Four Itchy Feet

September 29, 2025. Minakami, Japan.

Today we climbed the Naramata Dam. The Naramata Dam is a significant multi-purpose dam located in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, in the upper part of the Yu no koya area. It is a rock-fill dam with a height of 158 meters (518 ft), making it one of the highest rock-fill dams in Japan. The dam serves a dual function: its primary purpose is flood control, and the second is to provide a much-needed water supply for agriculture and municipal use. As a side benefit, it also supports a 12.2-megawatt hydroelectric power station.

We initially pulled over to the side of the road to admire its construction, but upon closer inspection, we noticed a set of steps leading to the very top, so we decided to go on a “dam hike!” After 724 steps, we reached the summit, where we found the Dam Museum and Observatory called “Hilltop Naramata.” It offered us a great insight into the construction and purpose of the dam, along with panoramic views of both the lake and the downstream area, and the surrounding mountains.

On our way back to our lodgings, we had a wonderful chance encounter with a troop of Japanese Macaques, better known as “snow monkeys.” We quickly and quietly pulled off to the side of the road and admired them from a distance. What a great and unexpected bonus!