Mike Pow 52 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Originally Posted By: miller Honestly, I think people would have to be slightly potty to want to visit Japan right now. I leave the house in 4 hrs and get to Chitose (via Seoul) on Wesnesday afternoon. I've been able to get accurate, up to the minute intel on conditions and the ongoing situation on Hokkaido. There is nothing to suggest that the decision to travel is a poor one on my part. I have nothing to offer the relief operation on Honshu, so I'm going to vacation on Hokkaido, put money in to the Japanese economy, and through posts on the interweb forums try to give an accurate and honest opinion of the situation on Hokkaido during my visit. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Perhaps what miller might have wanted to say was: "Honestly, I think people would have to be slightly potty to want to visit Honshu right now." Having said that, I doubt I'd be mad keen to get on a plane to anywhere in Japan right now. Link to post Share on other sites
miller 1 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Perhaps so muikabochi Originally Posted By: MikePow Originally Posted By: miller Honestly, I think people would have to be slightly potty to want to visit Japan right now. I leave the house in 4 hrs and get to Chitose (via Seoul) on Wesnesday afternoon. I've been able to get accurate, up to the minute intel on conditions and the ongoing situation on Hokkaido. There is nothing to suggest that the decision to travel is a poor one on my part. I have nothing to offer the relief operation on Honshu, so I'm going to vacation on Hokkaido, put money in to the Japanese economy, and through posts on the interweb forums try to give an accurate and honest opinion of the situation on Hokkaido during my visit. Cool Mike. If it's cool with you, what else matters. Out of interest does your "intel" give you insight into things that the rest of us don't know, re: what happens now and potential risks ahead? Perhaps you should tell NHK, CNN and BBC! Link to post Share on other sites
kokodoko 67 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 The kids next room are flying from Sapporo to China and thence to Sydney and USA tomorrow. One to sydney the other to usa. I think they booked last night or this morning. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Originally Posted By: miller Perhaps so muikabochi Cool Mike. If it's cool with you, what else matters. Out of interest does your "intel" give you insight into things that the rest of us don't know, re: what happens now and potential risks ahead? Perhaps you should tell NHK, CNN and BBC! No one knows for definite at this stage how the nuclear situation will go and/or whether there will be another enormous earthquake. My friends living on Hokkaido have been unaffected by what's gone on in Honshu and are not looking for a way out. Based on that I'm visiting. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Hokkaido hasn't been affected really, no one is saying it has. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 But that's one of the problems, at least here in the UK. People have no idea of the scale and geography of Japan and have interpreted that all of Japan is struggling. Link to post Share on other sites
loaf of bread 0 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Hokkaido may not be experiencing disaster but I would submit that all of Japan is most definitely struggling right now. I certainly wouldn't be coming to Japan now, Hokkaido included. And not because I just can't understand a map. If you feel comfortable doing that, good on you. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Originally Posted By: MikePow But that's one of the problems, at least here in the UK. People have no idea of the scale and geography of Japan and have interpreted that all of Japan is struggling. That's certainly right. Anyway, I'm looking forward to you coming and seeing you in action Have a good journey. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Thanks Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 My last day working tomorrow Mike. I intend to do a lot of skiing for the remainder of the season! Look forward to catching up. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I did spend the whole day today talking to people who wanted to cancel their trips. Most accomm managers up here are taking the attitude that as there is no disruption to any services in Hokkaido and as there is absolutely no damage at the resort and certainly no radiation issues and everything is running as normal then just not feeling right about coming is not a valid excuse to receive a refund on their bookings. Some were understanding and obviously some were not. Did surprise me though that we still received some new bookings! Link to post Share on other sites
sand 17 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I have been looking forward to coming up to Niseko for some late season skiing for a while. Sitting around my apartment (in Tokyo) while work is shut, with constant aftershocks, and the stream of truly terrible news, is just causing me to get stressed. I have similar view on this as Mike. I booked my flights about a month ago, and assuming I can get to the airport Thurs morning, I'm going. Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Fact is, think people are being silly or not, Hakuba and many other resort areas on Honshu are seeing mass cancellations. Niseko might do ok and escape from the season ending in the same way, but this is happening on Honshu. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 So what is the cancellation situation like up there generally Go Native? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Plenty of cancellations. But we have already been paid so financially it won't be crippling. People are mostly fearful about the issue of radiation from the reactors. Personally I believe a lot of disinformation and sensationalism by overseas media is to blame for this fear. There is nothing to suggest there will be any catastrophic release of radiation material such as what happened at Chernobyl. But when it comes to radiation peoples fears are rarely all that rational. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I think the fear of "Japan, country in crisis" + "mega earthquakes" may well also be pretty high on peoples minds as well. Yes, even though Hokkaido hasn't been hit bad. It's still Japan. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Well it was mainly the radiation issue that people raised with me as their greatest fear. Seemed to be the deciding factor for those who were cancelling regardless of no refund. Link to post Share on other sites
tripler 0 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 hear, hear! Go Native. When it comes the radiation or terrorism, people get bloody ridiculous. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 "Radiation" is one of those buzzwords that has terrible connotations in peoples minds. The minute its mentioned people have already concocted the situation in their mind. For me it was definitely more worrying when I heard about it, more so than any possible quake or tsunami. But after reading a few things, although its not good, I'm sufficiently confident that it wouldn't be as serious as people think Link to post Share on other sites
griller 9 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Originally Posted By: tripler When it comes the radiation or terrorism, people get bloody ridiculous. Yeah they're both great! Link to post Share on other sites
jackay 0 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I've booked my trip to Niseko from end of March till early April. I've always wanted to go and have planned this for quite a while. Have paid for everything, but I am considering cancelling the trip altogether right now. I doubt I'll get any of my money back I would like to get some opinions on this. I'm just scared of the radiation exposure, it appears that it all depending on how strong the wind's blowing and which direction that it's blowing... Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Niseko is something like 700km's from the reactors. It would take a catastrophic release of radioactive material to reach all the way up here. This has not happened and from what I can tell is near impossible to happen. Unless you are planning on visiting the reactors themselves I don't think you have too much to worry about. But it's your decision. Link to post Share on other sites
nagoid 4 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Originally Posted By: Go Native Unless you are planning on visiting the reactors themselves I don't think you have too much to worry about. Not a funny subject of course but.... Link to post Share on other sites
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