About the Kitasawa No. 8 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 8 Stone Dam (正法寺川北沢第八号石堰堤) is a stone erosion-control dam built in 1923 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 45 metres below the No. 7 dam. The Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 8 Stone Dam is a dry-laid (Karazumi) gravity dam, 27 metres along the crest and 3.2 metres high, battered at 2 bu upstream and 3 bu downstream, with a stone-faced embankment on the right bank as well as revetments and an apron. Yamagata Prefecture lists it among the representative structures on the river.
Why It Was Registered
Its showpiece is the corner of the spillway. Both the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the prefecture describe how, at the corners of the notch, the masons stood stones on end, breaking the pattern of the surrounding coursing. That junction, where the central notch carrying the overflow meets the wing on either side, is the most vulnerable point in a dam, and the upright stones were set there to strengthen it.
The Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 8 Stone Dam was registered as a structure that would be difficult to reproduce. Identifying a weak point and changing the orientation of the stone at that one spot is only possible in a wall placed block by block by hand.
What to Look For
At the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 8 Stone Dam, look hard at the two ends of the spillway notch. Among the rows of stones lying flat you will find a few standing upright; that is where the centre section meets the wings.
With embankment, revetments and apron all intact, this dam shows the full set of parts a Kitasawa dry-stone dam was given. It makes a good reference point for the others.
Visiting the Kitasawa No. 8 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 8 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. 7 dam is about 45 metres upstream and the No. 9 dam about 40 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. 8 Stone Dam
- [ Yamadera Temple & Zao Onsen Hot Springs ]
Q&A
- Where is the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 8 Stone Dam?
- It is on the Kitasawa ravine of the Shohoji River in Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. It lies about 45 metres below the No. 7 dam.
- When and why was the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 8 Stone Dam built?
- It was built in 1923 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 some stones set upright at the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 8 Stone Dam?
- The corners where the spillway notch meets the wings take the brunt of the overflowing water. According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs and Yamagata Prefecture, the masons stood stones on end there to strengthen the junction between the centre of the dam and its wings.
- Can I see the Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 8 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. 8 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 would be difficult to reproduce.
Basic Information
| Name | Shohoji River Kitasawa No. 8 Stone Dam |
|---|---|
| Location | Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), registration no. 06-0067 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2005/7/12 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 dam |
| Dimensions | Crest length 27 metres, height 3.2 metres, with a stone-faced embankment, revetments and 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: 正法寺川北沢第八号石堰堤
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004858
- 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
