Regular international flights have resumed at Sendai Airport in Japan's northeastern prefecture of Miyagi after a pause of nearly three years due to the pandemic.

Taiwan's Eva Air resumed regular flights to Sendai on Wednesday. About 160 people arrived on the first flight, which was nearly full.

The passengers were welcomed by members of a local tourism promotion team in warlord costumes.

A man in his 40s who was traveling with his wife and daughter said he often visited the Tohoku region before the pandemic. He added that he wants to enjoy hot springs and skiing in Tohoku and Hokkaido.

Regular international flights had been suspended at the airport since March 2020.

The airport operator says Eva Air will operate four round trips a week between Taiwan and Sendai, and increased service is being planned from April.

The operator also says other airlines are making arrangements to resume Taiwan flights.

Miyagi Governor Murai Yoshihiro said he expects the high number of visitors from Taiwan will be a boost for local accommodation businesses.

The governor also said the prefecture will consider steps to export products from the prefecture to Taiwan.