Visitors to Misato, Kumamoto Prefecture, walk on a footpath that was reopened after the April earthquake.
Footpaths in Misato town, Kumamoto Prefecture, which had been closed since April due to the strong earthquake, recently reopened, attracting many tourists wishing to enjoy the satoyama landscape.
The town created the footpaths in 2011 in order to invite more visitors to the depopulated community. Some 1,300 people come to the town every year to walk on 15 routes and participate in walking events.
However, the April earthquake which hit the region caused damage on parts of the roads, making them impassable. The Misato footpath association set up no-entry signs on such roads and created detour routes to reopen the footpaths on Sept. 17. Although three of the walking routes are still closed, association officials said they thought they should start by doing what’s possible. Local residents helped improve road conditions.