A disaster-hit city in central Japan will close its last evacuation center on Sunday. About 400 such sites provided emergency shelter to Noto Peninsula residents affected by last year's powerful earthquake and torrential rains.



Yamazaki Masaaki has been living at the final remaining shelter in Wajima city in Ishikawa Prefecture since heavy rain destroyed his house in September.



On Friday, he moved his belongings from his tent. The city will close the shelter now that it has finished construction of temporary housing units.



Yamazaki will move into one of the units built last month. He says he doesn't like moving but he is glad he can stay in Wajima, which he has called home for so long.



He said: "I'm mentally ready to move. I have no choice."



About 14,000 people in Ishikawa Prefecture are in temporary housing. A group supporting such residents says many of them are elderly who live alone.



Hosokawa Takako, a member of the group, said: "Residents have had few opportunities to go outside. I was also affected by the disaster, so I know it's important to speak with others."



She says the group faces the challenge of how to help each resident get outside more, and create a sense of community.