About the Handayama No. 2 Distribution Reservoir
The Handayama No. 2 Distribution Reservoir (半田山配水地二号配水池) is a circular distribution reservoir built in 1905 on Mount Handa in Hokaiin, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on February 9, 2005. It stands just west of the No. 1 reservoir and shares its design (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as brick and reinforced concrete, with an area of 335 square metres; registration number 33-0095, owned by Okayama City. The Handayama Distribution Reservoirs were built as part of Okayama City's original waterworks, founded in 1905 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Handayama No. 2 Distribution Reservoir was registered as a structure that would be difficult to reproduce. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that engineers including Yoshimura Chosaku and Sano Tojiro worked on it, and that it was built with national and prefectural subsidies as part of Okayama's original waterworks.
How It Is Built
The underground perimeter wall of the Handayama No. 2 Distribution Reservoir is concrete faced with brick; the outer wall above ground is pierced with ventilation openings, and a ventilation tower rises from the centre of the roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The vents and the central tower are the outward signs of the basin below.
According to Okayama Prefecture, the No. 1 and No. 2 reservoirs are each 21 metres across and 4 metres deep, buried in the ground. Standing side by side, the two show the same form.
Visiting the Handayama No. 2 Distribution Reservoir
The Handayama No. 2 Distribution Reservoir stands within the Okayama City Handayama Botanical Garden and is open for exterior viewing only (Okayama Prefecture). Garden admission is required; hours and directions are on the Handayama Distribution Reservoirs page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Okayama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Handayama No. 2 Distribution Reservoir
- [ Kurashiki Bikan District & Korakuen Garden Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Handayama No. 2 Distribution Reservoir built?
- In 1905, at the same time as the No. 1 reservoir.
- What are the features of the Handayama No. 2 reservoir?
- A circular reservoir with vents in its outer wall and a ventilation tower at the centre of the roof, built like the No. 1.
- When was the Handayama No. 2 Distribution Reservoir registered?
- On February 9, 2005.
- Who built the Handayama No. 2 reservoir?
- Engineers including Yoshimura Chosaku and Sano Tojiro (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Can you visit the Handayama No. 2 Distribution Reservoir?
- Yes, from outside, within the Handayama Botanical Garden; garden admission is required (Okayama Prefecture).
Basic Information
| Name | Handayama No. 2 Distribution Reservoir (半田山配水地二号配水池) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3-1 Hokaiin, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2005/2/9 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Brick and reinforced concrete, with an area of 335 square metres |
| Owner | Okayama City |
| Public Access | Exterior only (inside the Handayama Botanical Garden; admission charged) |
References
- Handayama No. 2 Distribution Reservoir (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00004630
- Handayama Distribution Reservoirs (Okayama Prefecture cultural properties)
- https://www.pref.okayama.jp/uploaded/attachment/260977.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.06
