A beach devastated by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami disaster in Iwate Prefecture reopened Saturday after three years of work to remove debris from sand and in the water to ensure safety.
Only one-third, or a roughly a 130-meter-long section, of Kirikiri Beach in the town of Otsuchi will be open for swimming and sunbathing through Aug. 10 due to ongoing work to rebuild a breakwater, which may further restrict access from next year, local officials said.
Seven beaches have opened so far this summer in the prefecture, including Kirikiri and two others that have been reopened for the first time since the March 11, 2011, disaster.
In 2010, about 20 beaches in the prefecture were open for the summer season.