What a fascinating and special tour. We had an outstanding guide in Yoko - professional, charming and knowledgeable. Organisation was impeccable and we got to experience something truly special, speaking to locals affected by the disaster, visiting towns trying to recover and seeing all of the efforts to clean up the area. It was so impressive and something we will never forget. Seeing events on the news is one thing, but as many people as possible should see this for themselves, and to witness the incredible spirit of the people as they try to rebuild. Seeing the abandoned Ukedo elementary school near the coast, where the clock on the wall is stopped st the time the tsunami hit, was especially poignant.
This was our second tour with Japan Wonder Travel and as a company, it is superb and cannot be recommended highly enough. We had a third tour planned for Kyoto, but very sadly had to cancel and return home due to the virus outbreak. If you're looking for an insight into Japan, you couldn't do better than through this company and the trips are worth every penny.
by David Bowden (03/22/20)
I spent a wonderful time with our guide Fumi san .
I was very much impressed during our tour,meeting local people and hearing their story.
I thought we should support Fukushima to make them as they were before earthquake.
I recommend everyone to join this tour.
by Keiko (03/07/20)
I had such a good experience with the foreigners and the guides. Before I joined this tour, I was trying not to remember about that day. (3/11) However I was wrong. I shouldn’t forget that even now many people have been suffering from problems and also they have tried not to give up in the situation at this moment in Fukushima. I could learn so many things that I would never know when I’m in Kanagawa. I would like to say thank you for giving me a good this opportunity to this event.
by Momono (02/06/20)
Amazing and very informative trip. Yoko & her team went over and beyond to make this trip a memorable one and we cannot thank them enough.
Fukushima feels like a different world and I hope this city recovers to the best of its ability.
by Claire (01/08/20)
Thank you so much for the amazing tour ! Everyone was so kind and excited to show us the different sides and opinions of the locals in Fukushima. I had the best time and would definitely recommend to everyone !
by Siena (12/04/19)
I was nervous about taking this tour because it could have just been disaster tourism - gawk at the destruction and enjoy a "cheap holiday in other people's misery." But it was so much better than that. You do get a good idea from it of the mind-boggling destructive power of the 2011 disaster, but you also get to meet local people, find out about how they've responded to the destruction, and help them with the rebuilding by contributing to the local economy. This was the most intense experience of my time in Japan and I was really glad I went.
by Tim Darlington (11/19/19)
Fascinating day touring the Fukushima Disaster Area. Great guide and discussion with locals. And a nice group of participants. Well worth the time and money.
by JDRoper (11/16/19)
It was a wonderful and very informative tour that was packed full of knowledge and first-hand experiences.
The Geiger counters were a really nice touch to add to the atmosphere. You really felt a sense of seriousness and danger every time you hear a spike in counters.
The entire tour was completely safe with our experienced tour guides. They were really friendly, approachable and answered every little question that was directed at them. I really appreciate the lengths they went to in order to translate each of the local's messages to us as well as each area significance during the tour. Do lend your ears to each one of them as everyone has their own story to tell.
I highly recommend it for anyone who is curious about the Fukushima disaster or disasters in general. It was really an eye-opening experience for me. Thank you Mamiko-san and your entire team for the memorable experience.
by Shazzsteel (11/12/19)
We did this tour last week, it was a fabulous insight into the events occurring in Fukushima
Mazda was a great host, friendly and informative.
As part of the tour we met the "pineapple farmer" and also a survivor of the tragedy, both really interesting
It's a long day from Tokyo but well worth it.
I would absolutely recommend Mazda and the team at Japan Wonder Travel for this tour
by Sue (11/06/19)
I can highly recommend this tour if you're interested in what happened (and what is going on now) around the Fukushima nuclear disaster area. The whole experience felt authentic, thanks to our tour guide Yoko-san. At the end of the tour we were joined by Hiroko-san, a former local resident from one of the cities that was devastated by the tsunami. She gave a first hand review of the events on march 2011 and the still ongoing struggle with radiation in the region.
Overall a great tour and great guide! 5/5
by Per L (11/03/19)
It was a wonderful and very educational tour. I have visited Japan several times but have never experienced what I saw in Fukushima. The guide was very good and her English was good. It was a very sobering experience to see how much the people of Fukushima have and continue to suffer.
by Spence Limbocker (10/20/19)
This tour was awesome! While travelling to the different points you will get a very good presentation of your Guide(mine was Yoko, she was very friendly and informative). We had interesting discussions as well. Each stoppage is unique and let you experience different aspects of the disaster. You will see different cities and being able to listen to the opinions of different people and ask them as well. I can highly recommend this trip. It seemed expensive, but it was worth it!
by Wulf Birk (10/11/19)
Great tour, really interesting places and a good history of the disaster and cleanup
by Matt (09/20/19)
Great tour with excellent tourguide
by Thomas (08/14/19)
We booked the Fukushima Disaster Area Tour out of curiosity and thirst for adventure. We definitely were not disappointed! You will roam different areas by bus and foot, always armed with your Geiger counter. You will see both, destroyed ruins of past lifes, but also new construction sites and residents that slowly return. The tour guide was very helpful and told us everything we need to know to fully understand the situation in Fukushima. Right now it is the only tour that starts in Tokyo, so you don´t have to worry about getting around on your own!
by Lisa + Michl (06/01/19)
AMAZING TOUR!
First off this tour Is a great value, everything that is included in the price is a steal considering the length of the tour. Secondly this tour is filled with INCREDIBLE content, each person who spoke to the group was extremely passionate and informative about the events that happened and ongoing issues. Everyone was so kind throughout the areas we visited and appeared grateful that people were interested in what happened to them.
I HIGHLY recommend this tour to everyone that is even considering it. Easily one of the highlights of our trip to Japan.
by Connery (05/29/19)
An amazing & truly moving tour. Thank you Yoto.
I would recommend this tour & everyone was so fortunate to be guided by the gentle Yoto. She was informative,caring dedicated.
Despite my natural health concerns, she was very reassuring & had great knowledge on the topic. PLEASE take the time to visit, to experience how this place & people were devastated.
Thank you.
by Karl. GB. (05/02/19)
We have visited Japan seven times over the years and we would have to rate this experience as one of the most memorable we have had.
Our guide Fumito from Japan Wonder Travel was so good and took us to places within the disaster zone to meet with some of the locals and to hear their experiences first hand. We are so glad that we did this visit as we now have a better understanding of what the local residents are facing as the area gradually is remediated.
We were picked up from Tokyo Station and were driven to Fukushima in a very comfortable van. Trevor the driver was so good and very safe. Fumito gave us a very comprehensive presentation as we were driving.
We would have no hesitation in recommending this tour with Japan Wonder Tours to anyone who wants first hand information on the disaster zone.
by Mr Jones (04/04/19)
The group tour was great and informative. I learned alot from this trip.
by David Kish (03/21/19)
Absolutely my favorite tour I took while in Japan. From start to finish one is given a full idea of everything that happened on March 11th and what they are doing post tragedy to rebuild and repair. Everyone in the tour was extremely friendly and polite. Could not say enough good things. If given the chance again would go back in a heartbeat. Excellent!
by Jeremy (03/06/19)
The tour was a great opportunity to see how recovery is going after 8 years and I am glad that I joined.
Most of us think about Fukushima only on certain occasions and tend to forget the reality that there are still many people not allowed to return to their home.
It was sad to see the gate saying “Do not enter”on the road where cherry trees lined up in the residential area.
Meeting person who take care of the cattle was my highlight of the trip.
Hope they would get the continuous support on the recovery.
by MO (03/06/19)
We had Fumi as our guide. She was delightful and easy to relate to throughout the day, and very knowledgeable. The visit to Fukushima taught me the scale of the power plant explosion in reality by seeing the abandoned towns where the people left 8 years ago, and not back yet, even not sure when they can come back.
Thank you Fumi san for the detailed information and also taking us to the farmer to listen to his stories. Your knowledge and guidance made my experience much deeper.
by Emiko (03/05/19)
It was an excellent trip to provide us with a rare precious opportunity to get very close to the disaster -hit area and learn what’s going on in Fukushima now.
We can see the disaster is not over yet.
I strongly recommend this tour not only to people from overseas but also Japanese in Tokyo.
by Sunny (03/05/19)
can't believe 8 years have passed already, but still lots of traces are left on. How stupid and arrogant we, human beings are! We have to think and act what we can do for the future children.
Thank you for the wonderful tour. I'll think carefully for the next national election.
by Nobuko (03/05/19)
The tour will change your perspective towards the situation in Japan and how their society reacts to disasters. Our excellent guide Taku-san is very friendly and knowledgeable, and you can really ask everything and anything during the trip. You will have chance to visit disaster hit areas, see the recovery efforts, and speak to many local residents there to really dive deep into understanding the current and past situation within these areas. You need not to worry about radiation levels, we were all given geiger meters to constantly track the levels of radiation and surprisingly, the radiation level is, at one point as low as what we are receiving in Tokyo! All and all, i strongly encourage everyone to join this tour!
by BenF (02/13/19)