A Mortared Stone Dam of 1921
The Kuwatani No. 1 Sabo Dam (桑谷第一号砂防堰堤) is a sabo dam of fine mortared masonry of 1921 in Kuwano, Miyagawacho, Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on March 29, 2019 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a stone dam 29 metres long and 6.4 metres high, with a sub-dam; registration number 21-273.
Fine Mortared Masonry
The Kuwatani sabo dams are stone erosion-control dams built in 1920 and 1921 on the Kuwatani, a stream of the Miyagawa in the Jinzu River system; 5 of them are registered (Agency for Cultural Affairs; Gifu Prefecture). From downstream they run No. 5, No. 1, No. 2, No. 10 and No. 6.
Kuwatani No. 1, 90 metres above No. 5, was built in 1921 (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It is 29 metres long and 6.4 metres high, its body raised in mortared masonry at a steep batter of 1 to 0.2, with a sub-dam in front.
Its fine stonework adds to the scene of the green valley (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
At Kuwatani No. 1, look for the fine mortared stonework rising at a steep batter and the sub-dam in front (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
The dams are sabo (erosion-control) works owned by Gifu Prefecture, in the valley of the Kuwatani stream at Kuwano, Miyagawacho, Hida (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on visits was found. The 5 dams are introduced together on the Kuwatani Sabo Dams page.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In 1921 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Where is it?
- 90 metres above No. 5.
- How big is it?
- 29 metres long, 6.4 metres high.
- How is it built?
- Of mortared masonry.
- When was the Kuwatani No. 1 Sabo Dam registered?
- On March 29, 2019 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Kuwatani No. 1 Sabo Dam (桑谷第一号砂防堰堤) |
|---|---|
| Location | Kuwano, Miyagawacho, Hida City, Gifu Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2019/03/29 (Heisei 31) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Stone dam, 29 m long, 6.4 m high, with sub-dam |
| Owner | Gifu Prefecture |
| Public Access | No official information on visits |
References
- Kuwatani No. 1 Sabo Dam (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012739
- Cultural Properties among Sabo Works (Gifu Prefecture, in Japanese)
- https://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/shakai-kiban/kasen/sabo/11653/bunkazai.html
Last verified: 2026.10.31
