About the Minamisawa No. 14 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 14 Stone Dam (正法寺川南沢第十四号石堰堤) 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 80 metres below the Minamisawa No. 13 dam, the lowest of the eight registered dams on the ravine. The Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 14 Stone Dam is a mortared gravity dam in diagonal Tanizumi coursing, 31 metres along the crest and 3.0 metres high, with its downstream face battered at 3 bu; it is the longest registered dam on the Minamisawa.
Why It Was Registered
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the dam stands on a levelling course of concrete poured onto the bedrock. The uneven rock was first brought to a flat surface with concrete, and the stone body was set on top of it: a masonry dam with a concrete footing.
At both ends the builders added earth embankments faced with stone, laid at a gentle slope in precise tanizumi coursing, to strengthen the long wall. The Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 14 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. 14 Stone Dam, study the stone-faced embankments at either end: fine diagonal joints running evenly across a gentle slope.
In low water the bedrock may show at the foot of the dam. Whether the concrete levelling course itself is visible depends on the water and the sediment.
Visiting the Minamisawa No. 14 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 14 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. 13 dam is about 80 metres upstream.
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. 14 Stone Dam
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Q&A
- Where is the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 14 Stone Dam?
- It is on the Minamisawa ravine of the Shohoji River in Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. It lies about 80 metres below the Minamisawa No. 13 dam, the lowest registered dam on the Minamisawa.
- When and why was the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 14 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.
- What is the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 14 Stone Dam built on?
- According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, it sits on a levelling course of concrete poured onto the bedrock, which evened out the rock surface before the stone body was built on top.
- Can I see the Shohoji River Minamisawa No. 14 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. 14 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. 14 Stone Dam |
|---|---|
| Location | Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), registration no. 06-0086 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2005/11/10 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 dam |
| Dimensions | Crest length 31 metres, height 3.0 metres, with stone-faced embankments |
| 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: 正法寺川南沢第十四号石堰堤
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004895
- 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
