Update on Japan Youth Hostels

Our thoughts are with the people of Japan, To the thousands who have lost their lives and the many more who continue to face great adversity. 

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against non-essential travel to Tokyo and surrounding areas, as well as the prefectures of Chiba, Miyagi, Ibaraki, Iwate, Aomori and Fukushima, due to damages caused by the March 11 earthquake and subsequent tsunamis. Sendai City, Fukushima City and Aomori City have been hardest hit.

For travellers currently in Japan or for those with upcoming travel to Japan, here is a status update on the condition of its HI hostels.  The worst affected area is the Tohoku region, northeast of Tokyo, and more specifically the prefectures Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. The majority of the hostels in the Japanese Youth Hostel network are okay. Visitors and staff are safe and the buildings have suffered minor damage.

However, five hostels have experienced extensive damage as a result of the earthquake and tsunami and are closed until further notice.  These hostels are: :

1. Paira Matsushima YH in Nobiru Higashi-Matsushima City (Miyagi Pref.)
2. Rikuzen-Takada YH in Kesen-machi, Rikuzen-Takada city (Iwate Pref.)
3. Riasu-Karakuwa YH in Karakuwa-machi, Kesennuma City (Miyagi Pref.)
4. Esuporu Miyagi in Sendai City (Miyagi Pref.)
5. Suehirokan YH in Suehiro-cho, Miyako City (Iwate Pref.)

For more information, there is a hostel by hostel update available in both English and Japanese on this website: http://www.jyh.or.jp/tohokukantoyhearthquake.htm

If you wish to donate to the relief effort, you may do so by visiting the Canadian Red Cross website.

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