- Address: Ashikuraji, 立 山 町 Nakaniikawa District, Toyama Prefecture 930-1406 ,, Japan
- Phone: +81 261 22
- Website: www.kurobe-dam.com
- Height: 186 m
- Opening date: 1963.
- Working time: daily from the end of June to the middle of October
Kurobe - the highest in Japan dam and one of the most popular tourist sites. Her visit is part of the tourist route Tateyama Kurobe Alpine, which is also called the "Roof of Japan". There is a dam Kurobe in Toyama Prefecture, on the river of the same name. It can also be called a "miracle of strength" - conducted in 2006, research has shown that the dam will be able to work properly for another 250 years.
General information
The dam was built between 1956 and 1963. The purpose of its construction was to provide electricity to the Kansai region. Kurobe is an arched dam with a variable radius. Its height is 186 m and its length is 492 m. At the base, the dam is 39.7 m wide, and in the upper part - 8.1 m.
The decision to build the dam was taken in 1955. The Kurobe River was considered as a place for the creation of a hydroelectric power station since the beginning of the 20th century - it is known for its pressure of water.
After the Kurobe Gorge and the river were explored, construction began in 1956, which was constantly confronted with many obstacles. The power of the existing railway was not enough to deliver the required amount of building materials, therefore, until the new tunnel Kanden was built, the materials were delivered, including by air (helicopters), and by horses, and even manually.
During the construction of the tunnel, problems also arose: builders stumbled upon groundwater flows, for the diversion of which it was necessary to build a drainage tunnel, and as long as it was built, accidents occurred (a total of 171 people died during the construction of the dam). It took 9 months to cut the tunnel. On the construction of the dam Kurobe filmed a film, which is called "Sun over Kurobe."
The dam began to generate power in January 1961, after the launch of the first two turbines. The third one was launched in 1962, and in 1963 the construction was completed. In 1973, the power plant acquired another, fourth, turbine. Today it produces about a billion kilowatt hours a year.
From the end of June to the middle of October, the Kurobe dam is visited by many tourists, who are attracted by this grandiose construction and water dumping, which is specially performed for visitors daily. Streams of water fall from a giant height at a speed of more than 10 tons per second, and usually with this (if the weather is clear) there is a rainbow. Tourists will be able to observe this phenomenon from a special viewing platform, which is located next to the dam.
Lake
Near the dam is Lake Kurobeko, water walks on which are also very popular with tourists. The water in the lake has an amazing green color. Waterways can be reached in places where it is impossible to reach by land. In addition, from below to the dam you can look at a completely different perspective. The cost of the walk is 1800 yen, for children - 540 yen (approximately 15.9 and 4.8 US dollars respectively).
Cable car
The dam with the opposite slope of the mountain is connected by a cable car, which is called the same as the mountain - Tateyama. It is also unique in its kind: at a length of 1700 m and a height difference of 500 m, it rests only on two supporting structures (at the beginning and at the end). This is done in order to minimize the natural beauty. All the way by cable car will take 7 minutes.
How to get to the dam?
You can reach the sights by public transport :
- trolley bus KERSO, which goes through the tunnel; stop is called Kurobe Dam Station;
- by train to Shinano-Omachi Station (Sinano-Omati) on the JR East Oito line, and then by bus to Ogizawa Station (Ogizawa Station).
The trolleybus can also be reached to Daykanabo (Daikangbo) stop, which is on the eastern slope of Tateyama Mountain, and from there to Kurobe to get by cable car.
You can reach the dam and the car. By Nagano Expressway you need to get to the station Ogizawa Station. Near it there are two parking spaces: paid (costing 1000 yen, this is about 8.9 US dollars) and free.
With you should grab a cloak and sunblock - the weather on the top of the mountain is unstable, the sun may shine, or it may start to rain suddenly. Quality trails near the dam allow you to walk on them in everyday shoes.