Photos and Videos

Prior to attending the World Travel and Tourism Council summit in Sendai and Tokyo, Japan, Editor at Large Johanna Jainchill and Editor in Chief Arnie Weissmann toured some of the areas affected by the tsunami, and in some places, reminders of the catastrophe are still in evidence. Pictured, central Sendai, where there was no evidence of tsunami damage. Photo by Arnie Weissmann; posted April 20, 2012.

Photos & Videos

In Sendai, reconstruction, remnants of devastation

Prior to attending the World Travel and Tourism Council summit in Sendai and Tokyo, Japan, Editor at Large Johanna Jainchill and Editor in Chief Arnie Weissmann toured some of the areas affected by the tsunami, and in some places, reminders of the catastrophe are still in evidence. Pictured, central Sendai, where there was no evidence of tsunami damage. Photo by Arnie Weissmann; posted April 20, 2012.

Prior to attending the World Travel and Tourism Council summit in Sendai and Tokyo, Japan, Editor at Large Johanna Jainchill and Editor in Chief Arnie Weissmann toured some of the areas affected by the tsunami, and in some places, reminders of the catastrophe are still in evidence. Pictured, central Sendai, where there was no evidence of tsunami damage. Photo by Arnie Weissmann; posted April 20, 2012.

A sign on a sidewalk in the tourist village of Matsushima points the way to safety should a tsunami alert be sounded. The town draws mostly domestic tourists to see its island-filled bay. The islands served to reduce the impact of the wave on Matsushima, which ended up with relatively minor flooding. Photo by Arnie Weissmann

Although most debris has been collected and sorted, pieces of trees and other debris still lined one road within a half-mile of the shoreline. Photo by Arnie Weissmann

Cars damaged by the water are stacked up, awaiting their turn to be salvaged for parts. Photo by Arnie Weissmann

Parts salvaged from tsunami-damaged cars. Photo by Arnie Weissmann

Tsunami-damaged motorcycles sit in the yard of an abandoned school, one of the few structures to survive the full impact of the tsunami. Two hundred children waited for days on its roof to be rescued. The only student who died was one whose mother had heard about the earthquake and picked up the child before the tsunami hit. Photo by Arnie Weissmann

A salvage yard of boats damaged in the tsunami. Photo by Arnie Weissmann

The large, flat area that was swept clean by the tsunami has become a staging area for damaged vehicles and other items awaiting dismantlement or removal. A train car (right) and tour bus are examined by CBS Travel Editor Peter Greenberg and cameraman Mark Wexler (on the bus), Taj Hotels and Resorts CEO Raymond Bickson (leaning against the bus) and Travel Corp CEO Bret Tollman. Photo by Arnie Weissmann

Grave markers on a cemetery that was in the tsunami's path have all been replaced by new markers. The markers sit over urns containing the created ashes of the deceased, which were not affected by the tsunami. Photo by Arnie Weissmann

A dark line indicating the height the tsunami waters reached at the Matsushima port. Photo by Johanna Jainchill

Damage at the Matsushima bus station. The waterfront station is being rebuilt. Photo by Johanna Jainchill

A former gas station that was destroyed by the tsunami. Photo by Johanna Jainchill

A coastal area near Sendai that was destroyed by the tsunami. Pictured, a street without houses. Photo by Johanna Jainchill

Foundations of houses destroyed by the tsunami. Photo by Johanna Jainchill

Shoes remain in front of the foundation of a destroyed house. Photo by Johanna Jainchill