As tourists returned to Wajima, a picturesque beach village that had withstood more than two years of pandemic gloom, hotel chef Makoto Wakabayashi was among those in the town expecting a banner year.
Those hopes were dashed on New Year's Day when the city was destroyed and scores of people lost their lives as a result of the largest earthquake to hit Japan in 13 years and numerous aftershocks.
Days later, rescuers are still searching among the collapsed buildings for survivors while buckled roads continue to impede the flow of help. The coastal Hotel Koshuen, where Wakabayashi works, is one of the severely damaged structures.
It is unknown how many people and businesses were affected by the 7.6-magnitude earthquake in the area. However, it is evident that Wajima, which is well-known for its markets, lacquerware, and fisheries, would need time to recover from both the earthquake and a significant fire that occurred at a popular tourist destination.
According to Wakabayashi, tourism was just starting to recover from the COVID-19 problem, but he is concerned that this earthquake could be a fatal blow.
Wakabayashi, 62, told Reuters, "It's absolutely bad," at a community center that is currently being used as an evacuation center.
He was one of perhaps six hundred people of various ages crammed into the three stories of the building, many of them sleeping on plastic sheets and tatami mats.
The nine-story Hotel Koshuen, one of the largest lodging facilities in the city with views of the ocean from its hot spring spas, was located close by. According to him, when the quake's force went up the building, the upper floors sustained the most damage.
"Ceilings came down and parts of walls came off," Wakabayashi reported. "I believe it will take half a year to a year to fully refurbish all the guest rooms."
Japan's economy saw a boost in tourism last year as foreign travelers were drawn in by the weak yen and the relaxation of virus controls. October saw more inbound arrivals than in 2019— a first since the pandemic severely restricted international travel.
Located roughly 450 kilometers (280 miles) northwest of Tokyo, Wajima has historically attracted mainly domestic tourists.
Wajima is home to the renowned "Asaichi" morning market, a 1,000-year-old retail district with over 200 shops selling seafood, snacks, and crafts. It is located close to the evacuation center and only a 15-minute walk from the Hotel Koshuen.
Many of its remnants are now in ruins as a result of a fire that started during the earthquake.
Wakabayashi stated, "Wajima's morning market is among Japan's top three." "The fire practically destroyed it, as well as the houses of many who work there, just when the crab season is about to arrive."
The seasoned chef resides in an apartment supplied by the hotel, which makes him more lucky than many Wajima residents who lost their homes. Throughout the epidemic, he suffered a significant pay reduction while he and his employer waited for the tourism industry to rebound.
"Customers were bound to come back following the end of the pandemic," Wakabayashi stated. However, hotels now have expensive repairs to make. I doubt they'll be able to retain their staff members."