Typhoon Jebi made landfall in western areas, bringing heavy rain and reports of winds up to 172km/h (107mph).
In Osaka Bay it swept a tanker into a bridge and in Kyoto parts of a railway station roof came down.
Officials ordered more than a million people in affected areas to evacuate their homes amid warnings of high waves, flooding and mudslides.
It has already left tens of thousands without power and authorities have urged people to move to safety.
Hundreds of flights, trains and ferries have had to be cancelled.
The following are scenes of devastation from the area.
(BBC News)
(Pics : qz.com)