Tokyo: A powerful typhoon has slammed into western Japan, inundating the region's main international airport and blowing a tanker into a bridge, leaving thousands stranded.

At least eight people died and dozens were injured as Jebi, reportedly the strongest typhoon to make landfall in Japan since 1993, headed north across the main island of Honshu on Tuesday.

Kansai International Airport is partly inundated following a powerful typhoon in Osaka, western Japan. Credit:AP

It was off the northern coast of Fukui on Tuesday evening with sustained winds of 126km/h and gusts up to 180km/h, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

More than 700 flights were cancelled, according to Japanese media tallies.