The tornado twisted on the Sea of Japan (East Sea) off the coast of Tottori prefecture, some 700 kilometers (430 miles) southwest of Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

No casualties or damage were reported, said a prefectural official.

"It was raining and hailing in the region when the tornado occurred, but fortunately it was on the water, not on the ground," he said.

Damaging tornadoes are rare in Japan, although a twister in November killed nine construction workers on the northern island of Hokkaido. The Tottori region sees about one tornado a year, the official said.

Tokyo was also hit by around two hours of intense rain and hail, drenching the capital with 20 milliliters of rain hitting the capital, the Meteorological Agency said.

The rain blew off some of the remaining blossoms from cherry trees, which were already expected to fall by early next week.

Millions of Japanese wine and dine each year at parties under the cherry trees, enjoying the sight of their delicate but short-lived blossoms.

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