The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) on Thursday warned of record rainfall expected across wide swathes of Japan in the days ahead and cautioned of the rising likelihood of landslides, flooding, lightning and tornadoes.

Due to the severity of the stormy weather and potential for mudslides and floods, 160,000 people have been advised or ordered to evacuate in western Japan, local officials said.

According to the JMA, an active seasonal rain front is causing torrential rain in most eastern and western regions of Japan, which could continue until Sunday.

The agency said that atmospheric conditions from western to northern Japan are set to remain very unstable owing to warm and moist air flowing into a low pressure system and an active front close to northern Japan.

The front, according to the agency, will become more active as it remains close to Japan's main island of Honshu.

The agency warned that Japan's Kinki region, which includes Kyoto, Hyogo and Osaka prefectures, could be particularly hard-hit by downpours, escalating the risk of floods, landslides, lightning and tornadoes.