Japanese weather officials say the very strong typhoon Koinu is likely to approach the Sakishima Islands in the southwestern prefecture of Okinawa on Wednesday.

The Meteorological Agency is warning of high waves and strong winds around the Sakishima Islands.

The agency says the typhoon was moving north-northwest across waters south of Okinawa at 10 kilometers per hour, as of 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Koinu is packing winds of up to 162 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 234 kilometers per hour. Within a 165- kilometer radius of the typhoon's center, winds are up to 90 kilometers per hour.

Weather officials say waves could reach 7 meters in the Yaeyama region of the Sakishima Islands, 6 meters in the Miyakojima area and 4 meters in the Okinawa main island and Daitojima regions on Wednesday.

Winds of up to 83 kilometers per hour with gusts up to 126 kilometers per hour are expected in the Yaeyama region. Around Miyakojima winds are expected to reach up to 72 kilometers with gusts up to 108 kilometers per hour.