Fukushima & Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Tour

Thursday 15th October – Tokyo

• Arrive at your own leisure into Tokyo. The capital and largest city of Japan is well connected with many European and Asian countries. Self-transfer to Via Inn Prime Akasaka Hotel.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 6:00pm to discuss the tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• We’ll head out for dinner taking in the mega city, famous for being one of the most populated in the world.
• For those inclined, we’ll head out for drinks. We recommend trying Asahi beer, umeshu or sake.
• Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Friday 16th October – Tokyo – Fukushima

Morning

• Early morning start with breakfast before we head to Tokyo Station.
• Group B members: meet at the Marunouchi North Exit of Tokyo Station at 7:30am. People connecting from our Osaka World’s Fair and Japan tour will also join us at this point.
• Board the train on the Joban line and begin our 3 hour journey to Fukushima prefecture. Bring some refreshments and snacks or buy them on the train.
• Arrival to Futaba station at the coastal area of Fukushima, one the heaviest hit areas from the tsunami. Despite some areas having restrictions lifted, local residents remain wary of the nuclear contamination. You’ll have the opportunity to first explore the former port, an eerie site.
• Visit Ukedo Elementary School – moments before the tsunami hit, all 82 students and staff safely evacuated to the nearby mountain. What remains of their school is for you to explore.

Afternoon

• Lunchbox at Futaba Business Incubation and Community Center.
• Visit the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum. The museum is unique in that it exhibits many materials related to the nuclear accident, such as the situation at the power plant immediately after the accident, the long-term and widespread evacuation of residents, and the impact of radiation on the lives of residents of the prefecture.
• Presentation on how J Village functioned during the Great East Japan Earthquake.
• After a hard hitting and busy day, we’ll head to our hotel to relax and freshen up.
• Dinner at a local restaurant followed by a few refreshing drinks.
• Overnight in Fukushima

Saturday 17th October – Fukushima – Tokyo

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel before we check out.
• See the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The disabled nuclear power plant suffered damaged beyond repair and the working reactors were not restarted after the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Here you’ll get to explore the site with your knowledgeable guide

Afternoon

• Lunch & Shopping in the Roadside Station Namie. Better prepare for some Anime figures crossing your way while picking out delightful Japanese meals!
• After lunch we explore the coastal towns of Namie and Futaba. Despite restrictions being lifted and major reconstructions efforts, these towns still remain mostly deserted.
• Futaba has historical records of a tsunami caused by an earthquake in 1611. Since 2022, the town has seen residents slowly returning. We’ll continue to Namie. Despite a major clean up, the western parts of the town remains restricted.
• We’ll begin our return train journey back to Tokyo at 3:30pm and arrive at Tokyo Station at 7:00pm.
• Group B members: tour concludes – YPT is able to arrange post-tour accommodation or advice for outgoing flights.
• Remaining group members will head to our centrally located hotel to check in and freshen up.
• As it’s our final night, we’ll head for dinner and drinks taking in the nightlife of Tokyo.
• Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Sunday 18th October – Tokyo

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Tour concludes. YPT are able to arrange additional nights in Tokyo and advice for further transport.