Unit 1 Webcam at Fukushima Daiichi NPP in Okuma Town

Unit 1 of Fukushima Daiichi NPP: What's Happening Now

The live webcam broadcasts Unit 1 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant — one of six reactor units that have been in the decommissioning phase since the 2011 accident. The camera is positioned to capture the industrial site with its characteristic warehouse-style structures, metal frameworks, and a tower crane that dominates against the backdrop of the reactor unit's rectangular buildings.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant has been officially decommissioned — the decision was made in April 2011 following a series of emergency situations. The complete dismantling of Unit 1 is scheduled for a period of 30–40 years from the time of the accident, meaning approximately until 2051. This means the real-time webcam captures not an operating nuclear power plant, but a large-scale construction site for remediation of the nuclear accident.

Work Status at Unit 1

Currently, preparatory work is underway at Unit 1 to extract the melted nuclear fuel. Unit monitoring includes continuous temperature control in the reactor vessel — a stable cold shutdown is maintained at below 100°C, typically around 20-30°C. This is a critical parameter that confirms the reactor is in a safe condition.

Dismantling of the unit began with the removal of large debris accumulated after the destruction. Then, in 2015, a reinforced building roof was constructed — a protective structure that prevents precipitation from entering the reactor unit and minimizes emissions of radioactive particles. Currently, the phased dismantling of the upper part of the building is underway using a tower crane — this is the process you can observe on the live webcam.

The planned start for extracting the melted nuclear fuel is after 2027. This is the most complex and critical stage of accident remediation, which will require the use of robotic technologies and remote operations.

2011 Accident History

The accident at Unit 1 occurred on March 11, 2011 following a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and the subsequent tsunami. The tsunami disabled the emergency diesel cooling generators, leading to the melting of the reactor core. On March 12, 2011, a hydrogen explosion occurred, which destroyed the upper part of the reactor building — this is why construction structures and a crane for restoration work are now visible on the camera.

Unit 1 was the first of three units (along with Units 2 and 3) where core meltdown occurred. Unlike Unit 4, where there was no nuclear fuel in the reactor at the time (it had been unloaded for refueling), Unit 1 completely lost its containment and required immediate coverage with a protective dome.

Okuma Town and Fukushima Prefecture

The Fukushima Daiichi NPP is located in Okuma Town, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The town is situated in Futaba District on the Pacific coast. Free access to the plant territory is restricted — it is an exclusion zone. Tourists and journalists can only visit the plant as part of official TEPCO tours by prior appointment and with a special permit.

You can reach Okuma Town by rail — Tomioka Station on the JR Joban Line. From there, only special shuttle buses or vehicles with permits go to the plant. This is why the live webcam is the only way to see Unit 1 in real time without the need to obtain a permit and arrange complex logistics.

Technical Features of the Broadcast

The webcam operates in live streaming mode and transmits images from the Unit 1 site in real time. The camera is mounted on a fixed support and covers the industrial zone with characteristic features: tower crane, warehouse structures, metal frameworks, and rectangular reactor building structures.

The image is transmitted in HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) format, ensuring stable playback on various devices — from smartphones to desktop computers. The broadcast is available 24/7, although visibility may be limited at night depending on site lighting conditions.

No special software is required to view the webcam — the stream plays in any modern browser with HTML5 support. A stable internet connection is recommended for uninterrupted viewing without buffering.

What You Can See on the Camera

The webcam of Unit 1 at Fukushima Daiichi NPP in Okuma Town shows the industrial facility of the nuclear power plant with large warehouse structures and metal frameworks. In the foreground is a red tower crane with a tall mast — this crane is used for dismantling upper floors and removing radioactive debris.

On the right side of the frame are metal support structures and trusses. The buildings feature typical industrial architecture with large rectangular blocks clad in panels. The facility is undergoing operations or maintenance with visible construction elements — this confirms the unit's status as an accident remediation site.

The real-time webcam allows you to observe the progress of work at Unit 1 without the need for physical presence in the restricted zone. This is a unique opportunity to see the scale of decommissioning work at one of the world's most well-known nuclear facilities.