Japan's Princess Aiko has visited temporary shops in Shika Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, run by people affected by the massive earthquake that hit the Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day last year.



On the second day of her visit to the central Japanese prefecture on Monday, the princess received a briefing from Shika Mayor Inaoka Kentaro on the progress of reconstruction works.



She then visited a group of temporary shops that opened in August last year. Five shops are operating, including a supermarket and a restaurant.



The daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako asked the owners about their businesses and how they are procuring food and ingredients.
The owner of a "takoyaki" octopus dumpling shop told her that he is scheduled to move into a new shop which he built next spring, and the princess congratulated him.



She also spoke to people who came to greet her. A woman said she was living with her two cats in temporary housing next to the shops. The princess replied that it's nice to spend time with cats.



Princess Aiko later met volunteers working in the town before returning to Tokyo.