About the Kitasawa No. 15 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 15 Stone Dam (正法寺川北沢第十五号石堰堤) 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 170 metres below the No. 14 dam. The Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 15 Stone Dam is a mortared gravity dam laid in the diagonal Tanizumi pattern, 47 metres along the crest and 5.0 metres high, battered at 2 bu on both faces. The Kitasawa Iron Wire Gabion Groyne follows just downstream.
Why It Was Registered
Both the Agency for Cultural Affairs and Yamagata Prefecture point to its long wings, extended to match the width of the stream, and describe it as one of the larger of the Taisho-era dams on the Shohoji River. Its 5.0-metre height is the greatest among the registered Kitasawa dams.
Where the ravine begins to open out, the builders spanned the full width by running long wings from the central notch to each bank. The Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 15 Stone Dam was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country, and the prefecture counts it among the representative structures on the river.
What to Look For
Take in the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 15 Stone Dam from downstream, where you can see the whole span. The wings running out from the central notch are clearly longer than on any dam upstream.
The diagonal lattice of the tanizumi joints continues for 47 metres. When the light falls across the face at a low angle, the relief of the stones stands out and the pattern sharpens.
Visiting the Kitasawa No. 15 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 15 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. 14 dam is about 170 metres upstream, and the Kitasawa Iron Wire Gabion Groyne lies just 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. 15 Stone Dam
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Q&A
- Where is the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 15 Stone Dam?
- It is on the Kitasawa ravine of the Shohoji River in Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. It lies about 170 metres below the No. 14 dam.
- When and why was the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 15 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.
- Is the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 15 Stone Dam the largest dam on the Shohoji River?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs and Yamagata Prefecture describe it as one of the larger Taisho-era dams on the river. Its 5.0-metre height is the greatest among the registered Kitasawa dams, although the No. 16 dam is slightly longer at 48 metres.
- Can I see the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 15 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. 15 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. 15 Stone Dam |
|---|---|
| Location | Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), registration no. 06-0073 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2005/7/12 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 dam |
| Dimensions | Crest length 47 metres, height 5.0 metres |
| 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: 正法寺川北沢第十五号石堰堤
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004864
- 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
