ABTA delegates stranded in Japan

ABTA delegates and journalists who remained in Japan after this week’s annual convention are stranded in Tokyo due to a super-typhoon that is due to hit the country this weekend.

Flights home on Saturday have been postponed until Sunday, and delegates have been warned that Sunday’s flights might also be cancelled if the storm is still raging.

Hundreds of England and Scotland rugby fans are also stranded, having flown out to Japan for World Cup matches, some of which have now been cancelled, including England’s game against France in Yokohama on Saturday. Many ABTA delegates were due to attend the match, but are now heading back to Tokyo. Rugby World Cup is advising fans not to travel on Saturday.

All activities at the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix tomorrow have been cancelled.

Tokyo Disneyland is to close its park on Saturday, its first weather-related closure since a snowstorm in 1984.

Typhoon Hagibis is expected to make landfall on the main island of Honshu tomorrow afternoon, bringing torrential rain and wind gusts of almost 200 mph.

It comes just a month after one of the strongest typhoons to hit Japan in recent years destroyed or damaged 30,000 houses and caused extensive power cuts.

"The typhoon could bring record-level rainfall and winds," said Japan Meteorological Agency, adding that the storm could be the strongest to hit Tokyo since 1958 and people should also prepare for high waves and storm surges.

The UK Foreign Office said: "Due to Typhoon Hagibis, there will be severe disruption to transport services over the weekend of 12-13 October.

"Expect delays and cancellations on all domestic flights and some international flights from Haneda, Narita and Kansai airports.

"Local public transport in the Greater Tokyo area including the Shinkansen will also be affected. If you are concerned about your travel arrangements please contact your travel provider or agent directly."

Typhoon Hagibis is the third major storm to hit Japan in a little over a year. In September 2018, the country was hit by Typhoon Jebi, which caused 800 flight cancellations.

ABTA held its annual convention in Tokyo this week, with many delegates remaining in Japan to take part in post-conference tours organised by the Japan National Tourist Office (JNTO). All trips have now been re-arranged and delegates have made their way back to Tokyo, while trains are still running and while it’s still safe to be on the roads.

All trains to and from Tokyo have been cancelled from 9am tomorrow till noon on Sunday.

TravelMole editor Bev Fearis is one of those who has stayed in Japan to see something of the country and to enjoy the rugby.

"Obviously we’re all so disappointed that we won’t be seeing England play France tomorrow and that our itineraries have been cut short, but the JNTO has done an excellent job making all the last minute changes and we fully appreciate that safety comes first," she said.

"The attractions we were due to see tomorrow will all be closed. Luckily we have already had time to explore some of this amazing destination and, having seen what it has to offer, we definitely plan to come back.

"We’re now back in Tokyo and have been told that we’ll have to stay inside our hotel tomorrow when the typhoon hits. The JNTO and the hotel are looking after us very well. 

"I feel so sorry for all the English and French rugby fans who’ve come all this way and won’t get to see the game and I feel equally sad for the host nation who will be devastated that matches had to be cancelled. I hope the typhoon passes quickly and that Sunday’s games will go ahead."