Japan cancels flights and trains as another typhoon approaches

TOKYO: Hundreds of Japanese flights and trains were cancelled Thursday in the middle of a major holiday week as another typhoon roared towards the archipelago.

Days after Tropical Storm Maria dumped record rains, Typhoon Ampil was set late Thursday to skirt the Tokyo region — home to almost 40 million people — and then churn up the Pacific coast on Friday and Saturday.

ANA cancelled some 280 domestic flights due on Friday affecting more than 60,000 passengers, while Japan Airlines scrapped 191 domestic and 26 international services, hitting 38,600 customers.

Major parts of Japan’s network of bullet train services are also scheduled to be cancelled on Friday — including the busy section between Tokyo and the central city of Nagoya.

Ampil — and Maria before it — comes as Japan marks the “obon” holiday week when millions return to their hometowns.