Overview
Kodamata Dam is a rockfill dam built on the Arai River, part of the Arai River system of second-class rivers, in Kotoura Town, Tōhaku District, Tottori Prefecture. Standing 50 meters high with a crest length of 347 meters, it functions as an irrigation dam whose purpose is to secure water for agriculture. As a reservoir that nourishes the upland fields spread across the hills, its quiet water surface held among the mountains and the scale of its embankment make it a rewarding piece of civil-engineering scenery for dam enthusiasts.
Highlights
- ●The presence of a rockfill dam 50 meters high with a 347-meter crest
- ●Its role as an irrigation dam built on the Arai River system
- ●A part of the Tōhaku Agricultural Water Project alongside Nishitakao and Senjōsan Dams
- ●A quiet water surface and natural scenery held in the hills of Kotoura Town
History
Because the upper Yura River area is hilly and given over mainly to dry-field farming, farmers once relied on rainwater to secure irrigation. To solve this, Kodamata Dam was planned together with Nishitakao Dam and Senjōsan Dam as part of the state-run Tōhaku Agricultural Water Utilization Project, a national irrigation and drainage undertaking. The collected water is conveyed to the intake weirs of the Katsuta and Yura river systems and used for irrigation. Construction began in 1977 and was completed in 2006.
Access
The dam lies in the mountainous part of Kotoura Town, Tōhaku District, Tottori Prefecture (around 35.44 degrees north, 133.64 degrees east). As roads through these hills are limited, access is essentially by car. Because whether the dam surroundings can be visited, along with parking and road conditions, may change with the season and management circumstances, it is best to check official information before your visit.
Best season
As a dam in the hills, spring into early summer with its fresh greenery and autumn wrapped in colored leaves are the pleasant seasons to enjoy the contrast between the water and the mountainsides. During the rainy season the reservoir looks especially powerful, while in winter caution is needed for icy roads. Confirming the weather and road conditions before setting out will put your mind at ease.
Map
35.4422, 133.6450 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Drive to Kodamata Dam in the mountains of Kotoura Town
- 2Take in the 50-meter-high rockfill embankment
- 3Enjoy the irrigation reservoir and the surrounding nature
- 4Extend your trip to the farmland sustained by the Tōhaku water project
Did you know?
💡 Kodamata Dam works in concert with Nishitakao Dam and Senjōsan Dam, conveying water gathered on the Arai River all the way to the Katsuta and Yura river systems as part of a wide-area agricultural water network. Taking roughly three decades from groundbreaking to completion, it is also the fruit of a long-running project that supports the region's farming.
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