Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have visited areas in Ishikawa Prefecture's Noto Peninsula hit hard by the New Year's Day earthquake.

The Imperial couple visited the towns of Anamizu and Noto on Friday. It was their second visit to areas impacted by the quake since March 22, when they visited the cities of Wajima and Suzu in the prefecture.

The disaster claimed 20 lives and damaged more than 6,000 buildings in Anamizu. The Imperial couple received a briefing from Mayor Yoshimura Koki at a shopping district where most shops are closed.

The couple then visited a nearby public facility where 46 people are taking shelter, and talked to evacuees.

At a port square, the couple bowed deeply toward the Yuigaoka district on the opposite shore, where a landslide caused by the quake killed 16 people.

The Imperial couple later flew to Noto Town and visited a junior high school where 43 people are taking shelter, and spoke with evacuees. In the town, eight people died due to the quake or from causes thought to be related to the disaster. About 9,000 buildings were damaged.

They also visited the town's Shiromaru district, where tsunami inundated wide areas and washed away houses.

After receiving a briefing from Mayor Omori Kazuyo, the Imperial couple made deep bows in the direction of a site where a house collapsed and one person was killed.

At evacuation centers in both towns, the Emperor and Empress conveyed their appreciation to firefighters and medical workers for their disaster-response efforts.