A shuttle bus service to a bathing facility has begun for Wajima City's citizens who remain without water after the New Year's day earthquake.

In the city in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, about 10,000 households and businesses remain without water more than one month after the quake.

The Self-Defense Forces are providing bath services in the city, but there is a limited opportunity to soak in a hot tub.

The prefecture began the day trip operation on Sunday to carry Wajima residents to a facility in Hakui City, where they can soak in a large bath tub.

Four people who had applied in advance got on the bus in the morning at a junior high school in Wajima. They were carrying clean clothes to change into after a good soak.

A resident in his 80s said he will use a bath tub for the first time in four days. He added that he was looking forward to the opportunity and that he was happy about the good weather.

A woman in her 50s said she has been told that it will take some more time for her home water supply to be turned back on. She said she took a bath every day before the quake, and that she felt the importance of water.

The prefecture says the shuttle bus will run once a day on every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday through February 22.