About the Tanukisawa No. 3 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 3 Stone Dam (正法寺川狸沢第三号石堰堤) 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 35 metres below the Tanukisawa No. 2 dam and, according to Yamagata Prefecture, is the lowest on the ravine. The Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 3 Stone Dam is a mortared gravity dam laid in the diagonal Tanizumi pattern, 11 metres along the crest and 3.2 metres high, battered at 2 bu upstream and 3 bu downstream, with revetments and an apron.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency for Cultural Affairs and the prefecture describe it as one of three dams packed closely into a steep stream, working together to stabilise the bed. Placing a wall every 30 to 35 metres breaks the ravine's gradient into small steps.
The crest of the Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 3 Stone Dam is capped with pentagonal stones, a neat way to bring the diagonal coursing of the tanizumi to a level top. The Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 3 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. 3 Stone Dam, look along the crest for the five-sided capstones and see how the diagonal rows below resolve into a level line.
It is the largest of the three Tanukisawa dams and the only one with both revetments and an apron, standing where the tributary's sediment gets its last check before the Kitasawa.
Visiting the Tanukisawa No. 3 Stone Dam
The Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 3 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. 2 dam is about 35 metres upstream; below it the ravine joins the Kitasawa.
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. 3 Stone Dam
- [ Yamadera Temple & Zao Onsen Hot Springs ]
Q&A
- Where is the Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 3 Stone Dam?
- It is on the Tanukisawa ravine of the Shohoji River in Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. It lies about 35 metres below the Tanukisawa No. 2 dam, the lowest dam on the Tanukisawa.
- When and why was the Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 3 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.
- What are the pentagonal stones on the Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 3 Stone Dam?
- According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs and Yamagata Prefecture, the crest is capped with five-sided stones, which finish the diagonal tanizumi coursing with a level top.
- Can I see the Shohoji River Tanukisawa No. 3 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. 3 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. 3 Stone Dam |
|---|---|
| Location | Shimo-Oginoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), registration no. 06-0076 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2005/7/12 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 dam |
| Dimensions | Crest length 11 metres, height 3.2 metres, with bank revetments and 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: 正法寺川狸沢第三号石堰堤
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004867
- 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
