We are grateful for the warm support and thoughts from many people after the historic earthquake in Japan on 11 March. While painstaking rescue and recovery efforts continue in the severely struck Tohoku region, the capital city Tokyo has been recovering from a strong shock, and western Japan is unharmed.

Both Narita and Haneda airports have been reopened, although public transportation in and around Tokyo is not running at full capacity due to power shortages. Other popular destinations such as Kyoto, Osaka, Sapporo, Kanazawa and Hiroshima, didn’t receive any impact from the earthquake.

Tohoku Region: Tohoku is the hardest hit region. Due to the nuclear power plant accident after the earthquake, Japanese Authorities’ announcement, do not travel to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant and the 30 kilometre exclusion zone around it.

Tokyo and Surrounding Areas: Despite the brief recovery of the public transportation networks, periodical blackouts have been imposed for power conservation, causing train delays and cancellation. Some hotels and other businesses have shortened business hours, and it is recommended to refer to their updates in advance.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all non essential travel to Tokyo and north eastern Japan given the damage caused by the 11 March earthquake and resulting aftershocks and tsunami. Due to the evolving situation at the Fukushima nuclear facility and potential disruptions to the supply of goods, transport, communications, power and other infrastructure, the FCO advises British nationals currently in Tokyo and to the north of Tokyo should consider leaving the area. For more on the advice from the FCO please visit their website.

Other Regions: Hokkaido, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu are unharmed, and tourism facilities and transportation service are operating as usual.

Alarm and warning
- British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Counter measures for 2011 Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake; Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet
- Japan Meteorological Agency Tsunami Warnings/Advisories
- Japan Meteorological Agency Earthquake Information

- Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency
- Blackout information by TEPCO(Tokyo Electric Power Co.)

Telephone or Translation service for travellers from overseas
- Multilingual telephone service for travellers in Tohoku region
- Volunteer Interpreters for Earthquake Aftermath (Japan Association of Translators)
- 24 hour Travel information in Japan
Please contact the JNTO Tourist Information Center in Tokyo
Phone: +81-(0)3-3201-3331
Service in English, Chinese and Korean

TIC will be open for your telephone enquiries 24 hours until further notice.
TIC in Tokyo
Phone: +81-(0)3-3201-3331
Service in English, Chinese and Korean
The 24-hour service is available for the duration of current crisis

Information from airlines

Japan Airlines

ANA

Virgin Atlantic

British Airways

Transportation Status
Airport Status (updated as of 17 March 2011, 10:00hrs)
> The main airports serving Tokyo, Narita and Haneda are in service.
- Sendai Airport is still closed.
- Iwate-Hanamaki Airport has resumed normal services.
- Fukushima Airport is in service.

Rail Services status (updated as of 17 March 2011, 10:00hrs)
In order to conserve power, some of the rail services will be suspended or disrupted.

> JR East

Tohoku shinkansen (bullet train) is operating between Tokyo and Nasushiobara and the section between Morioka and Akita is also re-opened. Nasushiobara to Morioka remains closed.
> JR Central (Japanese only)
  Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) is in service.

>  Other operational status of train services in Tokyo and surrounding

> JR and Private railways in Hokkaido, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu.
  - All the train services have resumed operation.

Airport Limousine Bus Services status (updated as of 17 March 2011, 10:00hrs)
> Airport Limousine Bus Services from/to Haneda Airport are available except the following areas, Ichikawa Area, Yotsukaido, Inage Area, Mito, Hitachi Area, Shin Urayasu Area, Disney Resort Area, Kuroiso, Utsunomiya Area.

- Partly in service: Shibuya Area.

> Airport Limousine Bus Services from/to Narita Airport are available except the following areas:

- Kichijoji Station, Shin Urayasu Area, Disney Resort Area, Shin-Koshigaya, Soka, Yashio Station.
- Partly in service: Fujimino, Niiza, Shiki, Asakadai Area.

Alighting points in areas above can be searched on www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/.

Tourism Facilities (updated as of 17 March 2011, 10:00hrs)

Tokyo area
- Tokyo Disney Resort – Closed from 11 March 2011 and the following schedule is not yet confirmed.
- Sanrio Puroland (Hello Kittyland) – closed at the moment and the following schedule is not yet confirmed.
- Due to concerns of a lack of power in the Tokyo area, some major department stores such as Ginza’s Mitsukoshi department store will close early at 6pm.
- Venus Fort in Odaiba - closed until 19 March and the following schedule is not yet confirmed.
- Aqua City in Odaiba- closed at the moment and the reopen date is not yet confirmed.
- Tokyo Tower - closed till 18 March and the following schedule is not yet confirmed.
- Ghibli Museum Mitaka – is scheduled to reopen from 22 March.

Yokohama Area
- Shinyokohama Ramen Museum is operating between 11am and 8pm from 18-21 March.

Nikko Kinugawa Area
- Edo Wonderland - is scheduled to reopen on 19 March.
- Tobu World Square is scheduled to reopen from 17 March.

Other Area
- Gotenba Premium Outlet is closed until 21 March and the following schedule is not yet confirmed.
- AEON Mall Narita is open until 8pm.

Regarding donations
For donations to the Japan Earthquake appeal, please visit the following sites

British Red Cross

Save the Children

Japan Society

Doctors Without Boarders

Locating People

・Japan Red Cross Family Link

・Google Person Finder
The information above may change without notice. Travellers are recommended to keep up-to-date via live news broadcasts, the internet and by directly contacting their travel providers.

More information can be found on JNTO’s Tokyo Office website.