Torrential rain hit western Japan on Monday as frontal activities intensified over the archipelago, the Meteorological Agency said.
The agency called for caution against thunderstorms in wide areas from the Tohoku region to Kyushu through Tuesday, as well as possible tornadoes and lightning.
A record 94 mm of rainfall per hour was observed in the city of Tamba, Hyogo Prefecture, while 68.5 mm of rain fell in the city of Minamisatsuma, Kagoshima Prefecture.
In Taka, Hyogo Prefecture, about 6,600 residents were urged to evacuate. Bullet train services on the Kyushu Shinkansen Line were partly disrupted again Monday for the second straight day due to the heavy rain.
It forecast up to 200 mm of rain over the 24-hour period through 6 a.m. Tuesday in Shikoku and up to 150 mm of rain in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Kyushu and the Tokai region.