Fukushima Hope Tour in 1 Day by Car — Guide Rumiko
August, 2025
This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- Hotel Route Inn Iwaki Ekimae 8:30 – TEPCO Decommissioning Archive Center 9:30-10:30 – The Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum 10:50-11:50 – Michi-no-Eki Namie 12:00-12:40 – Ukedo Elementary School 12:50-13:30 – Ukedo Fishing Port 13:35-13:50 – Ohirayama Cemetery 13:55-14:20 – JR Futaba Station 14:30-15:00 – Hotel ARM 15:30 – JR Iwaki Station 16:30
What Is a Private Fukushima Tour Around Iwaki Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The group departed from the Hotel in front of Iwaki Station at 8:30 as scheduled, followed the planned route, and the guests concluded the tour at the Hotel at 15:30. Afterward, the taxi and the guide returned to JR Iwaki Station and parted ways. The driver was also very kind. From the guest review, I learned that the guests had wished to spend a little more time at each site, so from next time I would like to have more dialogue with the guests as I proceed through the itinerary. The guests were deeply interested in the situation regarding the damage from the earthquake disaster and the nuclear power plant.
Click here for more details: Fukushima Hope Tour in 1 Day by Car with Licensed Guide
‘ve been a guide for 9 years. I’d like to show you around Hamadori, Fukushima prefecture. Fukushima Prefecture is divided into 3 regions, Aizu, Nakadori and Hamadori. Aizu is a historical city, Nakadori is the center of the economy, and Hamadori is on the Pacific coast and is the site of the Fukushima Daiichi and second Nuclear Power Plants in Fukushima prefecture. In winter, it snows a lot in Aizu, but it hardly snows in Hamadori , and there are many sunny days. You can ski in Aizu in winter and enjoy surfing in Hamadori in the evening on the same day. But it’s a little far. I live in Hamadori, Minamisoma city. In Hamadori, I would especially like to recommend fresh fish and friendly people. It faces the Pacific Ocean, so you can enjoy fresh fish. Especially, right-eyed flounders, flounders and arctic surf clam called Joban-mono are delicious. In Soma City, puffer fish and other fish have been caught recently, and it has become possible to enjoy puffer fish dishes in restaurant. Of course, sushi is the best. The local people are very kind and say hello to you when you meet them for the first time. And Hamadori was severely damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. But the national government, prefectures, local governments, volunteers and local residents are making progress in the reconstruction. In the disaster-stricken areas, you can see, hear and feel what happened in 2011, what is happening now and what is going to happen in the future. There are the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster museum, the Tomioka Archive Museum, Robot Test Field a hydrogen plant, new style agriculture , and other earthquake-related facilities. If you like it, you can also enjoy traditional festivals such as the Soma Nomaoi festival and Futaba Daruma Festival. You can also enjoy wearing armor. I will show you around Hamadori.