Brits are urged to come home from Japan

The British government is chartering planes to fly home Britons who want to leave Tokyo.

Britain has advised its nationals in Tokyo and in north eastern Japan to consider leaving due to radiation fears after explosions at a nuclear power station in Fukushima Daiichi.

The US has urged Americans living within 80km of Fukushima to leave the area, although the Japanese government has set 20km as an exclusion zone.

Two Air France planes are due to begin evacuating French nationals later today.

As well as radiation fears, residents in Tokyo and north of the capital are suffering power cuts and water shortages.

In a travel update today, the Japan National Tourism Organisation said: "While painstaking rescue and recovery efforts continue in the severely struck Tohoku region, the capital city Tokyo has been recovering from a strong shock, and western Japan is unharmed.

"Both Narita and Haneda airports have been reopened, although public transportation in and around Tokyo has been recovered only partially."

It said in Tokyo and the surrounding areas, periodical blackouts have been imposed for power conservation, causing train delays and cancellation.

"Some hotels and other businesses shorten the business hours, and it is recommended to refer their updates in advance. This region may also experience some aftershocks."

The UK Foreign Office said there would be no charge for Britons directly affected by the tsunami, while others would have to pay £600 to fly back.

But it said the first option for leaving Japan should remain commercial flights.

“Commercial flights continue to operate to and from Japan. British nationals with commercial flight bookings should continue to use these flights and you should continue to make reservation and other arrangements with your airline as usual,” said a spokesman.

"If you wish to leave and cannot secure tickets for a commercial flight, you can register your interest in using our charter option to leave Japan by calling 44 20 7008 6900 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 44 20 7008 6900 end_of_the_skype_highlighting."

Meanwhile, The UK Foreign Office is also urging Britons to leave Bahrain today using commercial flights. Protests and violence continue in the Gulf state over calls for political reform.