About the Minamisawa No. 13 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 13 Stone Dam (正法寺川南沢第十三号石堰堤) 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 120 metres below the Minamisawa No. 12 dam. The Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 13 Stone Dam is a mortared gravity dam in diagonal Tanizumi coursing, 24 metres along the crest and 3.0 metres high, with its downstream face battered at 3 bu.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency for Cultural Affairs uses this dam to note that the Minamisawa dams were built to an almost uniform height of 10 shaku, about 3.0 metres. A chain of equal, modest walls eases the gradient of the bed and, the Agency says, has helped the surrounding greenery recover.
Stacking many low dams of equal height instead of building one tall one is the same approach as on the mortared stretch of the Kitasawa. The Shohoji River Minamisawa 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 Minamisawa No. 13 Stone Dam, keep in mind that No. 12 above and No. 14 below stand at the same height. Each drop is about equal, and the stream descends in even steps.
The flat bed of trapped sediment upstream and the trees crowding the banks are the visible result of the chain at work.
Visiting the Minamisawa No. 13 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Minamisawa 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 Minamisawa No. 12 dam is about 120 metres upstream and No. 14 about 80 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. 13 Stone Dam
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Q&A
- Where is the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 13 Stone Dam?
- It is on the Minamisawa ravine of the Shohoji River in Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. It lies about 120 metres below the Minamisawa No. 12 dam.
- When and why was the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 13 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 are the Minamisawa dams like the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 13 Stone Dam all the same height?
- According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, they were built to an almost uniform 10 shaku (about 3.0 metres). A series of equal, low dams eases the gradient of the bed and has helped the surrounding greenery recover.
- Can I see the Shohoji River Minamisawa 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 Minamisawa No. 13 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. 13 Stone Dam |
|---|---|
| Location | Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), registration no. 06-0085 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2005/11/10 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 dam |
| Dimensions | Crest length 24 metres, height 3.0 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: 正法寺川南沢第十三号石堰堤
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004894
- 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
