A bullet train extension is about to come into service in central Japan. The Hokuriku Shinkansen currently connects Tokyo with Kanazawa. As of Saturday, it will go six stations further into Fukui Prefecture.

Dinosaur robots have been set up around Fukui Station to welcome the new passengers. The area is known as the dinosaur capital of Japan. A local museum housing skeletal fossils is expected to be a big draw.

Meanwhile, tourists came to Komatsu City, in nearby Ishikawa Prefecture, to get a sneak peek. One such person said, "We thought we'd come and see what it's like before it opens." Another said, "I want to come back here by bullet train."

Kaga City, which is getting one of the new stations, even held an event to unveil a new video promoting the new station. Some survivors of the New Year's Day quake have been sheltering in the city -- and came out to attend the event.

Other local hot spots are also hoping to rebuild. The disaster destroyed Wajima City's famous morning market.

Local vendors plan to set up a temporary market in Kanazawa next week. They hope to keep these smaller events going until Wajima's morning market is up and running again.

Tomizu Nagatake of Wajima Morning Market association said, "We'll do our best so customers will be happy to come to the market in Kanazawa."

Vendors will try to sell their usual wares including dried fish. But it won't come from Wajima. The earthquake raised the seabed, cutting off local access to the sea.

Futaki Yoko, a Wajima Morning Market seafood retailer, said, "Many of our regular customers say they will come to the market."

She says she is looking forward to seeing them again.