Overview
Okura Dam is a prefecturally managed multipurpose dam built on the Okura River in the Natori River system, in Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. Standing 82 meters high, its greatest distinction is its rare form: a multiple-arch dam with two arches set side by side. As a double-arch concrete dam, it is the only one of its kind in Japan. Serving both to control the Natori River and to supply water to Sendai, it shapes a striking mountain waterscape together with its reservoir, Lake Okura.
Highlights
- ●Japan's only double-arch concrete dam, with two arches set in a row
- ●A prefectural multipurpose dam 82 meters high with 28 million cubic meters of storage
- ●Its value as a Selected Civil Engineering Heritage designated in 2023
- ●The waterscape of Lake Okura framed by surrounding mountains
History
Okura Dam was completed in 1961. Originally constructed as a specified multipurpose dam by the Tohoku Regional Construction Bureau of the Construction Ministry, now the Tohoku Regional Development Bureau of the MLIT, it is today operated as a prefectural dam managed by Miyagi Prefecture. It was built to prevent flooding on the Natori River and to supply water to Sendai City, with a total storage capacity of 28 million cubic meters. In recognition of its rare structure and historical value, it was designated a Selected Civil Engineering Heritage by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers in September 2023.
Access
The dam lies in the mountains of Aoba Ward, Sendai City, near 38.32 degrees north and 140.70 degrees east. It is reached by a mountain route heading upstream along the Natori River from central Sendai. Because the approach runs through mountain roads, visiting by car is the practical option. Please confirm current conditions, whether viewing is permitted, and access details through official information.
Best season
The scenery woven by the mountain dam and Lake Okura shifts through the seasons. Early summer with dazzling fresh greenery and the autumn foliage season, when the hillsides take on color, are especially beautiful, with the surrounding peaks mirrored on the water. Winters are severely cold and road conditions require caution, so it is wise to choose your visit with the climate in mind.
Map
38.3217, 140.7058 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Drive from central Sendai up into the mountains along the upper Natori River
- 2View the dam up close and study its unique double-arch structure
- 3Enjoy the peaks reflected on the water from the shore of Lake Okura
- 4Reflect on its history as civil engineering heritage and its flood-control and water-supply roles
Did you know?
💡 There are only two multiple-arch dams in the whole of Japan, and among them the double-arch concrete type, with two arches in a row, is found only at Okura Dam. In addition, from August 2011 to March 2027 the firm Sendai Kankyo Kaihatsu holds the naming rights, and the nickname Sendai Kankyo Kaihatsu Okura Dam is in use.
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