A typhoon packing winds of up to 144km/h was today churning off Japan's main island in the Pacific Ocean, heading for the Tokyo region.

Typhoon Faxai was located 300km south of Tokyo and was moving northeast at 85km/h, the meteorological agency said.

"Faxai", a Laotian name for a woman, is expected to bring strong winds, the national weather agency said, warning of heavy rain and possible landslides in eastern Japan.

The typhoon is expected to leave Japan by early Monday, it added.

Heavy rainfall lashed the capital but there were no reports of damage or injuries, local officials said.

Japan and other nations in the western Pacific are hit each year by lethal typhoons.

Earlier this month, Typhoon Fitow hit eastern and northern Japan, killing at least two people and injuring 82 others.