Hotel Route Inn Wajima to reopen after earthquake repairs

Hotel Route Inn Wajima is set to resume operations on September 18, following extensive repairs necessitated by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake that occurred on January 1, 2024. The earthquake caused the main building to tilt approximately 30 centimeters due to severe damage to its foundation piles, with nearly 90 percent of the 70-centimeter diameter reinforced concrete piles becoming deformed.

Rather than opting for demolition, the hotel chose a complex restoration process known as the ‘jack-up method.’ This involved excavating approximately five meters beneath the building to install temporary piles and using hydraulic jacks to gradually correct the tilt. The process successfully leveled the 5,000-ton structure over a three-day period.

The reopening of the main building, which includes 120 rooms, will bring the facility's total capacity to 222 rooms. While the adjacent East Building has served as a vital base for medical teams and reconstruction workers since shortly after the disaster, the full reactivation of the hotel is expected to bolster local tourism and support ongoing recovery efforts in Wajima.