Recovery from the Earthquake in Noto Japan

Revitalization of the Noto Aquarium and Hot Springs

All images by author.

On the evening of New Year’s Day 2024, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula. The coast was hit by a tsunami. In September of the same year, heavy rains also caused flooding in the region. The compound disaster claimed 691 lives.

January 1, 2026, marked the second anniversary of the earthquake. Our group visited the region. Amidst scars, we witnessed the strength of Noto.

Most of the focus on the Noto Peninsula Earthquake has been on the Oku-Noto (Upper Noto) regions of Suzu and Wajima. However, the damage occurred across a wide area. Nakanoto, the region south of Oku-Noto, was the area with the second-heaviest damage.

The Long Road Ahead for Wakura Onsen

We first visited Wakura Onsen in Nanao City, a popular hot springs town dating back to the Heian period.

As one of the leading hot spring towns of the Hokuriku region, it continues to suffer a major blow two years later, with many vacant lots and central inns remaining closed. The full reopening of the central inn, Kagaya, is scheduled for 2027. The road to the revival of the regional economy remains long.

Wakura Onsen is close to the sea. While proximity to the sea was an attractive feature of Wakura Onsen, the earthquake caused significant coastal damage, including upheaval, subsidence, and collapse.

A sea wall reconstruction site. Heavy machinery was operating over a wide area.

Sea walls collapsed along the coast in the area. Some were owned by the local resorts with the the burden of repair an issue. Fortunately, the local government took the lead in proceeding with sea wall restoration.

The sea wall construction site is open to the public with a platform made of steel bars provided for observation. The photo above was taken from atop that platform.

Revive! Noto Milk

Located in the heart of Wakura Onsen is the flagship store of Noto Milk. Here, you can taste milk and gelato from the Noto region.

Shogo Horikawa, CEO of Noto Milk, explained, “The building next to this shop was leaning significantly, and TV crews were coming to film. But the cows at the farms have to come first. Cows drink a massive amount of water every day, but even securing water was a struggle. Also, even in a disaster, the cows must be milked properly or their udders will become infected. The dairy farms were in a desperate state.”

The news most of the country heard focused on issued like the living environment, such as housing. We might have overlooked the damage and hardships of the farms and factories.

The Aquarium Reconstruction

Heading north from Wakura Onsen, Noto Island (Notojima) is connected to the mainland by a bridge. The Notojima Aquarium is located on this island.

Noto Island was damaged by both the earthquake and the tsunami. Immediately after the disaster, the bridge became impassable, and the island was isolated.

Notojima Aquarium, opened in 1982, is the only aquarium in Ishikawa Prefecture. With whale sharks as its centerpiece, it has been loved by locals and attracted visitors from all over the country.

However, Notojima Aquarium suffered subsidence, damage, leaks, and flooding in the quake. Seals, dolphins, and sea turtles had to be relocated to other facilities. About a week after the disaster, the whale sharks died due to a drop in water levels and change in temperatures.

Although the aquarium resumed operations about six months later, some repairs remained unfinished and the whale sharks remained absent. The whale shark exhibit was re-opened in October. The following March the relocated animals returned.

Visiting Nakanoto Two Years After the Earthquake

Both Wakura Onsen and Notojima Aquarium in Nanao City are central tourism resources and economic hubs for the Nakanoto region. Both suffered heavy damage in the earthquake two years ago, with scars remaining.

The heavy machinery at Wakura Port and the words Complete Revival displayed at Notojima Aquarium may seem contrasting, but both are part of a continuous effort of reconstruction.

“We’re just getting started,” said by Mr. Horikawa of Noto Milk. This is not a mere show of strength, but a resolve to recover from disaster.

Note: This article was originally written in Japanese and translated into English with the assistance of AI. Original version in Japanese.