March / April: Delay Travel to Japan

[masaegu]

Originally Posted by Flapperbol

Some say it's chaos in Tokyo, some say everything is fine...

Who says it's chaos in Tokyo?

[GoNative]

masaegu the international media are having a field day with all that's happening. It's the most exciting time I think they've had since the 9/11 attacks. Their ratings and paper sales will be through the roof. They won't allow little issues like the facts to get in the way of those ratings and sales. Got to keep whipping up the hysteria!

[MMM]

Originally Posted by masaegu

Who says it's chaos in Tokyo?

I have not heard about "chaos" but of long lines, and food, gas, and toilet paper shortages because of hoarding.

[Flapperbol]

Originally Posted by masaegu

Who says it's chaos in Tokyo?

News here is telling me people are fleeing from Tokyo.
On other places I'm reading 10.000 people already left,and sure that is a lot but not compared to the millions living there...

[samokan]

Originally Posted by MMM

I have not heard about "chaos" but of long lines, and food, gas, and toilet paper shortages because of hoarding.

Yes and that what pisses me off. There was no need to do that actually but other chaos? nope, the japanese people are still cool. although most of their families have fled to the south like osaka and kyushu.

[Sasophie]

I booked my flight and hotel form april 24 to may 24. I'm planning to go to Osaka and kyoto for 2 weeks then go to Tokyo for the last 2, but with everything on standby, I'm not sure if I shouldn't postpone it. With everything I hear on the news, Tokyo seem to be freezed. I'm scared that even if I go, people mood will tense. Has anyone heard if the tension in tokyo in cooling down? Anyway I will wait until the end of march before I make my decision I guess.

Sophie

[MMM]

I heard second hand that the Japanese government (?) is encouraging Japanese outside of Japan to not return to Japan at this time.

Is this true?

[MMM]

I was supposed to go to Japan in April for work, and again in June or July, but now both trips are on hold. The uncertainty of what is actually going on there is what is keeping me stateside. I hear there are more people taking the flights from Japan out than Japan in, which is to be expected.

[edelweiss]

In February we bought tickets to Tokyo to fly in on April 6th and leave on the 18th. We've been trying to move our flight back but the airline (United) wants to charge us almost $1,200 to do that, supposedly because the US Government hasn't extended the travel warning past March 31st. I don't know what to do. ;_;

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by MMM

I heard second hand that the Japanese government (?) is encouraging Japanese outside of Japan to not return to Japan at this time.

Is this true?

There are a huge amount of rumors about this at the moment. There are people who are in hit areas who are actually afraid to leave Japan because of the possibility that they may not be allowed to return if things take a turn for the worse. There are others who are outside Japan right now, with tickets to come back in the next few weeks who are terrified that they may not be allowed.

While some people out there may think that it would be just great to be safe and far away... For others, this is home and getting back is top priority.
I am seeing talk of cutting vacations, visits, and business short to get back while it is still possible.

In February we bought tickets to Tokyo to fly in on April 6th and leave on the 18th. We've been trying to move our flight back but the airline (United) wants to charge us almost $1,200 to do that, supposedly because the US Government hasn't extended the travel warning past March 31st. I don't know what to do. ;_;

Fly into Tokyo, then head elsewhere?
Tokyo doesn`t really have any damage - just people panicking and hoarding stuff. Go further west, and even *now* things are totally normal. I can only imagine it will be more so in April.