3330-Nunobiki Gohonmatsu Dam

Date of interview: Friday, September 30, 2011
Location: Yamagori, Thatchiai-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo

View of Kobe city center from Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway

While traveling with my mother-in-law to Kobe and Arima Onsen, I left my wife and mother-in-law at the port of Kobe and came here with my children. But the weather was in the worst condition. Well, it happens every time, so there was nothing we could do!

Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden/Ropeway Midway Station

Hey, hey, hey, it's gassy..." I thought to myself, but the ropeway station I was aiming for was right in front of me.

Nunobiki Waterfall

Below you can see Nunobiki Falls. It is amazing that Kobe has a waterfall so close to the Shinkansen Shin-Kobe Station.

Nunobiki Gohonmatsu Dam

And if you look toward the mountains...! You can see the embankment of the Nunobiki-Gohonmatsu Dam. Unfortunately, the haze makes the contrast unclear, but you can still see that the dam is firmly supporting the drinking water for the citizens of Kobe.

Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden/Ropeway Midway Station

We got off the ropeway. As soon as we got off the ropeway, there was a herb garden, but we did not pay attention to it and headed for the embankment.

View of the embankment on the lake side of the dam from the left bank

It was a bit of a hike. You can walk from Shin-Kobe Station, but in this weather, I chose the ropeway as the shortest route possible.

The Nunobiki-Gohonmatsu Dam was completed in 1897 as a dam specializing in water supply, and is the oldest concrete dam in Japan. It was designed by Tojiro Sano, an engineer invited from Osaka City, under the guidance of British engineer William Boulton.

View of the dam lake and the nameplate of the 100 best dam lakes

The dam lake is named "Nunobiki Reservoir" and has been selected as one of the 100 best dammed lakes.

View of the embankment on the lake side of the dam from the left bank

Although the dam was completed in 1897, it began to leak in some areas due to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and major repair work was undertaken from 2001 to 2004. Nevertheless, it is wonderful that the dam has been in service for over 100 years and is still serving the citizens of Kobe.

Mystery Building

This is a building that fits the dam site. It is a mystery because nothing is written about it and it is not mentioned on any dam-related site, but was it originally used as a control station...?

Control bridge over the upper part of the residual water discharge

There is a spillway on the left bank side, over which the bridge is built.

View of the dam lake from the control bridge

It is a quiet dammed lake.

View of the spillway from the control bridge

The water flowing out from here merges with the water from the stream and flows to Nunobiki Falls.

View of the embankment on the lake side of the dam from the left bank control bridge

Although the building is not exactly as it was when it was completed, it has been renovated to retain the atmosphere of the time, and the design, reminiscent of Western city walls, is truly wonderful.

Nameplate of 100 Dam Lakes, National Important Cultural Property, Industrial Heritage of Modernization

The Nunobiki-Gohonmatsu Dam is designated as a National Important Cultural Property and a Heritage of Industrial Modernization because of its high historical value.

View of the top edge from the left bank

Unfortunately, the top edge of the building is closed to visitors. It was not originally built for visitors, and the top railings are low, so even if a fence were to be installed, the design would be compromised.

View of the levee downstream from the left bank

Finally, the downstream side. I think this one is almost as it was when the construction was completed.

View of the levee downstream from the left bank

It is truly a Western-style wall. The design is simple, as there are no overflow sections, but the dentil decoration on the top of the embankment, which is characteristic of this period, accentuates the design and adds to the overall appeal.

Water supply facilities directly below the dam

There is a water supply facility downstream. But it was slightly muddy to go downhill, and it was beginning to be too difficult to take a small child, so we decided to turn around here (maybe it was the shoes).

View of the ropeway

Looking up, I see the ropeway I rode on the way here.

Residual water discharge and control bridge

It seems that there is no overflow in some of the photos taken by others, but today there seems to be a lot of overflow because it is also a trace of rainfall.

Nunobiki Gohonmatsu Weir Stone Monument

Is this from back then? It is a beautiful stone monument, so it seems relatively recent. Since we did not get a good look at the dam from downstream, we left Nunobiki-Gohonmatsu Dam with a little indigestion.

Closed! The trap that I thought

And when I came back, the gate that was open when I left was closed! Oh, I guess I'll have to walk back to Shin-Kobe! I thought, but the gate on the right side could be opened and closed freely. It seems that wild boars were out and it was a measure to prevent damage from animals.

Extra: Erosion control dam seen from the ropeway

Nunobiki-Gohonmatsu Dam specifications (figures in parentheses are before renovation)

Other facilities/observations

The area near the embankment is not accessible by car, and the ropeway itself does not have a parking lot, so you will need to park at the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Kobe or a nearby parking lot. There are no restrooms near the embankment, but you can use the restrooms near the ropeway station.

Accommodations that may be close to Nunobiki-Gohonmatsu Dam