People in the Noto region of central Japan are on the long road to recovery following a powerful earthquake on New Year's Day.

The owner of a guesthouse has been struggling to restart his business, but he's found inspiration in the local seas.

Noto Island is a well-known destination for watching dolphins. The friendly animals are beloved by residents and visitors alike.

The island was hit hard by the quake. The Sansuisou inn was damaged, and about 1,000 visitors were forced to cancel their bookings.

Owner Ishida Naoto says things have been tough, but the dolphins have been a source of comfort.

He says, "I saw them swimming in the sea. I felt relieved."

Before the quake, the guesthouse offered tours to see and swim with the dolphins.

Ishida says messages of encouragement from people who took part gave him the strength to resume the tours in April.

He says, "Now that the visitors are back and enjoying themselves, I feel even happier than before."

The guesthouse will soon start accepting visitors for overnight stays. Ishida says he hopes his efforts will help raise the spirits of the entire community.