NHK has found that about one third of accommodation facilities in the Oku-Noto region in northern Ishikawa Prefecture remain closed after a massive earthquake struck the region on New Year's Day last year.



The quake ravaged the region's tourism industry, which was a major pillar for the local economy. Tourist sites and accommodations sustained serious damage.



A survey was conducted on 109 hotels and inns in the cities of Wajima and Suzu and the towns of Noto and Anamizu for about two weeks since mid-April. NHK was able to confirm the status for 99 of them on whether or not they had resumed operations.



The survey shows 36 facilities, which account for about one third of all accommodations, had not yet resumed their operations or had decided not to do so.



They include 17 in Wajima City, 13 in Suzu City, four in Noto Town and two in Anamizu Town.



On the other hand, 63, amounting to more than half of the accommodations, have already restarted their businesses.



But it became apparent that many of the guests staying there are reconstruction workers and officials who are to support quake survivors.



Officials in the quake-affected areas are facing a challenge of not only repairing damaged facilities but also of attracting tourists to the region.