Safe to go to Japan?
March 29, 2011 8:48 AM Subscribe
Should I travel to Japan for my long planned vacation on April 20th?
My wife and I had long planned a trip to Japan for nearly three weeks prior to their recent disaster. We would be spending time mostly South of Tokyo (Nagasaki, Kyoto, Kurashiki) and then swing back up for Golden Week in Tokyo. I would still like to go and feel fine about safety, but she's pretty worried. I've asked a friend in Tokyo and he's on the fence about it, but says I wouldn't worry about it being insensitive to come, as Japan recovering their economy is going to be their next hurdle and tourist coming will help with that.
My wife and I had long planned a trip to Japan for nearly three weeks prior to their recent disaster. We would be spending time mostly South of Tokyo (Nagasaki, Kyoto, Kurashiki) and then swing back up for Golden Week in Tokyo. I would still like to go and feel fine about safety, but she's pretty worried. I've asked a friend in Tokyo and he's on the fence about it, but says I wouldn't worry about it being insensitive to come, as Japan recovering their economy is going to be their next hurdle and tourist coming will help with that.
Tokyo is going to be facing power shortages through the summer, but I've got a lot of friends there and according to them, life is pretty much normal.
Western Japan will not be affected by the power shortages (it's on a different power grid). So for the most part, I don't think the disaster will materially affect your trip, and I think every bit of tourism will be taken as a good sign in Japan.
posted by adamrice at 9:00 AM on March 29, 2011
Western Japan will not be affected by the power shortages (it's on a different power grid). So for the most part, I don't think the disaster will materially affect your trip, and I think every bit of tourism will be taken as a good sign in Japan.
posted by adamrice at 9:00 AM on March 29, 2011
If your wife is worried about the radiation levels, this is a good site for updated data on atmospheric radiation. Radiation in Tokyo is barely above background, certainly not something that would cause any health effects. I would keep an eye on the tapwater radiation levels, but they've been going down, and even at their worst they only said that infants shouldn't drink tap water.
Nagasaki is so gorgeous in late spring. Kyoto, too. If I had a chance to go this time of year, I wouldn't miss it.
posted by Jeanne at 9:09 AM on March 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Nagasaki is so gorgeous in late spring. Kyoto, too. If I had a chance to go this time of year, I wouldn't miss it.
posted by Jeanne at 9:09 AM on March 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I went to Russia less than two weeks after Chernobyl! I had a great time! I will remember it forever! My children have the normal number of eyes and limbs! But I understand your wife's concerns; we didn't have the internet back then, but we were calling the State Department every 24 hours for travel advisory updates right up until we got on the plane.
Based on what I've read from reliable sources, there's very little additional risk. I wouldn't change travel plans.
posted by not that girl at 9:39 AM on March 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Based on what I've read from reliable sources, there's very little additional risk. I wouldn't change travel plans.
posted by not that girl at 9:39 AM on March 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
I know two professors are planning to travel to Japan at the end of April for a conference. The conference organizers have made it very clear the conference will still be happening.
So, if that helps at all....I guess I know two people who will be headed there about the same time who are eager and happy to do so.
posted by zizzle at 10:07 AM on March 29, 2011
So, if that helps at all....I guess I know two people who will be headed there about the same time who are eager and happy to do so.
posted by zizzle at 10:07 AM on March 29, 2011
Besides certain food shortages (bread, milk, etc) and some shortened hours of stores (conserving electricity), life is mostly normal in Tokyo. If you head further south like Kyoto, Osaka, etc it's basically untouched.
It might actually be better to go now since there will be slightly less crowds (and tourism).
posted by xtine at 10:45 AM on March 29, 2011
It might actually be better to go now since there will be slightly less crowds (and tourism).
posted by xtine at 10:45 AM on March 29, 2011
Yes, please go. As I said in the other thread Japan needs not only the tourist dollars (yen) now but also a "show-of-confidence" from outside visitors. Their economy has taken a huge hit in just about every sector and building back the tourism industry would be a significant step forward.
posted by moxiequz at 11:28 AM on March 29, 2011
posted by moxiequz at 11:28 AM on March 29, 2011
Another vote for going. This Radiation Chart from XKCD might help show your wife her risk from radiation. Given that I've toured through Japan through the spring and a) know how exquisitely beautiful and b) how hectic normal tourist seasons are through there, I would be even more enthusiastic to go with the chance of reduced crowds. The sakura are amazing. The Japanese are incredibly kind, gracious hosts, and I would imagine they'd be even more grateful to have your business in light of recent events. You will have a wonderful time.
posted by lizbunny at 11:50 AM on March 29, 2011
posted by lizbunny at 11:50 AM on March 29, 2011
FWIW, the latest (March 21, 2011) Travel Warning for Japan from the US Dept. of State advises all US citizens to stay 50 miles (80 kilometers) away from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Its official advice for tourists is to defer travel to the rest of Japan at this time. The advisory mentions the likelihood of further earthquakes (aftershocks) and possible tsunamis and notes that Japanese authorities have issued a warning for people to stay away from low-lying coastal areas for that reason. As I say, take this FWIW.
posted by exphysicist345 at 3:58 PM on March 29, 2011
posted by exphysicist345 at 3:58 PM on March 29, 2011
as moxieqz says, the economy here is taking a pretty solid hit, and people staying away isn't going to help. Western Japan is fine, and Nagasaki is about as far as you could get, really. Tokyo is, reduced power/operating hours aside, pretty much back to normal. Come. Spend money. Tell your friends how great a time you had.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:32 PM on March 29, 2011
posted by Ghidorah at 4:32 PM on March 29, 2011
Nagasaki, Kyoto, Kurashiki: No problem whatsoever. People will love you for coming.
Golden Week in Tokyo: Depends on how Fukushima plays out, but from the information available at this point in time, should be doable. Expect some inconvenience though, like no bottled water, stores shutting down earlier than usual, trains not running on schedule, etc., even by Golden Week. I don't think Tokyo will ever go back to what it was like before 3/11 in terms of 24-hour hyper-convenience, which isn't necessarily a bad thing IMO, but there you go.
...would be my advice at this point in time as a resident of Tokyo. Come (to Western Japan at least) and have fun!
posted by misozaki at 4:52 PM on March 29, 2011
Golden Week in Tokyo: Depends on how Fukushima plays out, but from the information available at this point in time, should be doable. Expect some inconvenience though, like no bottled water, stores shutting down earlier than usual, trains not running on schedule, etc., even by Golden Week. I don't think Tokyo will ever go back to what it was like before 3/11 in terms of 24-hour hyper-convenience, which isn't necessarily a bad thing IMO, but there you go.
...would be my advice at this point in time as a resident of Tokyo. Come (to Western Japan at least) and have fun!
posted by misozaki at 4:52 PM on March 29, 2011
As a resident of Tokyo, I second the recommendation to come. Most of the shortages in Greater Tokyo are short-term in nature (e.g. bread supplies are low due to several factories having to stop production, but those factories are due to restart by the mid- to late-April), and as you'll be spending most of your time in Western Japan they will have almost no effect on your trip.
April is a beautiful time in Japan -- the weather is nice, the sakura are in bloom, and there's lots to see. You will absolutely enjoy yourself, and the Japanese you encounter will be glad that you've come.
posted by armage at 10:46 PM on March 29, 2011
April is a beautiful time in Japan -- the weather is nice, the sakura are in bloom, and there's lots to see. You will absolutely enjoy yourself, and the Japanese you encounter will be glad that you've come.
posted by armage at 10:46 PM on March 29, 2011
Cherry blossom season is in full swing in Kyoto. No dropoff in tourism that I can see, and the temperatures are nudging upward. April 20 is a great time to come, after the sakura rush bu just in time for beautiful strolling weather. We are most definitely NOT radioactive.
posted by planetkyoto at 7:47 PM on April 11, 2011
posted by planetkyoto at 7:47 PM on April 11, 2011
« Older What is a maximum hard drive storage does... | What do I do with a downed wire/cable? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
I can provide a mini-update on quasistoic from that thread. They are in Japan - in Osaka now I believe - and having a great time.
posted by vacapinta at 8:55 AM on March 29, 2011 [1 favorite]