For the first time since the March 2011 nuclear disaster, some residents within the 20-km radiation 'hot zone' surrounding the Fukushima plant are allowed to return home, according to a Reuters report.

More than 160,000 people were ordered to evacuate in Fukushima after an earthquake and tsunami triggered a triple meltdown at the nuclear plant. About a third of the evacuees currently live in temporary housing set-up throughout the prefecture.

The Miyakoji area of Tamura reopened to its 357 registered residents on Tuesday. The area's radiation levels ranged from between 0.11 to 0.48 microsieverts per hour in a February measurement, which is higher than Tokyo's average at 0.034 microsieverts per hour.

Radiation in Denver is higher at 0.2 microsieverts per hour, while a commercial flight between Tokyo and New York measures at about 10 microsieverts per hour.

Hundreds of workers are still scattered around towns in Fukushima, cutting and raking away leaves and branches and hosing down houses to drop radiation levels in the $30 billion clean-up.

Many residents of the Miyakoji area reported being torn about returning.

"Relatives are arguing over what to do" and friends disagree, Miyakoji resident Kitaro Saito said in a Reuters report. "The town will be broken up."

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