Fukushima attracts Chinese tourists despite radiation risks

(CLO) Despite the lingering risk of radiation from the 2011 nuclear disaster, Futaba - a town once abandoned due to an accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant - is becoming an attractive destination for tourists , especially Chinese tourists.

On Tuesday, Japan marked the 14th anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that triggered the country's worst nuclear crisis. More than a decade on, more than 80% of Futaba remains uninhabitable due to radioactive contamination.

But tourists are excited to set foot in places few dare to go. Last year, about 4,000 foreign tourists visited the Futaba Nuclear Crisis Memorial Museum.

The town of Namie was evacuated as a result of the accident. Photo: CC

The tourism boom has benefited Futaba, with Japan seeing a record 36.8 million international visitors last year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. China is now Japan’s biggest tourist market thanks to a low yen and warmer bilateral ties.

Futaba also recorded the third-largest growth rate of foreign visitors across Japan in the January-August 2023 period, according to data from travel app Navitime.

To accommodate the growing number of visitors, Futaba hired two guides: a Chinese woman who studied in Japan and a Japanese man fluent in English and Arabic.

However, the visits to Futaba have also sparked controversy over “dark tourism” – the phenomenon of tourists visiting sites associated with the tragedy. Many are eager to witness the aftermath of one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters, with some even offering to enter “hard-to-return” areas to measure radiation levels.

Radiation hotspot in Kashiwa. Photo: CC

Before 2011, Futaba was home to about 7,000 residents and, along with neighboring Okuma, was home to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. When three reactors at the plant suffered a core meltdown, all of Futaba's residents were evacuated due to radiation risks. It wasn't until 2022 that the government allowed some residents to return to certain areas.

To ensure the safety of the people, Futaba is cooperating with the police to prevent tourists from illegally entering private areas or public facilities. Previously, a video recording of foreign tourists breaking into an abandoned elementary school and restricted areas caused a stir in public opinion.

Mr. Ryohei Unane, Secretary General of Futaba Project, admitted that the tourism boom could lead to many problems but he remained optimistic about the positive impact of international visitors.

“I hope that visitors will share with others about a once deserted Futaba that is now in the process of being revived,” he said.

Ngoc Anh (according to SCMP, Japan Today, Kyodo News)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/fukushima-hut-khach-trung-quoc-bat-chap-nguy-co-phong-xa-post338376.html