Wednesday 30th 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 31st July – 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 the train on the Joban line and begin our 3 hour journey to Fukushima prefecture. Bring some refreshments and snacks or buy them on the train.
• Arrival to Tomioka station at 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.
• 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.

Afternoon

• Lunch at one of the ‘busiest’ malls in the area which sees only a few visitors each day.
• Visit the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum. The museum is unique in that it exhibits many materials related to the nuclear accident, such as the situation at the power plant immediately after the accident, the long-term and widespread evacuation of residents, and the impact of radiation on the lives of residents of the prefecture.
• Stroll at Nakahama beach where you will have a partial view of 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. Your knowledgeable guide will lift the curtain for you on the stories behind the walls.
• 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 1st 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 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 & Shopping in the Roadside Station Namie. Better prepare for some Anime figures crossing your way while picking out delightful Japanese meals!
• Have a look at the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field, the world’s largest hydrogen-production facility. The plant, where verification tests can be run on the entire process—from making to storing—is a giant leap towards realizing a hydrogen society. Your knowledgeable guide will lift the curtain for you on the stories behind the walls.
• Visit Fukushima Robot Test Field, a place like no other in the world. Fully opened in March 2020 it serves as a key base for the development and demonstration of field robots (land, sea, and air), including unmanned aerial vehicles, disaster response robots, and underwater exploration robots.
• We’ll begin our return train journey back to Tokyo at 3:30pm and arrive at Tokyo Station at 7:00pm.
• 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 2nd August – Tokyo

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Tour concludes. YPT are able to arrange additional nights in Tokyo and advice for further transport.
• Connect to our Extremes of Japan Tour starting at 10am today and finishing on the 8th of August.

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