Japan Trying To Coax Tourists Back

Above, the Nijubashi Bridge at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The official tourism agency in Japan, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has posted periodic Japan travel advisories.

Their latest one, dated April 26, has been posted. It is in question and answer format such as:

Can We Visit Japan Today? – YES!

The majority of regions in Japan including popular leisure travel destinations, are outside the areas affected by tsunami, earthquake and radiation, and received no disruption to infrastructure. Everything in these areas continues to operate as usual. The greater Tokyo area has already retrieved the usual condition, and there are no more periodical blackouts. The other regions are unharmed, and safe and normal as before.

Although the initial media hysteria over the quake, tsunami and (especially) the reactor troubles at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant have subsided, the effects of the hysteria are still felt by businesses who cater to the tourism industry outside of the quake zone.

Another question and answer from JNTO:

How is the Radiation Level? – NOT DANGEROUS!

Except for the proximate areas near the nuclear power plants, there is no dangerous level of radiation detected in Japan. Tokyo is not within radiation contamination concern area, located over 200km (124 miles) away from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant facilities. The radiation level in Tokyo is similar to that of New York City. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other international organizations confirm that the radiation level in the atmosphere is within a reasonable safety level to human health.

Any little story about the nuclear power plant does have an effect as it feeds into the initial hysterical reporting immediately following the March 11 earthquake. The tourism agency is trying to assure people that it is safe to visit Japan. In fact, the U.S. State Department's travel alert to Japan has been reduced to only the 50 mile radius of the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Other countries have reduced their travel alerts.

To see JNTO's travel advisory, go here.