Naramata Dam, Rock-fill dam in Minakami, Japan.
Naramata Dam is a 158-metre-high central earth-core rock-fill dam on the Narumata River in Minakami, Gunma Prefecture. Its broad slope of pale grey rock and earth descends to a concrete base, with a concrete spillway chute and gate tower on the right side of the face. A small concrete building stands at the foot of the slope, and a short bridge crosses the water below.
Construction began in 1973 and the dam was completed in 1990, representing a major step in the region's water management development. The project was part of broader infrastructure efforts to control water resources across the prefecture.
The dam's name is written 奈良俣, though the river it dams is spelled 楢俣川; the older downstream dam was renamed Sudagai when Naramata was built. On the left bank stands the dam museum "Hiltop Naramata", and in spring meltwater is released from the spillway there.
The dam can be reached by taking the Joetsu Shinkansen to Jomo-Kogen station, then connecting to local transportation to the site. The area offers viewing points where you can walk along the dam and observe how water is managed for the region.
The dam serves a dual purpose as both a flood control structure and a hydroelectric power station, generating electricity while protecting the region. This combination makes it efficient in meeting different water management needs simultaneously.
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