Enjoying an omelet of farm fresh eggs and salad at one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants in Tokyo.
June 28 - Some readers from overseas have written me expressing concerns about health conditions in Japan. They wonder whether it is safe to travel here now. Conditions in Tokyo and parts of Japan not affected by the tsunami have returned to normal. Trains are running and roads are open (except for a very few areas along the northeast coast that were heavily damaged by the tsunami). Stores and supermarkets are well stocked with food and supplies.
The State Department just adjusted our travel advisory which now more closely resembles the advice from the Japanese government. We now advise against travel to a 50-mile zone in the immediate vicinity of the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Other than that one area, we encourage Americans to come to Japan for business or pleasure.
The Coast Guard, in an updated Notice for Mariners (PDF) has also reduced the scope of its warning regarding travel by ship in the area offshore from the Fukushima plant. The Japanese government maintains excellent information about radiation levels around Japan. Other than the areas mentioned in our travel advisory, radiation levels have been at background levels.
I have spoken to Japanese and American experts in radiation health who have assured me that they are comfortable with our recommendations about living and traveling in Japan.
Ann and I continue to enjoy living in Tokyo. We love sushi and eat local fresh fruits and vegetables every day. We drink the tap water and enjoy outdoor walks. Here is some additional information about food safety from our website, and from Japanese government sources.
Until next time,
Jim
Thank you,
For me the special part is that you drink Tap water, Although Japanese Government suggest People to drink it, but since I came here, I didn't see they drink it. But I drink tap water here and Didn't get any disease yet!! Regards
I keep reading new articles about radioactive "hot particles" floating around northern Japan, Tokyo, and Seattle. Should this be a concern for people traveling to Tokyo?
Thanks for the very good question. I checked with the health physicist on our nuclear safety team, and here is what he told me:
This is not a concern for people travelling to (or people living in) Tokyo.
- The instrumentation in use world wide today is very sensitive, measuring quantities that are many times smaller than actions levels.
- Action levels are values used to maintain exposure below standards established by international committees.
- The exposure limits are thousands of times less than the values where health effects MIGHT be seen.
So keep this in mind when you read the paper, watch the news, or talk to your friends. Radiation will be detected in people, places, and things – but detected does not mean dangerous.
Additional information on the biological effects of radiation can be found the U.S. NRC website.
