A powerful typhoon is approaching the Japanese archipelago and the stormy conditions it is projected to generate over much of the Pacific coast could lower turnout for Sunday's general election.

As of Saturday afternoon, Typhoon Lan had an atmospheric pressure of 925 hectopascals and was packing sustained winds of 180 kph and gusts of up to 252 kph, the Meteorological Agency said Saturday. It was moving north-northeast at 15 kph south of Okinawa's Minamidaito Island.

The Meteorological Agency said the season's 21st typhoon is expected to approach the mainland from Sunday to Monday and could make landfall as it moves toward the Pacific coast.