Recovery timeline
The road from the disaster to today
Dates and numbers come only from public bodies, and each item has a source.
2011 That day
- 11 March 2011, 14:46
The Tohoku-Pacific Ocean earthquake
A magnitude 9.0 earthquake (a provisional value at the time of the announcement by the Japan Meteorological Agency) struck off the Sanriku coast. The focal depth was about 24 km.
- 11-12 March 2011
Evacuation orders spread after the Fukushima Daiichi accident
On the night of 11 March Fukushima Prefecture ordered evacuation within 2 km of the plant and the government within 3 km. By the evening of 12 March the area had widened to 20 km.
Source: Fukushima Prefecture / Cabinet Office (Disaster Management White Paper)
2011-2021 Rebuilding lives
- 2011-2012
Evacuees and temporary housing peak
Evacuees nationwide peaked at about 470,000. In Iwate, 43,738 people (including those in rented private housing) lived in temporary housing in October 2011; in Miyagi, 47,861 homes and 123,630 people in April 2012. Evacuees from Fukushima reached about 160,000 in May 2012.
Source: Reconstruction Agency, Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures
- 10 February 2012
The Reconstruction Agency is established
The Reconstruction Agency was set up and began work. Its term is set until 31 March 2031.
Source: Reconstruction Agency: Ten-year review of reconstruction policy
- September 2019
Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum opens (Rikuzentakata)
It opened in Takata-Matsubara Tsunami Reconstruction Memorial Park together with the Michi-no-Eki Takata-Matsubara.
Source: Iwate Prefecture
- March 2020
Land preparation for higher-ground relocation nears completion
Land for 8,389 homes was prepared in 324 districts of 27 municipalities. The last district, Ukedo in Namie, Fukushima (16 homes), was expected to be finished by the end of March.
- March 2020
The whole Joban Line reopens
The sections in Fukushima that had been closed were reconnected, and the entire Joban Line reopened.
Source: Ministry of the Environment
- 20 September 2020
Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum opens (Futaba)
It opened as a prefectural facility telling the story of the combined disaster of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident.
Source: Official website of the museum
- December 2020
Disaster public housing completed
About 30,000 homes of disaster public housing were completed (excluding those for Fukushima evacuees still under coordination and those for returnees).
Source: Reconstruction Agency
- March 2021
Temporary housing ends in Iwate and Miyagi
Iwate ended temporary housing on 31 March 2021, when all residents had moved to permanent homes. Miyagi did so by 13 March for residents affected within the prefecture.
Source: Iwate and Miyagi prefectures
- April 2021
The Second Reconstruction and Revitalization Period begins
The five years from fiscal 2021 were set as the "Second Reconstruction and Revitalization Period".
Source: Reconstruction Agency
- 18 December 2021
Reconstruction roads open along their whole length
The reconstruction and reconstruction-support roads, including the Sanriku Coastal Road, opened throughout.
2022- Fukushima today
- August 2022 – November 2023
Evacuation orders lifted in all base areas
Lifted in Futaba (30 August 2022), Namie (31 March 2023), Tomioka (1 April and 30 November 2023), Iitate (1 May 2023) and others, so that all base areas in six municipalities, including Okuma and Katsurao, are now open.
Source: Fukushima Prefecture
- June 2023
The "Specified Zones for Returning Residents" system is created
An amended law allows zones outside the base areas, within the difficult-to-return zone, to be prepared for residents to return.
2025- What comes next
- 20 June 2025
The basic policy for the next five years is decided
The Cabinet approved a revision of the basic policy. The Prime Minister said the budget for the next five years, the "Third Reconstruction and Revitalization Period", is about 1.9 trillion yen.
- 2 May 2026
Fukushima Memorial Park for Reconstruction opens (Futaba and Namie)
It had been planned to open on 25 April but was postponed, and opened on 2 May.
Source: Fukushima Prefecture
- October 2026
Evacuation orders in two Futaba districts expected to lift in December
At a press conference on 5 October the governor of Fukushima said that the lifting for two districts in the Specified Zone for Returning Residents is expected in December.
This timeline was compiled by our editors from the publications we could confirm. Numbers that use different standards in each prefecture (such as temporary housing) cannot be compared directly. If you find an error or new information, please contact us.