Makio Dam

Makio Dam is a rock-fill dam on the Otaki River in Nagano Prefecture that creates a reservoir for the region. The structure manages water from both the Otaki and Kiso River systems to serve multiple needs.

Construction of Makio Dam finished in 1961 and was driven by the need to manage floods and provide stable water supply for Nagano. The project represented an important infrastructure development for the area.

The dam forms Lake Mitake, which brings together the waters of the Otaki and Kiso Rivers, reflecting Japanese engineering capabilities.

Spring through autumn offers the best conditions for visiting, when access roads are clear and the surroundings are easier to navigate. There are viewpoints around the site where you can see the structure and the reservoir without needing specialized equipment.

The structure contains 2,615,000 cubic meters of materials and maintains a reservoir capacity of 75,000,000 cubic meters across 247 hectares.

Location: Kiso

Location: Otaki

Inception: 1961

Website: https://water.go.jp/chubu/aityosui/b(jyouhou-main)/01(aitiyousui)/03(sisetu)/01(makio)/b-01-03-01.html

GPS coordinates: 35.82417,137.60278

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:42