In the late evening of December 8, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred off the coast of Aomori Prefecture, causing some injuries and moderate damage.
Most train lines in the region resumed operation on the day after the earthquake, except the JR Hachinohe Line, which suffered some damage and will remain out of service along its entire length between Hachinohe and Kuji until further notice. The airports in the region are open and operating.
In the afternoon of January 1, 2024, a strong earthquake caused widespread damage and the loss of many lives on the Noto Peninsula and surroundings.
The northern part of the Noto Peninsula was most affected. Particularly badly hit were the city of Suzu and the city of Wajima, where the earthquake did not only topple many buildings, but also caused a large fire, which destroyed a considerable part of the city center, including the site of the famous local morning market.
The intensity of the earthquake in the nearby cities of Kanazawa, Takaoka, Toyama and Niigata was also strong, but it caused no widespread damage.
Service along many train lines in the region resumed within a couple of days of the earthquake, except on the peninsula itself, where the disruptions lasted longer. The last affected railway, the Noto Railway, resumed service along its entire length on April 6.
Due to a shortage of manpower, the reconstruction process of the tourism infrastructure on the peninsula has been very slow, especially in the northern part. But also in Wakura Onsen further down the peninsula, over half of the lodgings remain closed due to repair works or reconstruction. Outside the Noto Peninsula, tourism was barely affected. In Kanazawa, most tourist attractions reopened within four days of the quake.
No-entry zones are currently maintained at the following prominent volcanoes:
