About the Tanukisawa No. 2 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 2 Stone Dam (正法寺川狸沢第二号石堰堤) is a stone erosion-control dam built in 1923 on the Tanukisawa, a tributary 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 30 metres below the Tanukisawa No. 1 dam. At 6.4 metres along the crest and 2.6 metres high, the Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 2 Stone Dam is the shortest of the registered stone dams on the Shohoji River. It is a mortared gravity dam laid in the diagonal Tanizumi pattern, battered at 2 bu upstream and 3 bu downstream, with a square drain hole low in the centre.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes the site as a narrow gorge cut by vertical erosion, where the stream has sawn down into its bed, and says the shape of the dam expresses those conditions well. The walls of the ravine rise steeply, and the 6.4-metre body fits between them exactly.
A height of 2.6 metres against so short a crest is the proportion of a deeply incised gorge. The Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 2 Stone Dam was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country.
What to Look For
At the Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 2 Stone Dam, look at how each end of the wall meets the rock. The cross-section of the gorge itself sets the outline of the dam.
Like the No. 1 dam just upstream, it has a square drain hole low in the centre.
Visiting the Tanukisawa No. 2 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 2 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 Tanukisawa No. 1 dam is about 30 metres upstream and the No. 3 dam about 35 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 Tanukisawa No. 2 Stone Dam
- [ Yamadera Temple & Zao Onsen Hot Springs ]
Q&A
- Where is the Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 2 Stone Dam?
- It is on the Tanukisawa ravine of the Shohoji River in Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. It lies about 30 metres below the Tanukisawa No. 1 dam.
- When and why was the Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 2 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 is the Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 2 Stone Dam so short?
- It sits in a narrow gorge cut by vertical erosion. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that the dam's shape reflects the terrain; at 6.4 metres it is the shortest registered stone dam on the Shohoji River.
- Can I see the Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 2 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 Tanukisawa No. 2 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 contributes to the historic landscape of the country.
Basic Information
| Name | Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 2 Stone Dam |
|---|---|
| Location | Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), registration no. 06-0075 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2005/7/12 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 dam |
| Dimensions | Crest length 6.4 metres, height 2.6 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: 正法寺川狸沢第二号石堰堤
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004866
- 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
