THE KANSAI ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC.

Kurobe Hydropower Museum

History of Power Development on the Kurobe River

1917
Dr. Jokichi Takamine sets up a plan to establish an aluminum company as a joint Japan-U.S. venture
Survey begins for the development of Kurobe River as a power source
1918
Application made for the water rights of the Kurobe River (Toyo Aluminum: Dr. Jokichi Takamine, et al.)
1919
Japan Electric Power Inc. established
1920
Excavation of Suihei Trail commences from Keyakidaira towards the upper stream
1923
Railway to Unazuki opens; Unazuki Hot Springs established
Railway construction to the upper stream commences
1924
Japan Electric Power Inc. commences construction of the Yanagawara Power Plant
1927
Yanagawara Power Plant commences operating
1928
Survey of the Kuroyon site commences
1929

Nichiden Trail and Suihei Trail are completed
(Between Keyakidaira and Kurobe Dam today)

Survey team walking on Nichiden Trail
1933
Construction of the Kurobe River No. 2 Power Plant commences
1936
Aimoto Power Plant commences operating
Construction of the Kurobe River No. 3 Power Plant commences
Kurobe River No. 2 Power Plant commences operating
1937–1940
Construction of the Kurobe Gorge train tracks to Keyakidaira completed
Kurobe River No. 3 Power Plant construction encounters high-temperature ground zone and massive surface avalanche
(Referenced in the book Konetsu Zuido by Akira Yoshimura)
1940

Kurobe River No. 3 Power Plant commences operating

Kurobe River No. 3 Power Plant
1947
Kuronagi No. 2 Power Plant commences operating
1949
Kuroyon development plan announced
1951
Reorganization of electric power industry; The Kansai Electric Power Company Inc. takes control of the Kuroyon development plan
1956
Construction of the Kurobe River No. 4 Power Plant commences
1957
Excavation of Ohmachi Route Tunnel encounters fracture zone; breaks through after 7 months
1958
Full Ohmachi Route opens
1959

Full Kurobe Route opens

Kurobe Dam under construction
1961
Kurobe River No. 4 Power Plant commences operating
1963
Shin Kurobe River No. 3 Power Plant commences operating
1966
Shin Kurobe River No. 2 Power Plant commences operating
1971
Kurobe Gorge Railway Co., Ltd. established
1985
Otozawa Power Plant commences operating
1987
Kurobe Hydropower Museum opens
1990
Construction begins on the newly established Unazuki Power Plant
Construction begins to relocate the Yanagawara Power Plant
1992
Suspension of operations at the Yanagawara Power Plant
1993

Shin Yanagawara Power Plant commences operating

Shin Yanagawara Power Plant
1995
Aimoto Power Plant output power enhanced
1996
Aimoto Power Plant output power enhanced
2000
Unazuki Power Plant commences operating
2005
Shin Kurobe River No. 3 Power Plant output power enhanced
2012
Shin Kuronagi No. 2 Power Plant commences operating
2014
Shin Kurobe River No. 3 Power Plant output power enhanced
Kurobe River No. 3 Power Plant output power enhanced
2015
Dashidaira Power Plant commences operating
2017
Kurobe River No. 2 Power Plant output power enhanced