Tsuruda Dam Infrastructure Tourism Tour

We at Tsuruda Dam are looking forward to welcoming visitors from the general public for a tour of the facility.
There are two types of tours available:
Course A: Easy Tour Course (60 minutes), Course B: Detailed Tour Course (90 minutes)
*Currently, we are offering the 60 minute course (as of August 2020).

Tour dates

Monday through Friday (in principle, only on weekdays, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays)

Tour times

Held three times a day from 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.

Number of people

1-20 per tour
*Currently, only 1-6 people may participate in each tour.

Eligibility

For the time being, participants must be residents of Kagoshima Prefecture and confident on their feet.
(The tour involves the use of stairs, so special assistance is not available.)

Application

We will start accepting applications by both phone and fax three months prior to the date of the tour.

Application deadline

One week prior to the date of the tour (we cannot accept applications made on the day)

Notes

At present, the following measures are being taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and we ask for your cooperation.
(1) All visitors will be given a temperature check. Any visitor found to have a fever will be asked to refrain from participating.
(2) Visitors are required to bring and wear a face mask. (3) Visitors will be asked to disinfect their hands thoroughly.

How to apply

  • (1) Applying by phone
    Tsuruda Dam and Reservoir Management Office: TEL: 0996-59-2030 (Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays)
  • (2) Applying by Fax
    Please download the application form from the Tsuruda Dam and Reservoir Management Office website
    (search for “Tsuruda Dam Tour” or visit http://www.qsr.mlit.go.jp/turuta/), or from the QR code, and fax it to us.
    Tsuruda Dam and Reservoir Management Office: FAX: 0996-59-2994
    http://www.qsr.mlit.go.jp/turuta/

    ◆ For travel agencies ◆ If you would like to make an early reservation in order to organize a tour, we will start accepting applications six months in advance.

Tours

Course A: Easy tour (about 1 hour)

After listening to an explanation in the dam’s operations room, participants will explore the inspection corridor inside the dam, which feels just like a secret base.
The tour visits the main attractions of Tsuruda Dam, from the discharge gate room to the observation station where visitors can see the dam from close up.

Tsuruda Dam and Reservoir Management Office (Operations Room)

An overview of the dam and an explanation on disaster prevention is given in the room where the dam is operated.
What is Tsuruda Dam?
Just for you, a look inside the actual operations room of the dam, which is normally off-limits.
  • Inside the dam

    It’s like a secret tunnel!
    The temperature inside the dam? Wildlife?
    All your questions will be answered...
    (Note) The floor inside the dam is wet, so be sure to wear non-slip shoes!
  • Discharge gate room (B1)

    The discharge room at the end of the hole in the middle of the dam.
    What’s that? A giant syringe?
    We will teach you how the discharge outlet and gate work.
  • B3 Observation point

    An observation deck where you can see the dam itself up close. You have to go inside the dam to get there!
    Would you like to visit a secret photo spot?

Course B: Detailed Tour (about 1 hour and 30 minutes)

In addition to the A Course (easy tour), this tour visits a newly-built gate room that was added in a redevelopment project.
You can learn more about Tsuruda Dam by actually seeing the gate through the wire mesh of the machinery.

Additional gate room (B3)

A new discharge room added during redevelopment of the dam. After climbing 57 steps... the latest machinery is all here! It’s close! It’s huge! Experience the stunning Tsuruda Dam!

Access

Traveling by JR (Kyushu Shinkansen):
Alighting at Izumi Station or Sendai Station,
By rental car or taxi: 1 to 1.5 hours
Hakata Station > Izumi Station ............ about 1 hour and 20 minutes
Hakata Station > Sendai Station ............ about 1 hour and 30 minutes
Kagoshima Chuo Station > Sendai Station ............ about 13 minutes
Traveling by car:
From JR Izumi Station ............ about 1 hour and 10 minutes
From JR Sendai Station ............ about 1 hour
From satsuma-Cho (Miyanojoyachi)...about 30 minutes
From Isa City (Okuchi).........about 30 minutes
From Yokogawa Interchange ............... about 1 hour
From Kagoshima Airport ............ about 1 hour
From Kagoshima City ............... about 1 hour and 30 minutes