About the Minamisawa No. 9-1 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 9-1 Stone Dam (正法寺川南沢第九号の一石堰堤) is a stone erosion-control dam built in 1926 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.
The name is read daikyūgō no ichi, No. 9 part one. The Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 9-1 Stone Dam stands about 65 metres below the Minamisawa No. 8 dam: a mortared gravity dam in diagonal Tanizumi coursing, 15 metres along the crest and 3.0 metres high, battered at 3 bu on both faces, with a stone-paved apron in front.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency for Cultural Affairs emphasises how solidly it is built. The body is thickened, and the end of the south wing curves into the bank rather than meeting it square. A curved junction leaves the current less room to swirl around the wing tip and gouge the bank.
The suffix no ichi distinguishes this dam within the No. 9 designation; no other registered Minamisawa dam carries the number 9. The Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 9-1 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. 9-1 Stone Dam, find where the south wing curls into the bank. Other dams end their wings in a straight line; this one bends.
The thickness of the body shows in the width of the crest. With the paved apron in front, the whole dam sits heavy and low.
Visiting the Minamisawa No. 9-1 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 9-1 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. 8 dam is about 65 metres upstream and No. 12 about 130 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. 9-1 Stone Dam
- [ Yamadera Temple & Zao Onsen Hot Springs ]
Q&A
- Where is the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 9-1 Stone Dam?
- It is on the Minamisawa ravine of the Shohoji River in Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. It lies about 65 metres below the Minamisawa No. 8 dam.
- When and why was the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 9-1 Stone Dam built?
- It was built in 1926 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.
- What does 'No. 9-1' mean in the name of the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 9-1 Stone Dam?
- The Japanese name adds no ichi (part one) after the number to distinguish the dam within its number. It is read daikyūgō no ichi, and it is the only registered Minamisawa dam that carries the number 9.
- Can I see the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 9-1 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. 9-1 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. 9-1 Stone Dam |
|---|---|
| Location | Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), registration no. 06-0083 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2005/11/10 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 dam |
| Dimensions | Crest length 15 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: 正法寺川南沢第九号の一石堰堤
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004892
- 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
