Horonobe, Town in Soya Subprefecture, Japan
Horonobe is a town in northern Hokkaido that spreads across a vast expanse of rural landscape. The area features wide grasslands and coastal sections where wind turbines now stand among the open terrain.
The town's name comes from the Ainu language, where early indigenous inhabitants described the land as vast grassland. This designation has remained through the centuries as the region developed.
The town maintains a population of 2,415 residents who live among reindeer herds and participate in renewable energy initiatives.
The town is best reached by train, with connections running to several major cities in the region. Visitors should prepare for remote conditions, as the area remains sparsely populated.
An underground research facility operated by a national atomic energy agency sits beneath this remote location. Scientists there study deep rock layers to research long-term storage solutions for radioactive materials.
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