singabob

I just wanted to write and say how affecting this column was to read. Thanks to all who wrote their opinion and knowledge as sometimes people in such columns can be quite irrational, rude or insensitive...but not here. We all share concerned for Japan and its people and wish them strength, hope and love. When things calm down, be sure to visit, as there is no place as unique or special as Japan...that is clearly evident right here!

filmwill

Didn't realize I was censoring. Sorry to have offended. Just was hoping to keep a non-political topic non-political.

I'll exit this conversation now.

mrwunrfl

ht, your memntion of 9/11 and travel after it brought back a memory of my first trip to Japan. I talked to a young Japanese woman on the train who was surprised at my trip. She wondered why I wasn't afraid to travel, because of the terrorism. This was in November, 2001. Not that this story is relevant to this thread, it just popped into mind. I also remember on that trip seeing a Japanese news broadcast on TV and the only word I recognized was "Tariban". The reporter was talking about U.S. action in Afghanistan.

Good to hear from you KimJapan and that you are well in Kanazawa.

hawaiiantraveler

For those interested a site up by the Japanese Govt now shows radiation levels now throughout Japan. You will at least get a lesson of the different prefectures that make up Japan. Note the areas most affected are in the Northern Tohoku region.

http://www.mext.go.jp/english/radioa...il/1303986.htm

Aloha!

KimJapan

More bad news this afternoon. Three workers suffered radiation burns yesterday from water inside reactor number 3, and this has prompted investigation into how so very high a level of radiation got into the water they encountered. They are speculating that the water is leaking from the reactor or perhaps the pipes leading to the reactor, and they are worried that the containment vessel is not containing the fuel/water. They are advising people in the area 20 - 30 km around the plant to prepare for mandatory evacuation. They have also advised that people in areas with high radiation should voluntarily evacuate as soon as possible to ease evacuation efforts. A big problem is that there really are not any evacuation centers left with so many quake and tsunami victims, and now nuclear victims too.

thursdaysd

Thanks for the update, Kim. Very sorry, but not inordinately surprised, to hear that. Stay safe.

Malone

Have been following this thread, and indeed all the updates on the catastrophic situation in north-eastern Japan as my sister, her husband, their two adult children and close family friends with a 6 month old baby have decided not to cancel their flight to Osaka (500km south of Tokyo) this Monday.

They're not tourists exactly - it's a wedding celebration, a traditional Japanese ceremony at Edo Castle in Tokyo no less, of their youngest son who has lived in Japan the past five years and fallen in love with a beautiful local lass.

The wedding has already been traumatised by the unexpected death of the bride's mother a month ago - and after overcoming so many hurdles with the acceptance of a 'round eye' in a very culturally traditional family, the couple were determined for the wedding to take place as planned.

In spite of horrendous aftermath of earthquake, tsunami and now atomic fallout devastation, they are still determined that the wedding will take place as planned.

Love conquers all!

But heck, I will worry about my nearest and dearest, who have decided that karma will rule on their safety and wellbeing and that life must continue on in the midst of grief and deep sorrow both in the family and in all of Japan.

sassy_cat

An update for ticket holders with UA. They have extended their refund period through April 30th.

Malone, congratulations to your nephew and I wish your family a safe trip.
I hope the cherry blossoms are at their peak for the wedding! Love conquers all

paulihoo

We just got a full refund from UA through faregeek.com, after a bit of struggle with the agency.

UA updated their travel waiver to April 30th:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52939,00.html

hawaiiantraveler

A different view of life in Tokyo than we've been reading about taken just last Sunday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFXuOxdskn8

emmagus

I go by what my relatives say.....they are having a hard time getting some of the basic staples like rice and milk. They have asked us not to come.

I personally don't think things are being over reported but life does go on and does go back to normal--especially if you have kids.

KimJapan

It depends where you are. I'm not in Tokyo, but Kanazawa. Life is going on. But people are still somber. We cancelled on onsen trip...not because of fear or lack of supplies, but because we just plain didn't much feel like going. I'm quite sure many are the same, which is a shame for the hotels and restaurants, but it's a fact.

In the Tokyo area, we can of of course see life going on as usual, just like here. What else is there to do?

The question of whether or not to cancel should be answered on a case by case basis, based on things like itinerary, comfort level with the risks involved, general and overall feeling about traveling in a country that has really been devastated as a whole although the visible physical damage is limited to the northeast area of Honshu. The effects will be longlasting and wide in scope with the to impact just about everyone on some level.

Malone

Thanks for your good wishes, Emmagus.

Developments at the Fukushima Nr 3 reactor have escallated in the past 24 hrs, with Japanese PM stating the situation was 'dire' in a recent press interview, and the exclusion zone has been increased by another 10km to 30km radius.

Keeping fingers crossed that the wedding and travel plans to Osaka in just 36hrs are achievable, and all stay safe, in view of the worsening crisis at Fukushima.

Such a huge anxiety for all in Japan, my heart is with them. I experienced the toxic cloud from Chernobyl in 1986 and the wave of fear right throughout Europe at that time, especially as the explosion was kept secret for almost four days and the radioactive cloud had already spread over northern Europe and Scandinavia.

Kim, what you say is so true. My sister did say that if the trip was for vacation, she would have cancelled; even now she does feel uncomfortable about visiting a country that is in the midst of so much death and devastation.

But as it's the wedding of her son, that takes priority as a tourist visit can always be postphoned, but a missed wedding is forever missed.

My other sis is very upset they are going, saying they have no right to put themselves at risk, and take up resources that should primarily go to the local residents.

So, two sides of the coin in a trilogy of sisters.

hawaiiantraveler

Point well taken, we are all very somber.

Yet,I cannot abandoned the strong feeling of support I feel for the Japanese people and their country right now. I still feel that no support for them now in their time of need is the wrong thing to do. To sit at home and feel compassion is not helping anyone but your own conscience. By staying away or canceling we now are hurting that little restaurant owner or the maid who cleans rooms along with the taxi drivers, gift shop owners,cooks,train employees, ryokan workers, the list trickles down to just about everyone.

Most Japanese locals will be staying home now and canceling their domestic vacation plans as is their right seeing that these catastrophes are happening to them not us. Are we to stay away also? This only exacerbates the situation imho.

I will plan our next trip there to be conscious of the Japanese peoples feelings and desires while also spending when and where I can. We won't be getting in anyone's way or eating food meant for the afflicted. We won't be "looky loos" and travel to N Tohoku but to the other parts of the country that were physically unaffected by the disasters. I can't believe that some here on this thread actually openly wish ill will foreign to travelers to Japan now as witnessed by this line. <i>The shops shouldn't be selling Anything to tourists; they should be making their shelved goods available for sale to their neighbors</i>

Others may be of the opinion that Japan travel is not important right now or a selfish and foolish thing to do and that is your right too.

Aloha!

emmagus

I don't think anyone thinks travelling to Japan now is selfish.....and foolish depends purely on your circumstances and where you are going. It is an individual choice. For us with young children and a nuclear reactor situation still not under control...we feel it would be foolish to put them at risk. And for us, visiting relatives who are scrambling for staples, it would be an inconvenience to them. But for Malone to go to a wedding makes total sense and for others who want to travel and put money into the local economies, that makes sense for them.

In lieu of our trip, I made a large donation to the red cross

Bowsprit

Hawaiin Traveler: You've taken my words out of context Again to try to make your point. Again, I ask you: Do you not understand what you've read? Just to make it a bit easier for you: The shops should not Have to sell anything to tourists now; to take essential consummables away from Japan's locals is irresponsible and egocentric at this point. Nobody is wishing anyone ill will. Get a life. Twist that for your own purposes.

Sadly, things haven't improved enough for tourists to make a non-essential trip to Japan at this time. The evidence is clear.

emmagus: I agree with your decisions. My husband and I and his company have also made our first donation to the Red Cross.

KimJapan

Boespirit, are you I.n japan? I don't think so.

If you are not going to affected areas., you really will not notice anything except mood, and only that if you talk to people. There is really nothing a tourist would need that would be better used for recovery. Hotel rooms are not being used as shelter, and they won't be. It's not practical. Food is not in short supply unless you are talking about the affected areas, where deliveries are interrupted. Souvenirs will be blight by no one except tourists.

I'm in no way saying don't travel to japan. And I'm Aldo not saying do travel to japan. It is not a simple yes/no issue. As I said before, it depends on where you plan to go, your comfort with risk as well as your comfort with travel in a place that has experienced disaster. I never said that japan won't welcome tourists because I don't think that's the case - no one will begrudge any tourists for coming, and hotels and restaurants will be happy to have customers.

There is no danger outside the affected areas. Here in Kanazawa, and across much of the rest of the country, life is going on as usual with hardly a hiccup - unless you want to buy flashlights or batteries, you turn on the neea,or you talk to people about it. Only then will you realize something is not right.

The nuclear plant - that's a very serious concern and it's somewhere you won't see me or most others going near. People even in Kanazawa are talking about leaving, and in fact, some have indeed left even though the nuclear effects are not felt here. Will they be? Who knows.

Blackouts and wafer cutoff - limited to TEPCO customers and the afffectex area. Everyone is conserving. But we don't have power cite here and out tap water is fine.

So again, it's a choice not to be taken lightly, but it just is not true that the whole country not prepared or able to host tourists. That is far from the truth.

okoshi2002

I have been in touch with the various establishments where we have reservations in Kamakura and Hakone. They have been frank and said they welcome us if we are comfortable with possible inconveniences. I don't think they feel they can tell us to come or not come, simply they say we are welcome if we elect to keep our plans. And that is all we ask- a frank assessment of their situation. My friend in Nagoya who will meet us Yokohama feels it is appropriate to make the trip.

hawaiiantraveler

Bowsprit, that's the second time you rudely asked if I could read so I will answer your question. Yes I am well read, thank you for asking.

I actually cut and pasted your remarks so no matter how you try to spin it or try to change what you wrote the words and their meanings are all yours baby.

Here is something else you wrote:

<i>Sadly, things haven't improved enough for tourists to make a non-essential trip to Japan at this time. The evidence is clear.</i>

What is the source of your <b>evidence</b> so we can verify. Please use something other than what your husbands company has told you to do. We have heard that(I am tempted to use the word weak here but you've already used that adjective)excuse used several times already.

Bowsprit

I don't care what you do.


KimJapan: I am not in Japan at the moment. My husband's partner is in Japan. His family is also in Japan. The advice is: Don't visit now.