More than 4,000 homes in Noto Town are still without water, and the supply is not expected to resume in full until early March.
A Tokyo firm that operates laundromats installed 14 washing machines inside the container on the grounds of a home improvement center on February 10. The machines run free of charge.
A man in his 30s from Suzu City, adjacent to Noto Town, said, "The water is cut off in Suzu City, too, so I sometimes had to go to elsewhere to do my laundry. I'm glad I now have a place nearby."
A woman in her 60s who lives close the temporary laundromat said, "I used to wash my clothes using melted snow or river water, which made my hands rough. Yesterday, the Self-Defense Forces prepared water and I took a bath for the first time in 32 days. I hope the water supply will be restored soon."
Goto Masato, executive director of the laundry company, Family Service, said, "We are glad they are happy. If we receive inquiries, we want to offer the service to other municipalities."
