Most schools and trains in quake-hit areas on the Sea of Japan coast resumed operations on Thursday, the latest signs of recovery from the magnitude 6.7 earthquake Tuesday that caused landslides and power outages and left dozens of people injured.

Children returned to elementary and junior high schools in the hardest-hit cities of Murakami in Niigata Prefecture and Tsuruoka in Yamagata Prefecture, with the exception of some areas.

"I am thankful they are coming here safe and sound," said Satoshi Oda, principal of Murakami Minami Elementary School. The school confirmed the safety of all of its 295 students shortly after the quake.