Misogawa Dam, Rock-fill dam in Kiso, Japan
Misogawa Dam is a rock-fill dam in the mountains of Kiso, Japan, standing 140 meters (460 ft) tall. It holds back the Miso River to form a high-elevation reservoir used for drinking water supply and power generation.
Planning for the dam began in the early 1970s, and construction started in 1973, finishing in 1996 after more than two decades of work. The long timeline reflected the scale and the remote mountain setting of the project.
From the viewpoints along the reservoir edge, visitors can see Mount Kisokoma rising above the Central Alps ridgeline on clear days. In autumn, the slopes around the water turn orange and red, drawing visitors from the surrounding Kiso valley towns.
The dam is best reached by car along National Route 19 from the Chuo Expressway, with signs pointing toward the site. The area has few services nearby, so it helps to carry supplies before heading up into the mountains.
In 2002 the reservoir received an official recognition for water quality, which is rarely awarded to dams of this type in Japan. The water flows far from its mountain source to serve the Chukyo metropolitan area, covering a long distance between origin and use.
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