Wednesday 31st July – 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.

Thursday 1st August – 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.
• Board our private bus and begin our 3 and half hour journey to Fukushima prefecture. We’ll stop halfway on our journey for refreshments and snacks.
• Arrival to 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.

Afternoon

• We’ll have lunch at a Japanese food court that caters mostly to the workers living in Fukushima with their efforts entirely focused on rebuilding and repairing.
• To understand the devastating impact of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, you’ll visit the TEPCO Decommissioning Archive Centre. The Centre demonstrate the series of events that unfolded, in a transparent and open way compared to the Chernobyl disaster.
• 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.
• 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

Friday 2nd August – Fukushima – Tokyo

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel before we check out.
• Once we’re ready, we’ll head out to explore the coastal towns of Naraha, Namie and Futaba. Despite restrictions being lifted and major reconstructions efforts, these towns still remain mostly deserted.
• 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.
• 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.

Afternoon

• Lunch at one of the busiest malls in the area which sees only a few visitors each day.
• Visit of Naraha. It suffered a great deal during the disaster, however it was one of several towns to get “special zone for reconstruction and revitalisation”. Here you can see how life continues despite the population being halved.
• Although most of the homes have been removed due to radioactive contamination, other homes have been completely abandoned. This is your time to explore what remains of Fukushima at your own pace.
• We’ll begin our return bus journey back to Tokyo, with a stop halfway for a toilet break and refreshments.
• We’ll arrive at Tokyo Station at 8:00pm.
• 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.

Saturday 3rd August – Tokyo

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Tour concludes. YPT are able to arrange additional nights in Tokyo and advice for further transport.
• We are currently planning an Extremes of Japan Tour which will start on the 4th and finish on the 10th. Please let us know if you are interested in this.

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