Good News from Tokyo

This is an e-mail newsletter from Tokyo Metropolitan Government. If you have any doubts about going to Japan since the March 11th Tohoku Earthquake, this is a reassuring read sent directly from the Japanese Government in Tokyo.

Sincere Gratitude for Supporting Tokyo

We would like to express our sincere thanks to all of you from many countries around the world for your heartwarming support in the wake of the disaster caused by the Great Tohoku Earthquake on March 11, 2011. Although we have had some inconveniences, Tokyo did not suffer severe damage, and people's lives are going on almost as usual.
With this edition of e-Tokyo Today, we would like to keep you posted on the latest and most accurate information concerning the current situation in Tokyo.

*All information contained in this email-magazine is as of May 30, 2011, and is subject to change without notice.

Information on the Nuclear Power Plants

Environmental Radiation Levels in Tokyo

The latest environmental radiation levels monitored by The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health as of May 30 have no impact on public health. No radiation dangerous to human health has been measured in any part of Japan except in the close vicinity of the power plants. Radiation has never risen to threatening levels in Tokyo.

Current monitored data on environmental radiation levels in Tokyo:
Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health

Monitored date on environmental radiation levels / hour
Data of the environmental radiation levels monitored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health at normal times has been between 0.028 and 0.079 μSv/hour, as shown by the green belt on the above graph (average approximately 0.035μSv/hour).

Dose of Radiation in the World's Major Cities

Radiation Dose of Major Cities in the World.

City	Dose of Radiation (uSv/h)	Date of measurement	Referring Website
Tokyo	0.061	5/27	Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health
New York	0.092	5/27	New York City Live Radioactivity monitoring online (*)
Paris	0.02-0.07	5/27	Surveillance de la radioactivité de l'air en France - Données du réseau Téléray
Berlin	0.069-0.087	5/27	ODL Deutschland
Singapore	0.09	5/27	National Environment Agency
Hong Kong	0.10-0.14	5/27	Ambient Gamma Radiation Level in Hong Kong
Beijing	0.065 (**)	5/27	Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China
Taipei	0.062	5/27	Radiation Monitoring Center, Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan
Seoul	0.108	5/27	Ministry of Education, Science and technology

(*) Measuring not by US government but by a private person.
(**) Unit in original data is nGy/h. The figure in this table is estimated as 1uGy/h=0.8uSv/h.
Source: JNTO

For the latest information:
Japan National Tourism Organization

Tap Water, Drinkable and Fresh

No radioactive substances at the water purification plants of Tokyo Waterworks have been detected since April 5. Some tap water with a radioactivity level above Japan's strict legal limit for infants was detected in Tokyo on a single day in March, but the level dropped below the limit the following day.

Data on radiation level at water purification plants of Tokyo Waterworks:
Bureau of Waterworks Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Location of Tokyo and Fukushima

Tokyo is located about 240 km (150 miles) away from the Fukushima nuclear power plants that were crippled by the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

Daily Life in Tokyo

Although we have had some inconveniences following the disaster, such as rolling blackouts, irregular public transportation schedules, and difficulties in procuring some goods, Tokyo has not met with any severe damage. The rolling blackouts have already ended, the public transportation is operating almost normally, and people's daily lives are now going on peacefully as usual. Tokyo is back to normal, and so life in Tokyo has also gotten back to normal.

Asakusa is jammed with people enjoying their holiday.
(May 25, 2011)

Families and children are cheerfully playing in the park.
(May 15, 2011)

People enjoy eating sushi the same as before.
(May 19, 2011)

Shibuya's scramble crossing, crowded with people, is quite well lit even at night.
(May 25, 2011)

Supermarket shelves are filled with bottle water.
(May 27, 2011)

Ueno Zoo, home of two new giant pandas, has attracted more than 400,000 people during the 20 days since their debut on April 1.
(May 19, 2011)

Tokyo Sky Tree stands tall at 634 meters in Tokyo, undamaged by the disaster.
(May 19, 2011)

Akihabara is attracting many visitors as usual.
(May 25, 2011)

Latest Tourist Information

Many tourist facilities and events are open for business. Although some festivals and events scheduled to take place from spring to summer have been canceled, the city itself is brightly shining and overcoming the crisis.

Tourist Facilities

Most tourist attractions, shops and restaurants are open but some have shortened their business hours so please confirm the latest information in advance.

Tokyo Disneyland	Resumed operations on April 15.
Tokyo DisneySea	Resumed operations on April 28.
Tsukiji Market	The tuna auction is closed to tourists; the reopening date has not been announced.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatories	Resumed operations on April 18.
Shrines and temples	In general, no closures.
Museums	Most have reopened, excluding the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) in Odaiba which will be reopen from June 11. Some museums have reduced hours.
Gardens and parks	Most have resumed regular open hours.
Shops and restaurants	Most have resumed regular business hours.

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