More enjoyable trip to Hachimantai and Appi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
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History of Hachimantai

A city leading the way in sustainable living

Hachimantai City, home to the Hachimantai area of Towada-Hachimantai National Park, offers the chance to experience the bountiful natural world up close.
Among its history, the Matsuo Mine, hailed as the largest sulfur mine in the East, is particularly famous.
At its peak, approximately 15,000 people lived in the massive apartment complexes built at an altitude of 1,000 meters, earning it the reputation as a "paradise above the clouds." However, as demand for sulfur ore declined over time, the mine closed in 1966 (Showa 44).
八幡平・安比スノーリゾートの歴史
In 1929, the Matsuo Mine Ski Club was founded. By the 9th All-Japan Championships in 1931, it had become a powerhouse, dominating three events including the senior men's ski jumping. (Image courtesy of Matsuo Mine Museum)
八幡平の歴史

Around 1955 (Showa 30), as the mining boom began to wane, plans were underway to build a new resort facility, anticipating future growth in tourism demand. Initial drilling targeted the Matsukawa Onsen area. Of the four wells drilled, only one yielded hot spring water. The other three produced not hot springs, but high-quality steam.

Japan was in the midst of its period of rapid economic growth. Electrical appliances were beginning to spread into ordinary households, and demand for a stable power supply was rising. Led by the then-mayor of Matsuo Village, who wondered if steam could be used for power generation, surveys and excavation work proceeded in collaboration with academic institutions and others.

And then, on January 14, 1964 (Showa 39). With a roar, a column of steam erupted from the first well drilled for full-scale power generation, marking the beginning of geothermal power generation in this region.

In 1966 (Showa 41), Japan's first geothermal power plant, the Matsukawa Geothermal Power Plant, began operations. Harnessing geothermal steam—a natural, clean energy source from the earth—and employing the most advanced science of its time, the Matsukawa Geothermal Power Plant continues to generate geothermal energy today (as of 2021), more than 50 years later.

八幡平の歴史
Well No. 1 erupts during drilling at the Matsukawa Geothermal Power Plant. (1964)
八幡平の歴史
The Matsukawa Geothermal Power Plant, the world's fourth of its kind, was completed. (1966)
八幡平の歴史
The current state of the Matsukawa Geothermal Power Plant, which continues to operate. (Photo taken in June 2019)

In the 1970s, hot water was successfully piped over a 6-kilometer stretch from the Matsukawa Geothermal Power Plant. Starting with the opening of Hachimantai Heights as a resort facility utilizing the high-quality hot spring water, hotels and inns were built one after another. This marked the birth of the Hachimantai Hot Springs Resort, greatly boosting the tourism industry.

In 1981 (Showa 56), Appi Kogen Ski Resort opened. It became renowned nationwide as a major resort destination.

In January 2019, the city's second geothermal power plant, the Matsuo Hachimantai Geothermal Power Plant, commenced full-scale operations. Furthermore, a survey by NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) confirmed the presence of promising geothermal resources beneath the Appi area, and construction is underway on the city's third geothermal power plant, the Appi Geothermal Power Plant.

Abundant geothermal energy is a gift from the Earth. Today, Hachimantai City utilizes geothermal resources not only for power generation but also for industry and agriculture, earning recognition as a community realizing sustainable living. Throughout the city, you can witness the earth's energy being harnessed in various ways: basil cultivation using the latest IoT technology and geothermal hot water, and geothermal steam dyeing that leverages the decolorizing properties of geothermal steam.

八幡平の歴史
八幡平の歴史
In August 2022, the prestigious British school Harrow is scheduled to open its first school in Japan, "Harrow International School Appi, Japan." This resort area, offering a sense of unity between nature and daily life and possessing promising potential, is attracting global attention.
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