Police in Takarazuka city in Hyogo region in western Japan arrested the college student at the scene of the incident in a residential neighbourhood, according to the local Kobe Shimbun newspaper.

Two adult women were rushed to a hospital but were confirmed dead, the newspaper said, adding that the man reportedly confessed saying: “I killed several members of my family.”

The man was arrested on an attempted murder charge, national broadcaster NHK said, adding at least two people had been injured – a man and a woman who were both being treated in hospital.

It said police were alerted when a woman called saying: “My grandchild shot me with an arrow.”

Local police declined to comment on the case.

Violent crime is rare in Japan, and weapons are tightly controlled.