I thought the radiation levels were safe and normal in Tokyo? That's the kind of worrying statement that puts fear into my boots.

The air levels are normal. I was more concerned about the possibility of tainted water/food. Once I step foot in Japan, I was fine and able to enjoy my trip. I ate and drank as normal.

As for things to do- aside from people watching/shopping, a lot of the sightseeing revolves around shrines/temples. IMHO, they all start to look the same after 2 or 3.

Here's the sightseeing I did in Tokyo:
1. Asakusa- Sensoji Temple & Nakamise Shopping area- arrived around 3:30 pm and went straight to the temple to take pictures before sunset. The pagoda and temple are lit up at night, so we walked around the shops, then went back to take more pictures with the lights.

2. Tsukiji Fish Market- got there around 11 am, which was too late to see the fish. I think you'll see more before 9 am. Had lunch at one of the small restaurants in the outer market.

3. Imperial Palace- Walked around the East Gardens and took pictures of the fall leaves. It probably won't look very nice in January once most of the leaves are gone. You can't go into the palace or even see much of the outside.

There are tours of limited portions of the Imperial Palace. These are free but need to be booked in advance (online, English website available). There are also two days a year, around New Year's, when the palace grounds are open to all.

And 9am at Tsukiji by all accounts is no better than 11am, it's more like 5am. Not that I would know, I've never been and never intend to go!

Does most of the sightseeing in Tokyo really revolve around shrines/temples? I've never noticed that, maybe others have.

Technically, this occurs on New Year's Day and the day of the reigning Emperor's birthday (which currently happens to be December 23rd)

And it is only opening a certain section where people are allowed to gather and greet the Emperor from a considerable distance.

You can see what this looks like here:

http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/200...rors-birthday/

I'm in Tokyo now and normally never visit shrines/temples. I'm having too much fun doing other stuff.

As for radiation levels in TYO, that's far overblown by media. You've absorbed more radiation from the flight to Japan than being in TYO.

When do you think you will know?

Any recommendations? The food and shopping are great, just wondering if I'm missing something big.

@ jib71 As for any side effects of radiation, I hope there never will be any. I intend to go back to Japan next year.

Was just in Tokyo last week : Ginza, Roppangi Hills, Asakusa, Odaiba, Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Shibuya, Shinjuku -- all awesome places. Check out some picture here

- http://www.flickr.com/photos/yathart...in/photostream
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/yathart...n/photostream/
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/yathart...n/photostream/
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/yathart...n/photostream/ (fav)
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/yathart...n/photostream/
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/yathart...n/photostream/

That's certainly not true, if you're in Tokyo for any longer than an overnight layover...

It all depends on what you're looking to do.

Sorry, but according to who? I've absorbed more radiation from my 1st year Uni physics labs than what the natural background radiation in Tokyo is giving me.

You said "You've absorbed more radiation from the flight to Japan than being in TYO."

This site says that a TransPacific flight is about 50 microSieverts.
http://depletedcranium.com/putting-r...re-in-context/

My dosimeter regularly picks up 0.20 to 0.25 μSv/hr (not all of the radiation in Tokyo is "natural" anymore...) on the streets of Tokyo. Granted, the numbers are less indoors, so I admit that my calculation was a good bit off. It would probably take 4 to 6 weeks of normal life in Tokyo to equal the radiation exposure of a flight in from the States.

Is 4 to 6 weeks any longer than an overnight layover? And does normal life mean living on the streets?

I said I admit that my calculation was a good bit off.

The big concern for me in deciding whether or not to visit Tokyo is safety of the food and water. I'd like to know that the food and water hasn't been contaminated by pollutants from the reactor incident. The issue of ambient radiation in the environment around Tokyo seems to be settled as nonthreatening.

The government does spot testing of cesium radiation in agricultural products against a standard that is much more lenient than anywhere else in the world (over triple the limits allowed in the Ukraine after the Chernobyl disaster) Beef exceeding those limits has been sold throughout much of Japan, partly because Fukushima cows have been shipped to other prefectures, and partly because radioactive feed from Fukushima has been shipped throughout the country and eaten by cows in other prefectures. And they aren't even testing for other forms of radiation such as strontium.

This level of radiation in food will have absolutely no short term impact on the consumer. It is debatable as to what sort of long term impact it could possibly have. But there is absolutely no doubt that the level of radiation in food in Japan is higher than other countries.

Unfortunately, I realize that this doesn't answer your question as to whether the food is safe. You will have to make that determination for yourself.