Marubeni Corp. has started a geothermal survey of the Daisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido that will continue through February in the hope of someday tapping the clean energy source.
The trading house will study the geology of the area with more tests to follow once officials find enough evidence of geothermal resources, Marubeni said Wednesday.
It is believed that over 80 percent of Japan's geothermal resources are in national parks.