If you ever wonder what the interior of a dam look like, don’t miss out on Hiyoshi Dam (日吉ダム) when you come to Kyoto! The Kansai region‘s biggest dam is also a facility to learn about the power of flooding and how a dam can effectively minimize the damage of too much rain and maintain a steady water supply to the downstream areas. On a super hot day when it is 40 degrees outside, the best place to be is at the dam’s exhibition area. Without an air conditioner, the temperature is almost 20 degrees lower!
About Hiyoshi Dam
Hiyoshi Dam has a height of 67.4 meters and a width of 438 meters. From its size and the thickness of the solid walls, it isn’t hard to understand why people also call it “Warship Dam”.
If you are lucky, you might even see the magnificent amount of water that gets discharged from the dam from time to time!
- The dam can be entered freely between 10 am and 3 pm.
- Please avoid visiting Hiyoshi Dam on Wednesdays and from the 29th of December to the 3rd of January.
- If Wednesday is a public holiday, it will close on the next business day instead.
If you understand Japanese and would like the staff to show the dam to you, fill in THIS FORM and fax it to them. Note application has to be made at least 3 weeks beforehand, and you must have at least 5 people in your group to apply.
The Surprising Facts of Hiyoshi Dam
A part of the dam’s structure is the looped-shaped bridge which is the perfect observation spot when the dam is releasing water into the Katsura River (桂川). It is just fantastic to see how the river seems to be sucking in the water from the dam!
The beauty of the dam is also one of the few dams in the world that were recognized by architectural societies when it was granted the Architectural Institute of Japan Award in 1999.
Lastly, before you go, remember to grab one of the Dam Cards (ダムカード) from the dam’s management office (日吉ダム管理所) as a souvenir.
- Please refer to THIS MAP for the location.
- It is the building with the green roof on the map to the dam’s left.
- If you don’t want to climb to the top of the dam for a panoramic view of the surrounding nature, there is a visitor’s lift that is marked as “見学者用エレベーター” on the map.
The Dam Lake of Hiyoshi Dam Is a Dragon?
The artificial dam lake – Amawaka Lake (天若湖) created by the completion of the Hiyoshi Dam has a hidden secret.
Check out the lake’s shape on the map. Doesn’t it look like a dragon?
According to local legend, It is said that the deity of the Amewaka Shrine ( 天稚神社), which previously stood where the lake is today, made the shape of the lake into a dragon to bring peace and prosperity to the area.
With the beautiful scenery around the dam and various facilities in the Roadside Station Springs Hiyoshi at its foot, this part of Kyoto is flourishing with as many as 550,000 visitors annually thanks to the dragon-shaped Amawaka Lake (≧▽≦)?
How to Get to Hiyoshi Dam
From Monday to Saturday, from JR Hiyoshi Station (日吉駅), take Nantan Municipal Bus’s (南丹市営バス) Hiyoshi Dam Line ( 日吉ダム線 ) and get off at Hiyoshi Onsen (ひよし温泉) The number of services is limited, so please refer to the timetable HERE and click “時刻表” to plan. As the timetable is only in Japanese, please use the bus stop’s Japanese name to read.
- The timetable of the Hiyoshi Line from Monday to Saturday is located at the bottom of page 2.
- For Sundays and public holidays, take the Miyama Sonobe Line (美山園部線) and get off at Springs Hiyoshi (スプリングスひよし).
- Refer to the 2 long tables on page 7 for the service.
- You can also use one of Japan’s Transport Apps to plan your visit.
Discover Other Stunning off the Beaten Track in Nantan City
Obviously, Ōno Dam isn’t the only amazing natural attraction in Nantan City. In fact, the city houses one of Japan’s few thatched-roof house villages and a stunning valley throughout the year!
For more information, please refer to our article on Nantan City (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
