Rokkasho, Nuclear processing village in Kamikita district, Japan.
Rokkasho is a village in Kamikita district on the eastern Shimokita Peninsula in Japan, stretching along the Pacific coastline and overlooking Lake Ogawara. The settlement includes multiple schools and is marked by the presence of nuclear facilities that shape its landscape and local economy.
The area gained importance during the Kamakura period for horse breeding, then fell under the Nanbu clan's control from Morioka Domain. In the 20th century, the village was chosen for nuclear power projects, transforming its economic path.
The shift from a traditional farming and fishing community shapes how locals see their village today, with nuclear facilities now central to daily life and local employment.
The village is accessible by train through Noheji and Otomo stations, offering different routes to the area. Visitors should know that many areas around the nuclear facilities have restricted access, and local infrastructure is mainly designed for residents.
The reprocessing plant here is one of the world's largest of its kind, handling spent nuclear fuel from reactors across the country. Few places in Japan are as heavily defined by a single industrial facility as this village.
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