About the Minamisawa No. 12 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 12 Stone Dam (正法寺川南沢第十二号石堰堤) is a stone erosion-control dam built in 1927 on the Minamisawa ravine 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 130 metres below the Minamisawa No. 9-1 dam. The Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 12 Stone Dam is a mortared gravity dam in diagonal Tanizumi coursing, 26 metres along the crest and 3.0 metres high, with its downstream face battered at 3 bu and an apron in front. It is the uppermost of the three registered Minamisawa dams built in 1927.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency for Cultural Affairs and Yamagata Prefecture both note that from this dam downstream the spillway notches are made wider. The further down the ravine, the more water collects, and the lower Minamisawa dams give it more room to pass.
The Agency also records the tradition that the site supervisor for these works was Satō Sōichirō, an assistant civil engineer of the prefecture. The Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 12 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
At the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 12 Stone Dam, look at the width of the notch. Compared with the dams upstream it is broader, and the band of water crossing it is wider.
The spacing between dams grows from here too: the next, No. 13, is about 120 metres away, a sign that the ravine is opening out.
Visiting the Minamisawa No. 12 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 12 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 Minamisawa No. 9-1 dam is about 130 metres upstream and No. 13 about 120 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 Minamisawa No. 12 Stone Dam
- [ Yamadera Temple & Zao Onsen Hot Springs ]
Q&A
- Where is the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 12 Stone Dam?
- It is on the Minamisawa ravine of the Shohoji River in Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. It lies about 130 metres below the Minamisawa No. 9-1 dam.
- When and why was the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 12 Stone Dam built?
- It was built in 1927 as part of the second phase of the Shohoji River erosion-control project, which Yamagata Prefecture undertook after the flood of 1913 to stop sediment washing downstream.
- Why is the spillway of the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 12 Stone Dam so wide?
- Probably because more water gathers the further down the ravine you go. The Agency for Cultural Affairs and Yamagata Prefecture note that the spillway notches are made wider from this dam downstream.
- Can I see the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 12 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 Minamisawa No. 12 Stone Dam become a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered on 10 November 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 Minamisawa No. 12 Stone Dam |
|---|---|
| Location | Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), registration no. 06-0084 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2005/11/10 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 dam |
| Dimensions | Crest length 26 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: 正法寺川南沢第十二号石堰堤
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004893
- 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
