Location: Isaka-cho, Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture
Date of interview: 10/11/2010 (Monday)
View of the levee from downstream
The Isaka Dam is located in Yokkaichi City, one of Japan's leading industrial cities, and was built by Mie Prefecture as an earth dam precisely for the development of that industry. The rapid development of industry was also intended to prevent land subsidence, which at the time was becoming more serious due to pumping up of groundwater.
It was already near evening when we arrived, so please forgive the photos, which are a bit dark.
View of the embankment on the lake side from the left bank
We move from downstream to the top level. It was a holiday and the parking lot was very crowded, almost full. The reason for this will be explained later.
Isaka Reservoir Stone Monument
It is a magnificent stone monument. It must have prayed for the further development of the industry.
View of the top edge from the left bank
Many people were jogging at the top end.
“曝気設備？
I think it is an aeration facility.
Aeration facility (?) and a view of the dam lake
It is mid-summer, but it is a pleasant dusk.
View of the levee downstream from the left bank
The grass and trees are red, but the season is summer, not autumn. The summer of this year was quite hot, so they may have been burned by the strong sunlight.
Lively top end
This is the reason why the parking lot is full. The Isaka Dam Cycle Park is located at the Isaka Dam, and rental bicycles are available for casual cycling. There are even tandem bicycles for two people! For this reason, there are many families and couples here. Anyway, everyone seems to be having fun! I was taking pictures of the dam in the middle of it all. Obviously, I am floating, but I don't mind it.
View downstream from the top
The grass is overgrown, but it is a beautiful embankment.
View of flood discharge
It seems that the flood discharge is seldom used, perhaps because it can be mostly discharged with industrial water.
View of downtown Yokkaichi from the top
From the top edge, the center of Yokkaichi can be seen. The cranes of the industrial complex and the Yokkaichi Port Building can also be seen.
View of flood discharge
The flood discharge is filled with water, but it is not due to overflow but to rainfall.
View of the conduit ...
This is a conduit that is quite overgrown with vegetation. You can see that it is hardly used. It is 630 meters long.
Management road (?) by the side of the conduit.
I would like to know what happens from here, but unfortunately it is off limits.
View of the flood discharge from the bridge of the flood discharge
It is a flood discharge with a great frontage.
View of the top edge from the right bank
But still, there's so much traffic.Top (Crest)And that may be a first for earth dams, too.
View of the levee downstream from the right bank
Sunset stains the embankment....
The dike is of the inclined core type, which is common in this area.
View of the Incline
Well...fishing is supposed to be prohibited.
Cycle square sign
The bike rental service is open from March to October from 9:30 to 17:00 (registration at 16:30) and from November to February from 9:30 to 16:30 (registration at 16:00). It is closed on Fridays except holidays and on rainy days. (as of 10/11/2010)
Cycle Plaza Management Station
This is the reception desk for renting bicycles. You may want to rent one if you would like to go around the embankment.
While the dam itself is an industrial water reservoir (and small in scale)earth dam), it was very impressive to see it being used as a place of relaxation for the citizens. I left with a sense of hope that the dam will continue to be loved by the citizens for a long time to come.
dam characteristics
| River Name | off-channel water system |
|---|---|
| Objective | industrial water |
| Model | earth dam |
| Bank height | 34.5m |
| Bank length | 775m |
| Dam volume | 877,000m3 |
| Watershed Area | 0.8km2 |
| Reservoir area | 31 ha |
| Total storage capacity | 3,780,000m3 |
| Effective water storage capacity | 3,715,000m3 |
| Dam operator | Mie prefecture (Kinki area) |
| Main body constructor | Kumagai Gumi |
| Year of launch | 1963. |
| Year Completed | 1966 |
| Name of Dam Lake | Isaka Reservoir |
Other facilities/observations
Everything is available. There are also vending machines. It's hard to find a nicer earth!
| Parking lot | ○ |
|---|---|
| Toilet | ○ |
| Park | ○ |
| PR Exhibition Hall | × |
| Fishing | × |
Comment
Many people come to Isaka Dam to walk as a place of rest and relaxation for the citizens, with an estimated 1 million participants per year. At the entrance of the dam is a coffee shop, and below it is a free rest area where visitors can take a rest. Two tennis courts and a fureai house are available.
There is a house where you can make friends, sing songs and have conversations.
Thank you for your comment.
It is a good dam that many people visit.
I have not visited there for a long time and would like to go back.