Japan Considers Hitachiomiya City as Nuclear Waste Disposal Site
Japan’s Ministry of Industry is working to conduct a preliminary survey in Hitachiomiya City, Ibaraki Prefecture, as a potential site for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. The city, located near Tokyo, is the latest candidate in the central government’s efforts to find a permanent storage location for nuclear waste.
If the plan is accepted, Hitachiomiya would become the fifth location to undergo a preliminary survey. Hitachiomiya Mayor Sadayuki Suzuki has expressed an open attitude towards the proposal.
“Personally, I view this proposal positively. I will listen to the opinions of city council members before making a final decision,” Suzuki said on Monday (31/8/2026).
The process of selecting a nuclear waste disposal site in Japan involves three stages expected to last around 20 years. The first stage, the preliminary survey, takes approximately two years.
The central government offers significant financial compensation to regions willing to participate. Local governments that accept a preliminary survey can receive subsidies of up to 2 billion yen, equivalent to Rp222 billion.
Hitachiomiya itself is a landlocked city with a population of around 35,000. Based on a geological map released by the government in 2017, the area is assessed as having “relatively high potential suitability” to support underground radioactive waste disposal.
Although the city government has shown positive signals, the plan has sparked concern among local residents, particularly regarding geological safety factors.
“I am worried about what might happen, especially with the many earthquakes occurring recently,” said a 29-year-old resident who works at a local dental clinic. He urged the central government to provide strong scientific evidence regarding the safety of the project.
High-level nuclear waste disposal involves the process of solidifying liquid waste from spent nuclear fuel reprocessing into glass form. This waste is then buried at a depth of more than 300 metres underground. Due to the extremely strong radiation, the waste must remain isolated from the human population for tens of thousands of years.
Hitachiomiya is the second location directly targeted by the central government after the Ogasawara Islands (including Minamitori Island). In addition, several other areas are under consideration or undergoing a similar process.
The search for a site often reaches a dead end due to resident opposition. In 2007, a city in Kochi Prefecture withdrew its survey application due to public protests. A similar situation occurred in Tsushima in September 2023, where the local mayor rejected the preliminary survey despite pressure from the city council.