Wagakawa Hydro Power Plant, Japan

Wagakawa Hydro Power Plant is a perfect juxtaposition of beauty and decay. The crumbling concrete building lies nestle amongst trees, perched on steep riverside slopes. The location of the haikyo (ruin) is quite picturesque. Forest and overgrowth obscure the plant on all sides. The site has lain at the mercy of the elements since it closed in the 1960s.

Built in the 1940s (Showa Era), this is a small and simple hydro plant. A nearby factory, sitting on the opposite bank, was the main consumer of the generated hydroelectric power. A newer dam built downstream in the 1960s heralded the end of an era. Wagakawa Hydro Power Plant became obsolete in the shadow of the new dam. The forest is slowly reclaiming this forgotten relic, encroaching year-by-year.

Abandoned turbine hall

The main turbine hall at Wagakawa Hydro Power Plant features large windows, making this chamber bright and airy. The ceiling must be nearly 20m tall. Column-like ribs on the wall rise to form arches which support the roof. Most of the glass has shattered over the years. These remnants now cling to the frames in jagged fragments. There are two large circular holes in the floor which would have housed the turbines.

Water and electronics (don’t mix)

Sometime over the past 60 years, a landslide destroyed the only access road. Now, the only way to access Wagakawa Hydro Power Plant involves wading across a fast-moving river. This was a memorable explore; wading across a river, nearly treading on a sleepy snake and my boot sole falling off.

This was my first trip abroad with my shiny new Sony A7ii; which sat this explore out sadly. Due to my fear of my own clumsiness, I baulked at the prospect of taking my camera across the river. Instead, I borrowed my friends Nikon D750, leaving my camera to sulk by itself. I am quite happy with how the photos turned out, considering the last time I used a Nikon (D60) was over half a decade ago!

We visited this location as part of our Japan Haikyo Tour 2019.