The world's No. 1 automaker said it was still struggling to secure around 150 types of auto parts. The magnitude-9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami destroyed parts factories in northeastern Japan, causing severe shortages of components.

The twin disasters forced Toyota to shut down all output in Japan except at three plants, which have been running at limited capacity since late March and early April to produce hot-selling Prius, Lexus and Corolla cars.

Yasuhiro Tadokoro, an official at Toyota's auto plant in Miyagi, one of the worst-hit areas in the disasters, said he felt relieved that the factory was again running.

"Finally, we can operate our plant. I am so relieved that we can get back to work for the first time since the tsunami," he said.

The Miyagi plant — Toyota's newest auto factory in Japan — began operations in February. The plant suffered minor damage due to the quake, Tadokoro said. Toyota makes Yaris compact sedans at the Miyagi factory for export to North America.

Toyota will keep production at all its Japanese plants at half capacity until April 27, and then halt output from April 28 to May 9, a period that includes Golden Week holidays when factories would normally close.

The company will resume production in Japan from May 10 to June 3 at half of normal levels. Toyota has said it will decide later on production plans after June 6.

Last month's disasters have caused Toyota a production loss of 260,000 cars, Toyota spokeswoman Shiori Hashimoto said.