TOKYO — A typhoon lashed Japan on Saturday as the country headed into a holiday week, causing the authorities to order the evacuation of a half-million people living near swollen rivers and canceling hundreds of flights.

Typhoon Halong also disrupted land traffic and wounded at least six people as Japan began its annual Buddhist holiday week celebrating Obon, which honors the spirits of dead ancestors.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued a warning for heavy rain in Mie Prefecture in central Japan, prompting two towns to order about 500,000 residents to evacuate because of feared flooding from swollen rivers. The agency said heavy rain in the area would continue overnight.