Millions of people were ordered to evacuate their homes as Typhoon Shanshan lashed southwest Japan with strong winds and torrential rain, knocking out power, snarling air traffic, and forcing major factories to close.
At least three people have been killed so far and scores injured in what authorities have warned could be one of the strongest-ever storms to hit the region.
Renowned Japanese automakers suspended operations in all domestic plants while some temporarily halted production due to the storm.
Bringing gusts of around 180 kilometers per hour, strong enough to blow over moving trucks, the typhoon was near Unzen city in Nagasaki Prefecture at 3:00 pm and moving northwards, according to the weather agency.
More than 200,000 households in seven prefectures were without power in the afternoon, according to Kyushu Electric Power Co.
The utility said there was no impact at its Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Satsumasendai City, where the storm landfall.
Airlines have already announced cancellations of nearly 800 flights. Train services have been suspended in many areas of Kyushu, while hundreds of bus and ferry services have also been halted, according to the transport ministry.
Typhoon Shanshan is the latest harsh weather system to hit Japan, following Typhoon Ampil, which also led to blackouts and evacuations, earlier this month.
