An earthquake of approximately 6.9 magnitude has hit the Fukushima prefecture with tsunami warnings being issued in both Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures.
Japan is subject to earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons, but given the recent natural disaster, is it actually safe to travel to Japan right now?
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The Australian Government’s Smart Traveller website has warned Australians to exercise normal safety precautions in Japan overall, but has issued a “do not travel” warning to the Kuchinoerabu Island in south-western Japan and near the Fukushima Dai-ichi power station.
The United Kingdom travel advice website has also issued warnings, stating that tsunami alerts are currently in place in Ibaraki, Iwate and parts of Aomori and Chiba prefectures.
Tourists in the region have been encouraged to follow instructions by local authorities, as there is a continued risk of other earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.
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Australians love travelling to Japan, with the most recent stats indicating that more than 300,000 Aussies visited the country in 2014, an increase of more than 23 per cent from the previous year.
If you are planning to travel to Japan, or are already in the country, then take the advice of local authorities about the safety of the specific areas that have been affected by the earthquake and tsunamis.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has an up-to-date map of the country, highlighting which areas have been issued a warning.
Here is a list of sites that can provide you with up-to-date information about whether or not it is safe to travel to Japan: