When it comes to the 2011 Greater East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster, as well as its aftermath, few places show the devastation like the town of Futaba.
Located pretty much next to the nuclear plant, this was formerly a thriving traditionally Japanese town. Then what happened happened—it was a ghost town. Things thankfully are getting better now, but there are still empty buildings, as well as a huge shadow created by the disaster.
This is the Futaba Travel Guide
Futaba and the Earthquake
Futaba is a coastal town in Fukushima Prefecture that had nearly 7,000 residents before the 2011 disaster. When the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant suffered meltdowns in March 2011, the entire population was evacuated due to radiation risks. The town remained largely uninhabitable for years. In August 2022, Japan lifted evacuation orders for parts of Futaba, allowing residents to return.
As of early 2025, roughly 180 people have returned, a modest but significant revival. Futaba serves as a stark reminder of how a peaceful Japanese town was completely emptied in an instant, and how recovery is slow, painstaking, and ongoing.
What Is There to Do in Futaba
Let’s be honest, there is not much to do in Futaba. But if you are interested in history and the aftermath of disasters, it is fascinating. The Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum tells the story of the events and what the town went through. You can also visit the TEPCO Decommissioning Archive Center to see the efforts being made to dismantle the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
Futaba Station itself is a quiet, haunting reminder of what was lost. Beyond this, wandering the empty streets and looking at abandoned buildings gives you a sense of the scale of the disaster. There are no cafes, no entertainment, and very little in terms of conventional tourist activities. This is a town for reflection, photography, and urbex, not casual sightseeing.
Urbex in Futaba
If you like Urban Exploration, Futaba is a dream. While the town is no longer completely empty, there are still plenty of abandoned buildings to explore. Many are within walking distance of Futaba Station, itself mostly abandoned. You will find old houses, shops, bars, and even a deserted 7-Eleven.
Going further afield allows for more serious exploration, but it should be done with caution. Local guides are not keen on people wandering into empty buildings, so keep a low profile and avoid unnecessary risks. Urbex here will not last forever because Japan is actively reconstructing the town. Once reconstruction is complete, the deserted charm will vanish, so this is a window of opportunity.
Eating and Drinking in Futaba
Eating options in Futaba are pretty limited, particularly away from the two, yes ywo hotels. The primnary option though is the Futaba Business Incubation and Community Center (F-BICC) opened in 2020 to “help local business”. Here they have a Family Mart, which as it is Japanese is epic.
They now also have a fast food/food court type area, as well as a gift shop that sells weird Japanese food. In the food court there are planety of Japanese options from noodles to burger steaks and of course sashimi. Chief among this is local favourite Penguin which does sandwiches and burgers and returned recenty after 13 years away.
The only other real option is Roadside Station Namie, and honestly, it’s worth stopping just for the food. Forget the usual bland service-station grub—this place punches above its weight. There’s a tiny but brilliant cluster of eateries inside, serving everything from steaming bowls of Namie yakisoba, fried fresh in front of you with that smoky wok char, to perfectly crispy tempura that makes you wonder why every rest stop isn’t like this. They even do a mean curry rice, rich and comforting, plus a selection of seasonal sweets that taste far better than the packaging suggests. You can grab freshly baked bread from the local bakery corner, sandwiches loaded with Japanese-style fillings, and even grab some grilled seafood skewers outside if the sun’s out.
Drinks are no afterthought either; local sodas, teas, and coffee all available for sipping while you wander the small outdoor plaza. It’s one of those rare roadside stops where the food actually makes the detour worthwhile, and the mix of traditional Japanese flavors and casual, fast-serving comfort food hits all the right notes if you’re hungry and curious.
And as for street food Futaba? Alas this is not Osaka, at least yet anyway.
Hotels in Futaba
Your choices for staying in Futaba are limited. The Business Hotel ARM Futaba is the only hotel actually in town. It is basic, clean, and functional, but nothing fancy.
Slightly further away, J-Village offers better amenities and has become a base for people visiting the area. AirBnB options are almost non-existent in Futaba itself, but you can find some in the surrounding towns. Or you could just get a free house and renotate it…
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Getting In and Out of Futaba Travel Guide
Futaba is not easy to reach. The town is served by Futaba Station on the JR Joban Line, but services are limited and train schedules can be irregular. From Tokyo, you can take the JR Joban Line to Iwaki Station and then transfer to a local bus or taxi to reach Futaba. The total journey takes around three to four hours depending on connections.
Once you arrive, walking and cycling are the best ways to get around. Public transportation inside the town is minimal, so plan accordingly.
Conclusion
Futaba combines the charm of a quaint Japanese town with a brutal reminder of the 2011 disaster. It is not an easy place to visit or navigate unless you speak Japanese. The town is slowly coming back to life, but most of it remains empty and eerie. Visiting Futaba is a chance to see resilience, recovery, and the consequences of one of the most catastrophic events in modern Japanese history.
And I can take you to Futaba with Young Pioneer Tours!