Overview
Magaribuchi Dam is a gravity dam built for water supply on the Hatcho River in the Muromi River system, in the Sawara Ward of Fukuoka City. Begun in 1916 and completed in 1922, it stands 37.3 meters high and draws from a catchment area of about 11.4 square kilometers. Rather than a flashy sightseeing complex, it is a quiet piece of civil-engineering heritage that has quietly supported the daily life of Fukuoka for more than a century.
Highlights
- ●A gravity dam embankment 37.3 meters high, completed in 1922
- ●A Taisho-era water-supply heritage on the Hatcho River, Muromi system
- ●A quiet mountain reservoir fed by an 11.4-square-kilometer catchment
- ●Still in active service after its 1990 foundation reinforcement
History
Construction started in 1916 and was completed in 1922 to underpin Fukuoka's modern waterworks. When full, the reservoir floods roughly 19 hectares of land and can store about 1.42 million cubic meters of water. In 1990 the dam's foundation was reinforced, and remarkably it remains in active service despite its age. Standing before the embankment lets you read directly how a Taisho-era water project helped a growing city thrive.
Access
The dam sits in the hilly western reaches of Sawara Ward, Fukuoka City, at around 33.50 degrees north and 130.31 degrees east, reached by heading upstream along the Muromi River from central Fukuoka. The surrounding roads are narrow and mountainous, so visiting by car is far more practical than by public transport. Because viewing areas and parking depend on how the site is managed, please confirm the latest details through official information before you go.
Best season
Early summer, when fresh green foliage glows, and autumn, when the water and hillsides take on color, are especially beautiful. In winter the clear air sharpens the outline of the embankment, highlighting its character as a structure. During the rainy season the water level rises and you can sense the dam fulfilling its storage role, but take care on the mountain roads.
Map
33.4978, 130.3078 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Head upstream along the Muromi River toward the hilly Magaribuchi area
- 2View the embankment and study the Taisho-era engineering up close
- 3Photograph the calm scenery of reservoir and surrounding ridgelines
- 4Walk the nearby nature, then return to the city reflecting on Fukuoka's water history
Did you know?
💡 A height of 37.3 meters and a catchment of 11.4 square kilometers make this a compact reservoir by urban-waterworks standards. Having begun in 1916 and, after the 1990 foundation upgrade, continuing in service to this day, it is a rare example of Taisho-era infrastructure still alive in the modern era.
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