Will it be ok to travel to tokyo and saitama prefecture?

Question:

I've been planning this trip since February and will go to Tokyo and parts of Saitama Prefecture on April 20-25, will Tokyo and parts of Kanto region be ok then? Will be there be still rolling blackouts by then? Will Tokyo be blistering with nightlights it's known for? What's the general mood there? Are train trips affected?

This will be my first to travel to japan and i was very excited until that earthquake struck and ruined everything. The tsunami was a bonus and the radiation issue was the icing of the cake.

It's kinda like my last chance to travel to Japan because if i'm going to go there again maybe it'll take years. I've got all my documents and visa ready before the quake struck. Now i'm thinking if i'm going to cancel my trip. :/

Answer:

Well, I live in Saitama, closer than Tokyo actually...... Im about 166km from Fukushima and the power plants.

The radiation levels are acceptable.... i try to stay indoors and I only drink bottled water, so theres no real risk. The airborn rads are well within human tolerance, and the water is only a risk if you are a child.

The news says avoid vegetables from that area, milk from there, water from the tap and stay away from Fukushima.

If you practice that course of prevention, and perhaps go one step further - no milk, no tap water, no vegetables (except tinned foods of course ;-) ) youll be fine.

Its not "safe" like cotton wool safe but you could get hit by a bus tomorrow right outside your door.

One of the head French assistants who was over here diffucing the situation has left for France about a week ago. He has been informing the public via his website that the Japan disaster is manageable - its not going to become a Chernobyl, and the area over 30km away wont be dangerous to humans even if there is a meltdown of the plutonium reactor.....

Common sense, a bottle of water and a canned food shopping policy, and youll be fine. Maybe wear a hat if youre outside and dont travel North.

Or, dont come.... up to you.

If you want to check a live geiger counter in Saitama (a little closer than Tokyo) you can go here and see the live feed.... as you can see there is a little, but nothing dangerous.


http://www.emilygertz.com/