Saturday, July 20, 2019
We participated in the Hoheikyo Dam Observation Tour, an event for dam lovers where you can watch the discharge of the dam from a very close distance!

The Hoheikyo Dam is located in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park and is surrounded by magnificent nature. To protect the environment, general vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles are not allowed to ride on the about 2km stretch from the Hiyamizu parking lot to the dam all year round. In consideration of the environment, hybrid electric buses (fee-based) operate from the Hiyamizu parking lot, but since it takes about only 30 minutes to reach the dam on foot, we decided to walk to the dam while enjoyinhttp://www.houheikyou.jp/bus/index.htmlg the natural scenery and famous spots such as Kudan Falls and Senjoiwa.

The Kudan Falls is overlooked from the first waterfall bridge just after the Hiyamizu Tunnel and is a beautiful contrast to the autumn leaves in Autumn.

You will be amazed by the powerful water discharge! Tour route to feeling the dam.

After walking through the thick greenery, we arrived at the dam’s management branch office. After completing the registration, we received a video explanation about the Hoheikyo Dam from the dam management staff, and then the tour began! While listening to the dam facilities’ explanation, we walked through the inspection corridor (underground management passage) inside the dam, which is not normally open to visitors.

After descending from the management elevator, we found a door to the outside of the embankment (the main body of the dam). We walked along the catwalk along the outside of the dam and came very close to the roaring discharge opening. As we approached the discharge opening, we saw a huge, dynamic flow of water, which was very powerful!

In a sightseeing discharge like this, water is released at a rate of 2 cubic meter/s, equivalent to the flow of about ten bathtubs per second. (A typical bathtub is 200 L = 0.2 cubic meter) I was astonished by the ferocious momentum of the water. It’s amazing!

One of the participants was a “dam-jo”(female dam freak) who had visited 40 dams in the whole province and collected all the dam cards!

After the dam tour, we headed out of the dam with a sense of excitement. Fifty minutes of tour time flew by.

Message from the staff of the Hoheikyo Dam Management Office
The Hoheikyo Dam stores water for Sapporo, a city of 1.9 million people, and protects people’s lives from flood damage in a disaster. To protect the safety and prosperity of people’s lives, we at the dam management office work to ensure that the dam functions properly.
This year was the 12th Hoheikyo Dam Tour Day, which has been held every year to let people know about the dam, which is essential for our daily lives. This year’s event was also well attended by about 120 people. The dam staff will be welcoming you again next year wholeheartedly, so please come and visit us!
Sightseeing discharge will be held until October 31, although you cannot visit inside the dam. In autumn, the colored leaves around the dam are reflected on the surface of the lake, which is very beautiful and different from summer. It is also good to go to the Hoheikyo Hot Springs to relax after watching Sightseeing discharge!

Dam Tour Guide
◎Sightseeing discharge
From June 1 to October 31
Click here for details on the discharge times.

◎Dam tour
You can visit the dam by applying in advance.
The tour may also be held during dam events.
Check here for details.

Check this article, too.
⇒[Rivers and dams in Hokkaido]Hoheikyo Dam