Dam in Miyagi Prefecture

0290-Naruko Dam

5.0
0290-Naruko Dam Dam in Miyagi Prefecture
This article can be read in about 6 minutes to read.

Date of interview: 9/17/2012 (Monday)

The Tohoku expedition, which began with a visit to Ishibuchi Dam and Isawa Dam, is finally on its third day. This was the last day of our enjoyable Tohoku expedition. At first, we headed south on the Tohoku highway and came to Naruko Dam. There are many other dams that I would like to visit, but Naruko Dam was the one for me.

Walkway on the left bank

There is a parking lot on the left bank, from where you can reach the top of the mountain on foot. Please note that the skyline is open from 8:00 to 17:00, so please be careful when visiting.

Walkway on the left bank
Walkway on the left bank

Rest area on the boardwalk on the left bank

There is also a bench set up like this. It is a mystery where one would look when sitting on the bench because it is overgrown with trees, but before the trees grew, one would have had a great view of the lower stream.

Rest area on the boardwalk on the left bank
Rest area on the boardwalk on the left bank

View of the levee downstream from the boardwalk on the left bank

The dike is coming into view. Excitement is building.

View of the levee downstream from the boardwalk on the left bank
View of the levee downstream from the boardwalk on the left bank

View of the levee downstream from the left bank

Finally, the Naruko Dam, which I had dreamed of seeing, unfolds before my eyes. If it were possible, I would have liked to come here during the period of the sudare (bamboo screen) discharge.

View of the levee downstream from the left bank
View of the levee downstream from the left bank

Howell Banger Valve

The Howell Bunger valve, which was used for about 30 years starting in 1957, is on display.

Howell Banger Valve
Howell Banger Valve

Passage to Incline

The concrete box installed diagonally in the center of the photo is actually an incline. The bridge girder above is the national highway, but there is a tunnel beside it that was once used as a national highway, and the upper boarding area of the incline is inside the tunnel. The photo shows the middle boarding area.

Passage to Incline
Passage to Incline

Jishui Eternal Stone Monument

On the left bank of the river is a stone monument that indicates that although the area suffered from a severe drought in 1985, the Naruko Dam resulted in a bountiful harvest.

Stone monument of Enshui Shui Ji
Stone monument of Enshui Shui Ji

At first I thought this four-character phrase was "慈水水遠" or "遠水水慈," but upon closer inspection it was "慈水永遠". It means "to love water forever. I see.

View of the top edge from the left bank

Is there a gap under the top rail to allow snow to fall?

View of the top edge from the left bank
View of the top edge from the left bank

Sakami weir water intake facility (front) and reserve gate (back)

The one in the foreground is the Sakami weir water intake facility, which was used to supply irrigation water before the dam was built. For some reason, it is named Sakami weir. The one in the back is a spare gate for the conduit.

Sakami weir water intake facility (front) and reserve gate (back)
Sakami weir water intake facility (front) and reserve gate (back)

Conduit valve

The round, perforated structure in the upper left of the photo is the conduit's fixture cone valve. It is the so-called Howell Banger valve. It is also described as a "discharge valve" on the brochure.

Conduit valve
Conduit valve

Tunnel flood discharge intake and reserve gate

The Naruko Dam has a tunnel flood discharge beside the left bank of the embankment, but it seems that there was no spare gate at the beginning, and it was added in 2002 after six years of work. The concrete part of the gate pier is half different in color. The part in the front is the new part, and the darker part in the back is the existing part.

Tunnel flood discharge intake and reserve gate
Tunnel flood discharge intake and reserve gate

Behind the flood discharge gate

This is the back side of that gate. From here you can clearly see that the front is an old structure. The gray trumpet-shaped thing inside is a ventilation hole.

Behind the flood discharge gate
Behind the flood discharge gate

View of the dam lake from the top

The water level was a little low.

View of the dam lake from the top
View of the dam lake from the top

View downstream from the top

The concrete structure leading diagonally downstream from the left is the aforementioned incline. The reduction structure is also a structure I have not seen before, and the footing on the right bank is also quite impressive.

View downstream from the top
View downstream from the top

Beyond the Incline?

The Incline appears to be connected to this location.

Beyond the Incline?
Beyond the Incline?

Deflector of momentum reducer

They installed this deflector because the discharge from the crest would flow to the right bank side and could scour the bedrock on the right bank. I would like to see how the water actually flows.

Deflector of momentum reducer
Deflector of momentum reducer

Right bank dam site

We crossed the top edge and came to the right bank. Unfortunately, the area beyond this point was off-limits.

Right bank dam site
right bank (shore)dam-site

View of the levee downstream from the right bank

The Naruko Dam is not only a beautiful arch, but also has a glamorous arched structure in the conduit, which I think enhances the beauty of the dam.

View of the levee downstream from the right bank
View of the levee downstream from the right bank

View of the crest gate from the right bank

Here, here. Someone once said, "Dam maniacs have poor aesthetic sense or lack the ability to see the essence of things," but don't you have to be a dam maniac to understand the beauty of this place?

View of the crest gate from the right bank
View of the crest gate from the right bank

It may be unnecessary to explain now, but Naruko Dam is the first arch dam completed solely by Japanese engineers. I am sure that a lot of trial and error was done through surveys and models, but I can only express my gratitude to the engineers of the time who built such a wonderful dam.

View of the top edge from the right bank

Come to think of it, there is lighting at the top end, but I would like to see the Naruko Dam at night.

View of the top edge from the right bank
View of the top edge from the right bank

Water intake tower for power generation

An intake tower for transporting water to the Tohoku Electric Power Company's Naruko Power Plant is located upstream on the left bank.

Water intake tower for power generation
Water intake tower for power generation

Boathouse and Incline

The boatyard and incline are also located on the left bank. It is a bit far from the management office, but it seems to be a bit difficult to move around.

Boathouse and Incline
Boathouse and Incline

Signboard on the left bank

We left the dike and headed for the administration office. The sign is full of kindness.

Signboard on the left bank
Signboard on the left bank

Naruko Dam Management Office

We came to the Naruko Dam control center. Since it is quite far from the embankment, we drove there.

Naruko Dam Management Office
Naruko Dam Management Office

technical transfer

Naruko Dam takes pride in its technology, and a large tarpaulin reading "Technology, Passing Down" hangs at the entrance of the administration office. The fact that the dam was also recognized as a Civil Engineering Heritage Site by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers is probably the result of its reputation for technology.

technical transfer
technical transfer

exhibition room (room in a museum, etc.)

There is an exhibition room in the administration office where visitors can view a variety of materials. Pamphlets for the general public, children, and engineers are also available here.

exhibition room (room in a museum, etc.)
exhibition room (room in a museum, etc.)

Viewing terrace

A terrace with a view like this is also available.

Viewing terrace
Viewing terrace

View toward the levee from the observation terrace

Of course, the levee can be seen from the observation terrace.

View toward the levee from the observation terrace
View toward the levee from the observation terrace

View of the levee downstream from the national highway

The view from the observation terrace is nice, but we wanted to get a bird's eye view of the downstream side, so we left the control center and looked from the national highway.

View of the levee downstream from the national highway
View of the levee downstream from the national highway

Motoyama Tunnel

The Motoyama Tunnel has been used as a national highway. There appears to be an Incline boarding area behind this tunnel.

Motoyama Tunnel
Motoyama Tunnel

I would like to revisit the Naruko Dam next time when the water curtain is discharged. Recently, they seem to be putting a lot of effort into giving tours, such as allowing visitors to see the downstream side of the dam, so I would like to take part in such an opportunity if possible.

Naruko Dam Specifications

LocationIwafuchi, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
River NameKitakamigawa River System Eagogawa
ObjectiveF (flood control, agricultural disaster prevention)
A (irrigation water)
P(Power generation)
ModelA(arch dam)
Bank height94.5m
Bank length215m
Dam volume180,000m3
Watershed Area210.1 km2
Reservoir area210ha
Total storage capacity50,000,000m3
Effective water storage capacity35,000,000m3
Dam operatorTohoku Regional Construction Bureau
Main body constructorKajima Construction
Year of launch1951
Year Completed1958
Name of Dam LakeLake Arauwild or untamed powder or liquid (esp. sake)

Other facilities/observations

Parking lot
Toilet
Park
PR Exhibition Hall
Fishing

Map around Naruko Dam

Accommodations that may be close to Naruko Dam

This article was written by.
Shin Jinma

Dam enthusiast who loves Momosuke Fukuzawa / Dampedia and Dam News administrator / Certified Dammeister (01-018) by the Japan Dam Foundation / Started selling discharge caution goods.https://shop.dampedia.com

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