The coast is covered with garbage and fishing boats are still washed up… Noto Peninsula earthquake “one of the most famous places in Ishikawa” – photo of the scene that makes you doubt your eyes.

One of Ishikawa Prefecture’s most famous scenic spots was home to an eye-opening sight.

April 1 marked three months since the Noto Peninsula earthquake struck. In March, the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train service between Kanazawa and Tsuruga was extended and opened, and the “Hokuriku Ouen Wari” program to support the tourism industry in the affected areas had begun, so it seemed that recovery was progressing… However….

The Noto Peninsula earthquake has put off tourists from Ishikawa Prefecture, and it was said that the first places to be restored were the tourist attractions of Wakura Onsen (Nanao City) and Mitsukejima Island. However, Wakura Onsen suffered severe damage to its infrastructure, including water outages, while Mitsukejima was destroyed by a nearly 4-meter tsunami, and little progress has been made in restoring the island. The island was damaged severely by the strong tremors, partly due to its proximity to the epicenter of the quake,” said a reporter from the society section of a national newspaper.

Mitsukejima is a beautiful island, also known as “Battleship Island” because of its resemblance to a battleship. However, fishing boats are still washed up on the beach on the opposite shore, and the seawall has collapsed, exposing a fresh layer of earth. The beach is littered with trash and debris washed ashore by the tsunami. Many buildings had collapsed, and many houses were untouched.

The beach is called ‘Enmusubiuchi’ and used to be visited by many tourists before the disaster. …… Now, hardly a soul can be seen. The bell, which is said to bring happiness, has broken its foundation and looks as if it is about to fall over. Time has stood still here since the earthquake,” said a local resident.

The Golden Week tourist season will soon begin. However, it will be a long time before Mitsukejima regains its liveliness.