Hiroshima officials on Sunday lifted evacuation advisories and orders issued to about 106,000 residents of the mudslide-hit city's Asakita Ward.
The advisories and orders were lifted for the region at 8 a.m.
The move was followed by the lifting of other advisories and orders in effect for part of Asaminami Ward, which has about 44,000 residents, at 4:30 p.m., but the remaining residents were told to stay where they were because of the lack of safety measures for emergencies, municipal officials said.
Due to the volatile weather conditions, it is possible that Hiroshima City Hall might reissue evacuation advisories, they said.
"A tense situation will continue for a little longer. Residents are requested to respond by gathering weather and other information," Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui said at a news conference.
Hisako Igarashi, a 61-year-old resident of Asakita Ward who has taken refuge at a nearby elementary school, said she was relieved by the step. Her husband, Etsuji, 64, said he looked forward to "sleeping in our own home" again.
The death toll from the rain-triggered mudslides that broke out on Aug. 20 has climbed to 72, with two people still missing and about 1,100 people stuck in shelters following the disaster.