The US government is advising against all non-essential travel to Japan whilst the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against all but essential travel to the north-east of Tokyo, those areas most affected by the earthquake and tsunami. The risk of aftershocks and possible tsunamis mean that visitors to Japan should avoid coastal areas.

Beginning on December 4 2010 the northern Tohoku line’s extension to Shin-Aomori will be open the new journey from Tokyo will be just 3 hours and 20 minutes. The southern line bullet train extension on the southern island of  Kyushu will join Hakata to Kagoshima and open March 12 2011.