Japan is facing what is believed be the strongest typhoon to hit the country in decades.

Typhoon Jebi has made landfall, bringing strong winds to areas including the cities of Kobe, Kyoto and Osaka.

Broadcaster NHK reported that at least six people have died and around 160 others injured.

Storm, rain, flood and wave warnings have been issued for many parts of the country, during what could be the worst typhoon to hit the country in 25 years.

Hundreds of thousands of people in western and central Japan have been urged to evacuate their homes, amid fears of flooding and landslides.

At Kansai International Airport near Osaka, a tanker slammed into a bridge connecting the airport to the mainland - leaving thousands of passengers stranded without road or rail access.

A tanker is seen after it slammed into the side of a bridge connecting the airport to the mainland, damaging part of the bridge and the vessel in Osaka, western Japan. Picture by: Kentaro Ikushima/AP/Press Association Images

Officials said they needed to wait until the weather improved before the tanker could be tugged away from the bridge.

The airport itself - which is located on a man-made island - had to be shut down, with photos showing a flooded runway.

A video widely shared online appeared to show a partial roof collapse at a train station in Kyoto.

京都駅の天井崩落の瞬間が目の前で。
まさか、、台風の力すごい。気を付けて！！ pic.twitter.com/EGQ6P92T9g

— 森山和彦(Kaz) CRAZY (@CRAZY904Kaz) September 4, 2018

The winds are said to have led to roofs being blown off some homes, while NHK says around 1.6 million homes were left without power at one point during the powerful storm.

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled, while some Shinkansen or bullet train services have also had to be suspended.