Satsuma-cho, Satsuma-gun, Kagoshima
Tsuruda Dam
The tallest concrete gravity dam in Kyushu
Tsuruda Dam is the tallest concrete gravity dam in Kyushu.
The Sendai river on which the dam is built originates on Mt. Shiragadake (1,417 m) in beautiful valley Kumamoto Prefecture. It passes through the Nishimorokata Basin in Miyazaki Prefecture, enters Kagoshima Prefecture, passes through Yunoo Falls, and flows into Tsuruda Dam from Sogi Falls. Flowing down the Sendai Plain and into the East China Sea, it is one of the largest rivers in Kyushu, with a basin area of 1,600 km² and a length of 137 km.
Tsuruda Dam, located 51 km from the mouth of the Sendai River, is a multipurpose dam built to protect the area downstream of the dam from flooding and to generate electricity using the power of the water stored in Lake Otsuru, the dam’s reservoir.
Completed in March 1966, the dam is a concrete gravity dam 117.5 m tall, with 123 million m³ of water stored in its reservoir.
- A 12-year redevelopment project
- As a countermeasure against flooding in the Sendai River basin, which was struck by a major flood in July 2006,
the operation of the dam’s storage capacity was changed to allow it to store more floodwater.
At that time, a redevelopment was carried out to dig tunnels inside the dam embankment and
install three discharge gates and two power generation pipes. This work was completed in October 2018 after about 12 years.
- An exploration tour led by
Tsuruda Dam’s dedicated concierge - The Tsuruda Dam Concierge, a full-time guide,
provides information on the difficult journey to building the Tsuruda Dam, which rises 117.5 meters above the ground, and the functions of the dam,
such as power generation and flood control to protect the lives of local people.
As well as explaining the structure and role of the dam in an easy-to-understand and fun way,
we will also provide information on various aspects of dams in general, such as how to protect yourself from disasters in critical situations.
- Observation deck with a close-up view of the dam
- The B3 observation deck is a great spot to get a close up view of the dam.
You can go from inside the dam by joining the guided tour.
Tsuruda Dam
Facility information
| Name | Tsuruda Dam |
|---|---|
| Location | Satsuma-cho, Satsuma-gun, Kagoshima |
| Purpose | Multiple (flood control, power generation) |
| Size | 117.5 m tall, 123 million m³ of stored water |
| Date construction started | April 1960 |
| Date completed | March 1966 |
| Date management started | April 1966 |
| Management | Tsuruda Dam and Reservoir Management Office, Kyushu Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism |
Wait!
There’s so much more!
Tsuruda Dam Shochu Storage Time Capsule
- In Satsuma-cho, where Tsuruda Dam is located, three distilleries make shochu using the famous water from the foothills of Mt. Shibi, and the deep flavor characteristic of sweet potato shochu has long been popular among the locals. Tsuruda Dam is collaborating with a local shochu distillery to prepare a “Tsuruda Dam Shochu Storage Time Capsule Tour”, in which shochu is stored in an inspection gallery inside the dam and kept there until a special anniversary. Experience the magic of having your very own shochu rest in the dam until a family member, partner, child or grandchild’s special day.
Original Tsuruda Dam Foods
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There is a restaurant at the Sendai River Otsuru Yuyu Museum where you can enjoy a meal with a view of the Tsuruda Dam. The menu features “Tsuruda Dam Curry”, and “Dam Fried Rice”, each with the rice served in the shape of the dam.
- Contact
- Sendai River Otsuru Yuyu Museum
Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Lunch: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
Closed: Tuesdays
Address: 3988-7 Koshi, Satsuma-cho, Satsuma-gun, Kagoshima
TEL: 0996-59-2522
https://www.satsuma-net.jp/skanko/shisetsu/kanko-taiken-onsen/yuuyuukan.html
Guide to the area and sightseeing
The area around Tsuruda Dam has many must-see sightseeing spots.
Don’t miss the hot springs, leisure attractions, and historical sites nearby.
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Sogi Power Plant Ruins
About 9 km upstream from Tsuruda Dam, there is a red brick building that appears only between early summer and autumn.
This is the remains of a hydroelectric power station built in 1909 to supply power to the Ushio Okuchi gold mine.
With the construction of the Tsuruta Dam in 1965, it was submerged at the bottom of the reservoir, but it reappears each year from May to September, earning it the nickname of the “phantom power plant”. With its atmosphere right out of an anime, it has become very popular.Contact
- Soginotaki Information Center
- TEL: 0995-28-2600
- https://www.city.isa.kagoshima.jp/residency/kankou/kankouchi/
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Sogi Falls
Sogi Falls, often called the “Niagara of the East”, is a spectacular waterfall 210 meters wide and 12 meters high.
The roaring sound of the water carving through Senjo-iwa rock captivates visitors with its sheer power.
The whole area is a nature park with beautiful seasonal colors, and events are held during the cherry blossom and fall foliage periods.Contact
- Soginotaki Information Center
- TEL: 0995-28-2600
- https://www.city.isa.kagoshima.jp/residency/kankou/kankouchi/
-
Shiratori Hot Springs (Ebino City)
Shiratori Onsen is a historic hot spring resort where Saigo Takamori, having lost out in the debate over military action against Korea, stayed for three months to restore his health and spirits.
The elegant wooden steam baths and the woody scent of the various tubs evoke an atmosphere of long ago.Contact
- Ebino City Tourism Association, Miyazaki Prefecture
- TEL: 0984-35-3838
- http://shiratori-onsen.com/
-
Koda Rice Terraces
The curved walls of these terraced rice paddies, built from stacked stones in the mid-Edo period, are a rare sight in Japan. It has also been selected as one of the 100 best terraced rice fields in the country.
Contact
- Industrial Promotion Division, Yusui Town Hall
- TEL: 0995-74-3111
- http://www.town.yusui.kagoshima.jp/
-
Yatake Kogen Prefectural Natural Park
Designated as a prefectural natural park in 1996, this is a spectacular area where you can see not only the Kirishima mountain range, but also sea of clouds and rural landscapes depending on the season. On a clear day with no haze, you can even see Sakurajima floating above Kagoshima’s Kinko Bay.
Contact
- Ebino City Tourism Association, Miyazaki Prefecture
- TEL: 0984-35-3838
- https://ebino-kankou.com/taxo_areaguide/masaki
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Oku-satsuma Firefly Boat Cruise
From mid- to late May, you can watch the magical sight of fireflies dancing from a riverboat.
Contact
- Commerce, Industry, Tourism and PR Section, Satsuma-cho Hall
- TEL: 0996-53-1111
- http://www.satsuma-net.jp/skanko/kanko/event/5gatsu-event/hotaru.html
Access
Contact
- Tsuruda Dam and Reservoir Management Office, Kyushu Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
- Address: 3988-2 Koshi, Satsuma-cho, Satsuma-gun, Kagoshima 895-2102
- TEL: 0996-59-2030 FAX: 0996-59-2994
- http://www.qsr.mlit.go.jp/turuta/top/index.html
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