Some 350 South Korean tourists that were stranded in Japan following an earthquake on the northern island of Hokkaido returned home late Friday.

Emergency flights provided by low budget carrier T'way Airlines picked up the stranded travelers from Asahikawa Airport in Hokkaido. 

The New Chitose Airport in Sapporo has also resumed operation from early Saturday.

Korean Air said its three regular flights to and from Sapporo will fly on schedule Saturday with two special flights also planned to bring home more stranded tourists. 

Asiana Airlines will also operate two regular and two additional flights.

Some 36-hundred South Korean travelers are believed to be stranded in Hokkaido following the powerful earthquake early Thursday.