Radiation (or not) in Nikko
Nikko, Japan is about halfway between Tokyo and Fukushima (home of the now infamous nuclear power plant). I’ve already mentioned how radiation levels in Tokyo haven’t changed much since March’s earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Sendai. But what about Nikko?
Nikko is in Tochigi Prefecture which borders Fukushima Prefecture. Tochigi Prefecture has seven Geiger counters set up with frequent updates of radiation counts. You can find them here. As of April 26, 2011, the top reading is .19 microsievert per hour and the average of the seven readings around the prefecture is .08 microsievert per hour. So is that good news or bad news? I guess that depends on who you are. If you are the media trying to scare people, it is very bad news indeed. Perhaps that’s why the media isn’t mentioning actual radiation readings in Japan.
You’ll get more radiation in most places in the USA (especially if you live at a high altitude, which is still quite a safe thing to do) than you will traveling in Japan right now, even to places fairly close to Fukushima. (In the USA, the average for Americans is more than 3X this number. Due to large amounts of thorium in the soil, places in Brazil and India can average more than 3 microsieverts an hour.)
Today’s photo is Toshogu in Nikko. If it wasn’t for all the radiation I would get by flying on a jet to Japan, I’d go back to Nikko for spring break. Just kidding. It wouldn’t be the radiation from flying (which would be far more than the radiation I would get on the ground in Japan) that would keep me from visiting Japan. I actually checked flight prices and they weren’t good. The foreigners “escaping” Japan are keeping round-trip ticket prices high right now. Ironically, people leaving Japan are taking on more radiation on those flights out of Japan than they would be by staying.
March 19th, 2011 at 10:32 am
Al, glad to hear no immediate dangers. Hope you and the family are all well. I am waiting for a delayed flight and looking forward to my dose of radiation from airplane.
Say hi to all!
Mark Sherbow
March 21st, 2011 at 1:10 am
thanks for the information here especially the geiger links.
it is hard to find English info like this.
The last line of your post is indeed ironic!
To give you an idea of how the earthquake itself effected Nikko, here is a video that i was recording as the 9.0 struck inside the temples and shrines of Nikko;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH1Y0kMcQwM
March 30th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
Al,
I am glad to find a webpage with data that is up to date. I am a steelworker from Connecticut 130 KM from New York City. I am very impressed how your Great Nation has kept order after such a horrific natural disaster. I remember not long ago the killing, looting, and destruction of property in my own Country after Huricane Katrina. After watching your Nation on TV behave so dignified I believe this is a lesson the rest of the World needs to learn.
The last 3 years I worked in Western Iraq, I saw today on CNN Tourists who Volinteer. I wish to become one of these people.I am American living near Cebu, Philippines. Japan is not far away. Harsh Work conditions and sleeping on the ground outside are not a problem. I worked over 90 hours a week in the worst conditions possable. I would love to help the Elderly, work supply chain, or assist cleanup in any location under any conditions. I have US Passport and am willing to work Free if my travel Expences and a little More to maintain my house here. I have all Documentation to Back up what I say. With your help I can be there in 5 days. Please TEXT first 063 919 639 1514
Clayton Macbeth
063 919 639 1514 (text) Please text first.
001 203 599 1046 (SKYPE)
Tumulak Sangi New Road
Kassy Unit 1 Door @
Lapu-Lapu, Mactan Cebu
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