Japan's government has lifted evacuation orders for parts of Iitate Village in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

An evacuation order was issued for the entire village after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant 12 years ago. The village's southern district of Nagadoro was designated as a "difficult-to-return zone."

On Monday, an evacuation order for about 17 percent of the district was lifted. The area has been named a special zone for reconstruction and revitalization.

A road leading to the zone was opened, as people watched on. A sign indicating a "difficult-to-return zone" was removed.

The government also lifted an evacuation order for a neighboring park based on conditions, including that no one live there.

A 68-year-old man said the past 12 years have been long. He said he often debated whether to return to Nagadoro, but he decided he wanted to live at home and is now preparing to do so.

Evacuation orders for all special zones for reconstruction and revitalization in six municipalities around Fukushima Daiichi have now been lifted.