Date of interview: 2006/02/19
Location: Fukayama, Otsu-cho, Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture

View of the embankment on the lake side from the right bank

The Kasagi Dam is owned by Kansai Electric Power Co. As it is a power generation dam, you cannot get any closer to the embankment. By the way, if you go downstreamMaruyama Damis located in the area, but it is not accessible by car even if you proceed downstream on Route 418, so you will need to make a detour.

View of the water intake and control center from the right bank

It is difficult because there are few points to photograph, but it is quite interesting when you look at the details.

View of the downstream bank from the right bank

The rows and rows of neatly arranged gates are very impressive. It is an old dam built before World War II, but it would have been difficult for prewar engineers to create such an archaic formative beauty. Incidentally, it has been selected as one of the "Modern Civil Engineering Heritage of Japan: 2000 Important Civil Engineering Structures in Existence.

View of the power plant and downstream embankment from the right bank

The gates are distinctive, but perhaps even more noteworthy is the design of the power station. It is somewhat mossy, but this also gives it a unique flavor.

Remains on the right bank

On the opposite side of the embankment, there are these remains or ruins. It was used during the construction of the dam. This is also a nice sight, but it is a little scary at night. It is a little scary even in the daytime.

View of the water intake from the right bank

Water flows from this intake for power generation to the power plant in the back to generate electricity. The power plant building is in the back. I forgot to photograph the upstream power plant building, which also has a wonderful design.

View of the dam lake from the right bank

The surface of the lake is quiet. As we moved upstream after this, fog was generated from the surface of the lake, creating a fantastic scene.

View of the levee from the high ground on the right bank

There is a slope on the right bank that allows a slightly elevated view of the levee.

View of the downstream embankment and dam lake from the high ground on the right bank

It is possible to go up to higher ground, but it was quite tiring.

dam characteristics

River Name	Kiso River System Kiso River
Objective	generation (e.g. power)
Model	gravity-fed concrete dam
Bank height	40.8m
Bank length	154.9m
Dam volume	117,000m3
Watershed Area	2301.2 km2
Reservoir area	109ha
Total storage capacity	14,121,000m3
Effective water storage capacity	6,475,000m3
Dam operator	Kansai Electric Power Co.
Main body constructor	Sato Kogyo
Year of launch	1934.
Year Completed	1936.

Other facilities/observations

This dam was built before the war, so it is recommended for those who like old architecture. There is a new control center, but it is too new and uncomfortable. Since the embankment is so old, it would be better to design it in a way that it blends in with the rest of the site.
It would have been nice.... Oh, and if you like bad roads, I recommend it.