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Story highlights
- Lionrock is expected to move up the eastern coast of Japan
- Air travel could be affected, airlines warn
Currently over the western Pacific southeast of Yokosuka, Typhoon Lionrock is moving northeast at 25 kilometers (16 miles) an hour.
"Typhoon Lionrock has winds of 175 kilometers per hour which is equivalent to a strong Category 2 Atlantic hurricane," CNN meteorologist Michael Guy said.
It is expected to make landfall in Japan's northeast Tohoku in the next 24 hours bringing with it heavy rain. Lionrock will skirt Tokyo rather than hit the capital directly, as initially expected.
It is forecasted to weaken into a tropical storm by late Tuesday.
Both Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have warned of possible disruptions to flights. Routes to and from the Kanto region -- encompassing Tokyo on Honshu, Japan's largest island -- may be affected, the airlines warned.