In recent years, "dam touring" has been quietly gaining popularity. With the buzz around collectible "dam cards," more and more people are being captivated by the sheer magnificence of these structures. Hokkaido is home to many dams you won't want to miss! This time, we're highlighting some of the most fascinating dams in Hokkaido.

Hoheikyo Dam is a famous tourist spot, especially known for its beautiful autumn foliage. The steep, rocky mountains surrounding the dam create a magnificent landscape.

• Dam Type: Arch concrete dam
• Crest Height: 102.5m
• Crest Length: 305.0m
• Total Reservoir Capacity: 47,100,000m³
• Dam Lake: Jozan Lake (Selected as one of the 100 best dam lakes)

Sasaryu Dam is Japan's first buttress dam, characterized by its unique lattice-like wall surface. Due to its historical value, it has been selected as a "JSCE Recommended Civil Engineering Heritage Site."

• Dam Type: Buttress dam
• Crest Height: 25.3m
• Crest Length: 199.4m
• Total Reservoir Capacity: 607,000m³
• Dam Lake: Sasaryu Reservoir (Selected as one of the 100 best dam lakes)

Located within Daisetsuzan National Park, Nukabira Dam boasts one of the largest surface areas and storage capacities in Hokkaido. When the water level of the man-made Lake Nukabira drops, the fantastical Taushubetsu River Bridge emerges.

• Dam Type: Gravity concrete dam
• Crest Height: 76.0m
• Crest Length: 293.0m
• Total Reservoir Capacity: 193,900,000m³
• Dam Lake: Lake Nukabira

More than 70 years after its construction, Hijiridai Dam still retains much of its original appearance and is considered a model for post-war dam construction in Hokkaido. This dam has also been designated as a JSCE Recommended Civil Engineering Heritage Site.

• Dam Type: Earth-fill dam
• Crest Height: 29.7m
• Crest Length: 485.4m
• Total Reservoir Capacity: 3,767,000m³
• Dam Lake: Hijiridai Reservoir (Selected as one of the 100 best dam lakes)

Located within Hidaka-sanmyaku Erimo Quasi-National Park, this dam was constructed with consideration for preserving the natural environment, under the theme of being a "people-friendly dam." Visitors can freely explore the top of the dam embankment and the management office. With an advance reservation, you can also tour the dam's control room, observation deck, and interior with a guide from the dam management branch office.

• Dam Type: Gravity concrete dam
• Crest Height: 114.0m
• Crest Length: 300.0m
• Total Reservoir Capacity: 54,000,000m³
• Dam Lake: Tokachi Ryutan Lake

Kanayama Dam is a rare type of dam, the only one of its kind in Hokkaido and one of only 13 in Japan. It is a hollow gravity concrete dam, which means it has large cavities inside. The man-made lake, blessed with a rich natural environment, boasts one of the largest total reservoir capacities in Japan.

• Dam Type: Hollow gravity concrete dam
• Crest Height: 57.3m
• Crest Length: 288.5m
• Total Reservoir Capacity: 150,450,000m³
• Dam Lake: Kanayama Lake (Selected as one of the 100 best dam lakes)

This is Hokkaido's largest and one of Japan's biggest multipurpose dams, boasting the second-largest inundation area in the country. The "Sangen Bridge," submerged in the dam lake, is famous as a phantom bridge that only appears during rare drought periods that occur once every few years.

• Dam Type: Gravity concrete dam
• Crest Height: 110.6m
• Crest Length: 480.0m
• Total Reservoir Capacity: 427,000,000m³
• Dam Lake: Shuparo Lake

Daisetsu Dam is a multipurpose dam built at the uppermost part of the main Ishikari River. Downstream lies the scenic Sounkyo Gorge, making it a popular tourist spot. The dam's lake, Lake Daisetsu, is surrounded by virgin forests, and its vast scale and scenery are also popular among anglers.

• Dam Type: Center core rock-fill dam
• Crest Height: 86.5m
• Crest Length: 440.0m
• Total Reservoir Capacity: 66,000,000m³
• Dam Lake: Daisetsu Lake

Jozankei Dam is a multipurpose dam that serves as Sapporo's water source, supporting the lives of its citizens. The downstream park located directly below the dam offers beautiful scenery and includes a museum, making it an ideal spot for a picnic.

• Dam Type: Gravity concrete dam
• Crest Height: 117.0m
• Crest Length: 410.0m
• Total Reservoir Capacity: 82,300,000m³
• Dam Lake: Sapporo Lake

The general term "Uryu Dam" refers to a complex of dams on the Uryu River, consisting of two dams. The dam lake, known as "Lake Shumarinai," is more famous than the dam itself and is known as Japan's largest man-made lake. Completed during the war in 1943, its record as the largest in Japan remains unbroken.

• Dam Type: Gravity concrete dam
• Crest Height: 45.5m
• Crest Length: 216.0m
• Total Reservoir Capacity: 224,653,000m³
• Dam Lake: Lake Shumarinai