About the Kitasawa No. 13 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 13 Stone Dam (正法寺川北沢第十三号石堰堤) is a stone erosion-control dam built in 1924 on the Kitasawa branch of the Shohoji River in Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2005.
It stands about 160 metres below the No. 12 dam. The Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 13 Stone Dam is a mortared gravity dam laid in the diagonal Tanizumi pattern, 31 metres along the crest and 3.0 metres high, with its downstream face battered at 2 bu and an apron laid in front.
Why It Was Registered
As on the other mortared dams, the Agency for Cultural Affairs notes, the ends of the crest and the corners of the spillway notch are rounded off. A rounded edge chips less when water and stones strike it, and it disturbs the flow less.
The same entry credits the dam with easing the gradient of the streambed and steadying the banks. Sediment trapped behind it has flattened the bed; slower water cuts less into the sides. A century on, the dam is still doing that job. The Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 13 Stone Dam was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country.
What to Look For
At the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 13 Stone Dam, check the rounded ends of the crest and the softened corners of the notch. Compare them with the square-cut edges of the dry-stone dams upstream.
Then follow the apron to where it meets the streambed below, and watch how the force of the falling water dies away.
Visiting the Kitasawa No. 13 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 13 Stone Dam is an open-air river structure with no admission fee or opening hours. The face of the dam is best seen from the downstream bank; do not walk along the crest or climb down into the stream when the water is up. The No. 12 dam is about 160 metres upstream and the No. 14 dam about 135 metres downstream.
Directions to the valley and safety notes are on the page for the Shohoji River Erosion Control Facilities.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Yamagata
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 13 Stone Dam
- [ Yamadera Temple & Zao Onsen Hot Springs ]
Q&A
- Where is the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 13 Stone Dam?
- It is on the Kitasawa ravine of the Shohoji River in Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. It lies about 160 metres below the No. 12 dam.
- When and why was the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 13 Stone Dam built?
- It was built in 1924 as part of the first phase of the Shohoji River erosion-control project, which Yamagata Prefecture undertook after the flood of 1913 to stop sediment washing downstream.
- Why are the corners of the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 13 Stone Dam rounded?
- Rounded edges resist chipping from overflowing water and rolling stones and keep the flow smoother. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that, like the other mortared dams, this one has rounded crest ends and spillway corners.
- Can I see the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 13 Stone Dam up close?
- It is an open-air river structure with no admission fee or opening hours, and can be viewed from the bank. The face of the dam is best seen from the downstream bank; do not walk along the crest or climb down into the stream when the water is up.
- When did the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 13 Stone Dam become a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered on 12 July 2005 as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country.
Basic Information
| Name | Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 13 Stone Dam |
|---|---|
| Location | Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), registration no. 06-0071 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2005/7/12 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 dam |
| Dimensions | Crest length 31 metres, height 3.0 metres, with an apron |
| Owner | Yamagata Prefecture |
| Public Access | Open-air river structure; no admission fee or set hours |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: 正法寺川北沢第十三号石堰堤
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004862
- Yamagata Prefecture: Shohoji River Erosion-Control Facilities, Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (PDF, Japanese)
- https://www.pref.yamagata.jp/documents/4123/syohozigawa.pdf
Last verified: 2026.09.24
