Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus includes a vacuum processing chamber, a high-vacuum exhaust pump for exhausting the vacuum processing chamber in vacuum, a low-vacuum exhaust pump connected to the downstream side of the high-vacuum exhaust pump, a lower electrode having mounted thereon a substrate to be processed, and a cooling gas supply unit for supplying the cooling gas between the substrate and the lower electrode. The cooling gas supply unit includes a cooling gas supply system and a cooling gas supply line. The cooling gas supply line is connected, through a first waste gas valve, to a waste gas line for exhausting the cooling gas. The waste gas line is connected just above the high-vacuum exhaust pump through a second waste gas valve, and to the exhaust gas line between the high-vacuum exhaust pump and the low-vacuum exhaust pump through a third waste gas valve.