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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Tomioka
富岡
Half a day: see the TEPCO Decommissioning Archive Center and Hayama Shrine, then move on. Not a base.
Tomioka is a small coastal town in Fukushima Prefecture, known for its proximity to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Most visitors come for the TEPCO Decommissioning Archive Center, which documents the 2011 disaster and its aftermath. The town has a shrine and a couple of hotels, but little else for tourists. Plan a few hours, not an overnight stay.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 富岡
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Jan–Feb (cold)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥3,000–5,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥5,000–10,000 excl. bed · High ¥10,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ¥300–500 |
| Noodle soup | ¥700–1,000 |
| Taxi from station to Hojinkan Hotel | ¥1,000–1,500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- FKS · Fukushima Airport
- About 1 h by taxi or bus + train; limited flights.
- SDJ · Sendai Airport
- About 1.5 h by train via Sendai.
Typical fares
- JR Tomioka → Iwaki, local
- about ¥500, 30 min (check)
- Taxi station → Hojinkan Hotel
- ¥1,000–1,500
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk or taxi. The town is small; the Archive Center is a 15-min walk from the station.
See and do
Known for
- TEPCO Decommissioning Archive Center
- Hayama Shrine
- Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster history
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Iwaki | JR Joban Line local train, about 30 min | About 40 min |
| Aizuwakamatsu | JR Joban Line to Koriyama, then JR Ban'etsu West Line, about 2 h | About 2.5 h |
| Sendai | JR Joban Line limited express, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Near JR Tomioka Station
- Tomioka Hotel is 1 min walk; Hojinkan Hotel is a 10-min taxi ride.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうarigatō |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the Archive Center? | 資料館はどこですか？shiryōkan wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- The Archive Center may have limited hours: check the official site before visiting.
- No restaurants or shops are guaranteed open; bring snacks or eat before arriving.
- Radiation levels in the town are safe for short visits, but follow local guidance.
Safe for short visits. Radiation levels are within normal limits in the town centre. Follow posted signs near the plant exclusion zone.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tomioka yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- TEPCO Decommissioning Archive Center
- Hayama Shrine
- Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster history
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tomioka town official site: www.tomioka-town.jp/
- Tomioka Tourism Association: tomioka-tourism.com/
- TEPCO Decommissioning Archive Center: www.tepco.co.jp/fukushima_hq/decommissioning_ac/pdf/leaflet-e.pdf
- Wikivoyage: Tomioka (Fukushima), revision 5242710 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5242710
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tomioka-fukushima). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.