I just move my plans indoors on a typhoon day?+
No, and this is the thing visitors get wrong most often. The indoor attractions close on the same signal as the transport, so switching a rained off day to a museum or an aquarium is not an option that exists here. A day with a storm warning in force is a day in your accommodation.
When should I decide whether to travel?+
Three days out is the realistic point. The JMA forecasts five days ahead, but at that range the forecast circle is still wide and whether the storm reaches Okinawa is not settled. Airlines generally begin making pre-emptive cancellations one to two days before departure. So gather information at five days, read the cancellation terms and prepare to rearrange at three days, and make the final call the day before.
What happens to my ticket if the flight is cancelled?+
It depends on the airline and the fare type. The thing worth checking is not the refund but which flights you can be moved to: the carrier's own later services only, or the following days as well. After a typhoon passes, everyone who did not fly is trying to fly at once, so wider rebooking rights get you home sooner. On an international route the realistic assumption is that the next available service is the following day rather than the same evening, because there are far fewer of them.
Does travel insurance cover a typhoon cancellation?+
It depends on the policy, which is why it belongs on the checklist at the point of purchase rather than afterwards. Look for two things: cover for cancellation caused by weather, and cover for the additional accommodation if you are stuck. Some policies stop covering a storm once it has been named and forecast, so buying at the time of booking is worth more than buying later.
Are there power cuts?+
A direct hit can cut the power. The real problem is not the lighting but the traffic lights, which go out and leave every junction unsignalled, so the roads become dangerous. Okinawa Electric Power publishes outages by area with expected restoration times. Whether your accommodation has a generator varies by building, so ask at reception when a storm is a day or two away.
Is it safe to go outside during a typhoon?+
Not while a storm warning is in force. Flying debris is the main danger, and fallen trees block roads and low ground floods. Never go near the coast or a river: people are swept away going to look at the waves every year, and the swell stays for several days after the storm has gone. If the power is out, the traffic lights are out too, so driving is also best avoided.
The wind has stopped. Is it over?+
Not necessarily. If the eye passes over you, the wind drops and the sky brightens for a while, and then the same strength of wind arrives from the opposite direction. The second half often feels stronger than the first. Stay where you are until the warning is lifted.
Which months have the most typhoons?+
By the JMA normals for 1991 to 2020, approaches to the Okinawa region run 2.2 in August, 1.9 in September, 1.5 in July and 1.1 in October. January to March recorded no approaches at all across the 30 years of the record. These are averages, so individual years vary a great deal.
